Discussion on Justice. Statement on the murder of George Floyd. Taking ACTION with POW.
Statement on the murder of George Floyd
TONIGHT: Discussion: Pentecost in the Midst of Injustice, Wed., June 3, 7pm, FC3
Share the Movement: ACT is clothing our community in love
Next ACT County-wide leadership check-in, Thursday, June 11, 1:30pm
Feed Anne Arundel Accountability Report
TAKE ACTION: Join an Action Team
STATEMENT ON THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD ANNAPOLIS – The threat to black lives in our country is urgent and real. As the largest multiracial, interfaith organization in Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) is grieving and we are angry. The murder of George Floyd has sparked outrage across the country and in our hearts. This was exacerbated when the president of our country used a sacred book as a prop for a photo opportunity, after clearing the space in front of that church of its very own members using tear gas and rubber bullets. Those are our people: that church shares an affiliation with ACT as a member of the nationwide network of community power organizations, the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). Since our launch in October 2018, we have had our hand to the plow of justice. We have not, nor will we stand idly by as the sacred bodies of black and brown people are desecrated by an insidious white supremacy buttressed by complicit white silence. Not being racist is not enough: we must all learn to be “anti-racist.” Black Lives Matter. “Faith sees best in the dark,” Søren Kierkegaard wrote in the nineteenth century. We are in dark times, but our faith sees clearly. As a community power organization, we will keep our hands to the plow of justice. We stand with people young and old, of every race and every faith, who are protesting in our community. Police practices rooted in dominant power, city occupation, and slavery patrols must stop. Greater accountability to the public must start. We pledge to continue our work to build a more just Anne Arundel County. COVID-19 already highlighted great disparity. Mr. Floyd’s death and the lynching of black bodies since the start of this year shouts out with a raised fist and a prayer how urgent change is needed. ACT is building power to see this change through. Put your hand to the plow, demand, and work for justice in Anne Arundel County and America. ###
FIRST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH PUBLIC DISCUSSION "PENTECOST AMIDST INJUSTICE" WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 7PM Prayer at 6:30PM With Law Enforcement and Faith Leaders SEE RECORDING OF FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT HERE: https://www.facebook.com/FirstChristianCC/videos/1910834749054134/
### ACT IS SURROUNDING OUR COUNTY WITH LOVE A PUBLIC STATEMENT ON NOT RETURNING TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP Faith leaders from across Anne Arundel County gathered together to say that we never closed, and we will never, ever, endanger the lives of our people. We are stronger united. SHARE THE VIDEO!
SEE VIDEO: FACEBOOK (w/subtitles) OR VIMEO LINK HERE
### ACT COUNTY-WIDE LEADERSHIP CHECK-IN AN UPDATE ON OUR ACTIONS COUNTY-WIDE LISTENING SESSIONS Thursday, June 11, 1:30-2:30pm Via Zoom Meeting ID 386 868 234 Password: POWER
### FEED ANNE ARUNDEL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT Meals served: 20,170 Money put back into Anne Arundel County by paying wages to restaurant employees: $219,071 Restaurants serving meals: 35 Locations: 24 LEARN MORE AND GIVE AT WWW.FEEDANNEARUNDEL.ORG GET ENGAGED AT ACTIAF.ORG/VOLUNTEER ### TAKE ACTION: JOIN AN ACTION TEAM
Housing: Continuing eviction prevention. Contact Toni Strong-Pratt (First Christian) at tpratt359@gmail.com
Behavioral and Mental Health: Psychological First Responders. Contact Dr. Caren Carney (Joy Reigns) dr.carney@outlook.com
Food Security: Farmers Markets; Organizing farmers, co-ops, and supply chains, and Community gardens. Contact Monica Alvarado (Bread & Butter Kitchen) feedannearundel@gmail.com.
Education and housing. Exploring the relationship between school capacity, historic racism, and affordable housing. Contact Karen Neale (St. Philip's) at nealekj@gmail.com.
Education and food: Who is not getting food due to restrictions on who can pick up school lunches? Contact Julie Carlson (First Presbyterian) at ladsmom@gmail.com.
Gun Violence & Criminal Justice. Contact Linda Mundy (Unitarian Universalist) at ltmundy@yahoo.com. or Rev. Steve Tillett (Asbury Broadneck United Methodist)
Re-purposing our sacred spaces & land in light of the pandemic. Contact Rev. Dr. Carletta Allen (Asbury UMC) at asbury1pastor@gmail.com.
Responding to the lifting of the stay-at-home order. Developing a collective response and leadership. Contact Rev. Tim Stern (Ark and Dove) at timsstern@gmail.com.
Closing the digital divide. Figuring out how to get digital access into communities that most need it and the power analysis behind that. Contact Erin Snell (Unitarian Universalist) at erin@chartingcareers.org.
Training: Core Teams: build power in your congregation not just for ACT, but any type of organizing. Contact Rev. Ryan Sirmons, preachsirmons@gmail.com, to set up core team training with your institutions.
Fundraising. Build our organizing capacity for more power! Contact Julie Carlson (First Presbyterian) at ladsmom@gmail.com.
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