Organizers
concerned about injustice gathered in the Washington, DC metro area recently for
a 3-day summit with the theme Facing Race
& Power. The Summit was organized by the Gamaliel Foundation, an
umbrella organization of faith-based and community groups around the country, mostly
in California, the Midwest and East Coast. Gamaliel’s mission is empowering
ordinary people to effectively participate in the political, environmental,
social and economic decisions affecting their lives.
With a heavy focus on criminal justice reform and immigration, affiliates have committed to transform the way they organize, “to address problems not just at the surface level but also to uncover the structures perpetuating the problems and engage in strategies and actions that would dismantle or reform the structures, especially those that perpetuate racism.”
The recent
gathering included worship and reflection sessions, plenaries and workshops, and
a full day on Capitol Hill attending briefings and meeting with Members of
Congress.
The
Missionary Oblates of the Midwest are members of the United Congregations of Metro-East, a group of multiracial pastors and church members committed to combating the root
causes of systemic injustice. United Congregations of Metro-East is a Gamaliel network member.
Gamaliel was started over three decades ago
- in 1986 - to train community and faith leaders to build political power and
create organizations that unite people of diverse faiths and races, who apply
their faith and values to the pursuit of equal opportunity for all, shared
abundance, and stronger, more prosperous communities.
