Over the past few years, Community Renewal Society member congregations worked, together with the Coalition to End Money Bond and the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, to eliminate the use of wealth-based pretrial incarceration in Illinois. The Pretrial Fairness Act (HB 3653) passed and was signed into law in February 22, 2021.

Over the weekend, many of us will gather with our faith communities in search of hope as we process the state of the world and the heaviness that we have each experienced in the past week and days. View our statement, guide for discussion, prayer, and join our virtual space for reflection.

Community Renewal Society, as a member of the Chicago Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, share this statement condemning the mass shooting in Highland Park on July 4.

After 35 years of exercising my right to vote, this year, I supported voting by serving as an election worker.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022 the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Coalition was awarded The Woods Fund of Chicago Power of Community Award at the Local Initiatives Support Corp.

“Pride began as a protest. The genesis of what is now a global celebration began with resistance and there is a demand of the same defiance for our system today. We need to stand, fight with, and protect our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters now.”

Through this primary election, we have the opportunity to lay the foundation for the upcoming political landscape that will determine core issues affecting economic justice, criminal justice reform, and rights and protections for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Racism and poverty systemically create inequitable disparities that cause generational harm. We seek to educate and eradicate those disparities. CRS has put together this list of resources.

CRS has signed on in support of the EQUAL Act. This legislation would end the disparity between crack and powder cocaine in sentencing.

Politics from the pulpit, encourage voter registration, promote important election dates, host a public education or voter registration event, and share social media posts or email newsletters from organizations like Community Renewal Society.

This year, CRS is excited to host a virtual screening of Free Renty on June 16. Additionally, check out our member congregations and other organizations Juneteenth events.

On the one hand, we must celebrate who we are and what we have accomplished. On the other hand, we must engage in work that expands opportunities for the world to be safer and kinder to all our children!

Gun violence is a public health crisis. It is an issue that needs to be addressed comprehensively. Though there are many reasons people commit acts of gun violence, no longer can we sit idly by and watch precious lives be taken prematurely because of racialized and politicized hatred.

To stop violence, we need investments in our communities. That's why 65 organizations from across Chicago are demanding that Mayor Lightfoot focus on addressing the root causes of harm rather than increasing punishment.

The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago condemns the racist massacre at Tops Market in Buffalo this past Saturday. We are horrified that African Americans shopping in their own neighborhood were executed solely because of their race.

ACC is grieved by the shootings in Dallas, Buffalo, and Laguna Woods (in addition to many others). On May 11, a gunman open-fired at a salon in Koreatown, Dallas, Texas, injuring 3 Korean women. He is also under investigation for other shootings near Asian businesses in the Dallas area.

When the din of typewriter keys in newsrooms across the county got quieter and many owners decided to close shop, a Chicagoan named John McDermott embarked on a mission in Chicago and brought a vision for news that has lasted 50 years.

Voting sets the tone for political engagement and strong voter engagement strengthens our work at CRS. We must have candidates who will create change in our communities and elected officials who we can hold accountable for this change.

During Lent, CRS member congregation First United Church of Oak Park chose to focus on music and liturgy from the Black, Indigenous and POC (people of color) traditions with a campaign entitled “Fasting from Whiteness.”

Ramadan Kareem to all of our Muslim friends! Ramadan is a festive month given to charity, religious contemplation, and fasting. CRS shares this article By Jonathan Kuttab, Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America.