The Faith Roots of Reparative Justice
An interfaith gathering
This virtual gathering was held on Sunday, May 16, 2021. It provided a vibrant opportunity for faith communities from Hampshire & Franklin Counties to come together, explore and share with each other how our own faith traditions serve as the foundation for our work for racial justice. Over eighty people took part from twenty different faith congregations.
The program was recorded and will be available soon for viewing on YouTube. Watch this site for information on ways congregations taking part can continue to support each other in building racial justice rooted in our various faiths.
We were joined by:
Dr. William “Smitty” Smith, the founding Executive Director of the National Center for Race Amity. He was the principal organizer of the State Bill establishing Race Amity Day in Massachusetts. He is a Baha’I and lives in Boston.
Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Smith-Crooks, whose life as an activist began in her hometown of Macon GA during the Civil Rights Movement. She is an ordained minister & interfaith spiritual life coach with individuals & groups. She is a former associate minister at Alden Baptist Church in Springfield & a member of the extended family of Goodwin Memorial AME Zion Church in Amherst. She lives in Amherst.
(See her 4-part blog “The Intersectionality of Racial Justice & the Contemplative“)
Others taking part included…
- Jeff Gold, Jewish Community of Amherst
- Shaykh Mirza Yawar Baig, Hampshire Mosque
We took time together for prayer, song, getting acquainted and developing relationships with people concerned about racial justice from faith communities across the North Valley. Our associations include Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i, Unitarian, Quaker, and Christian congregations and campus ministries.
- For questions write: info@interfaithamherst.org
Sponsored by:
- Interfaith Opportunities Network
- Interfaith Council of Franklin County
- Hope Community Church – Amherst
- Anti-racism Ministry Team of First Church Amherst
- Race & Class Working Group of Mt Toby Friends Meeting – Leverett
- Jewish Community of Amherst
- Hampshire Mosque – Hadley
- Center Church – South Hadley
- Hopping Tree Sangha – Amherst
- Amherst Baha’i Local Assembly
- South Church Amherst
- Immanuel Lutheran Church – Amherst
- Tzedek Tzedek Committee of Beit Ahavah Synagogue – Florence