Anti-Racism Resources

As a multifaith organization dedicated to creating healthier and more just communities, we recognize that centuries of systemic racism results in the police brutality, health disparities, inequitable distribution of resources, and U.S. justice system oppressing communities of color today.

We recently released a Statement on Police Brutality, Systemic Racism, and Injustice, in which we state our organization's solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. We also commit ourselves to the ongoing work of anti-racism and invite you to join us in this endeavor. It is time people of faith to speak out. 

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Anti-Racist Pledge for your Faith Community 

Faith in Place’s Statement on Police Brutality, Systemic Racism, and Injustice

Articles on the intersection of Racial justice and Climate Change 

Anti-Racism Training Materials

Resources

• I’m a Black Climate Expert. Racism Derails Our Efforts to Save the Planet | By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | The Washington Post

• We Can't Solve the Climate Crisis Unless Black Lives Matter | By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | Time

• Racism, Police Violence, and the Climate Are Not Separate Issues | By Bill McKibben | The New Yorker

• Black Environmentalists Talk About Climate and Anti-Racism | By Somini Sengupta | The New York Times

• Read Up on the Links Between Racism and the Environment | By Somini Sengupta | The New York Times

• Why Racial Justice is Climate Justice | By Claire Elise Thompson | Grist

• Tear Gas and Coronavirus are ‘a Recipe for Disaster,’ Experts Warn | By Shannon Osaka | Grist

• Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist | By Leah Thomas | Vogue

• Sins of the Same Vine | By Codi Norred | Georgia Interfaith Power and Light

• Why 'I can't breathe' is Resonating with Environmental Justice Activists | By Denise Chow | NBC News

• People of Colour Experience Climate Grief More Deeply Than White People | By Nylah Burton | Vice 

• We Don’t Have To Halt Climate Action To Fight Racism | By Mary Annaïs Heglar | Huffpost

• Isra Hirsi Is 16, Unbothered, and Saving the Planet | By Leila Ettachfini | Vice

• Want to See Food and Land Justice for Black Americans? Support These Groups | By The Civil Eats Editors | Civil Eats

• Fighting Climate Change Means Fighting Racial Injustice | By Liam Denning | Bloomberg Opinion

• The Climate Crisis is Racist. The Answer is Anti-racism | By Eric Holthaus | The Correspondent

• Climate Change Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affecting Black Mothers Most | By Christopher Flavelle | The New York Times

• Opinion: If You Care About the Planet, You Must Dismantle White Supremacy | By Tamara Toles O’Laughlin | Grist

• Black Environmentalists are Organizing to Save the Planet from Injustice | By Rachel Ramirez | Grist

• It's Time for Environmental Studies to Own Up to Erasing Black People | By Wanjiku Gatheru | Vice

• Climate Justice is Racial Justice, Racial Justice is Climate Justice | By Lennox Yearwood Jr. | Shondaland

• General Iron Gets State OK to Open on Southeast Side | By Brett Chase | Chicago Sun-Times

• Lightfoot Should Nix General Iron’s Southeast Side Relocation Plans | By CST Editorial Board | Chicago Sun-Times

• Racism Kills: Why Many Are Declaring It a Public Health Crisis | By Elizabeth Yuko | Rolling Stone

• Favianna Rodriguez on Why Art Matters in a Time of Crisis | By Adrienne Day | Grist

• The Movement for Black Lives and Environmentalists Are Finding Common Ground | By Yessenia Funes | Gizmodo

• Have nonprofit and philanthropy become the “white moderate” that Dr. King warned us about? | By Vu Le | Nonprofit AF

• Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing | Adopted by Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), Jemez, New Mexico, Dec. 1996 | EJnet.org

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Faith in Place stands in solidarity with those protesting the systemic racism embodied in acts of police brutality and murder. We condemn the ways our nation continues to perpetuate white supremacy. We reject a system that blatantly disregards Black lives and perpetuates violence.

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Faith in Place’s board, staff, network of Green Teams, and faith partners recognize the systemic effects of centuries of racism and commit even further to advancing environmental justice through our programs and advocacy. We pledge to continue to oppose racism and champion justice against the normalcy of white supremacy by examination of our systems and ourselves. 

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Since Black communities are affected by environmental justice issues at disproportionate rates, we must all step up our efforts. Justice means safe, healthy neighborhoods where African Americans can live without fear of being sickened, harassed, beaten, or killed. Our commitment to advancing environmental justice starts with shared dialogue and continues with enacting anti-racist policies and practices in all our work.

We invite you to join our lament and protest. Together, let us pray and act for a new reality embodying the justice, compassion, wisdom, and strength our many faiths teach us. Please consider signing on to our House of Worship Anti-Racist Pledge below. 

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Sincerely, 

Faith in Place 

As a multifaith organization dedicated to creating healthier and more just communities, we recognize that centuries of systemic racism results in the police brutality, health disparities, inequitable distribution of resources, and U.S. justice system oppressing communities of color today. Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund have renewed and reevaluated our dedication to anti-racism both within and outside of the organization. We know that remaining silent places us on the side of the oppressor, so it is necessary in this time for us to acknowledge that without racial justice, there is no movement for environmental justice.

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We need anti-racism commitments and actions to be incorporated into everything organizations do so that genuine healing can occur in order to create a more just world. We invite the leadership at your House of Worship to commit to anti-racist work by pledging to take proactive action.

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In our Antiracist Pledge Statement, we included a few ways your faith community can pledge support. We ask you to consider these and the many other ways you can work to dismantle systemic racism and sign onto this letter with your commitment.

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Sign the Anti-Racist Pledge Statement

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We are grateful for the following Houses of Worship which have pledged to be anti-racist Faith Communities:

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• Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston

• New Covenant Fellowship

• First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana

Are you looking for tools to hold discussions or training modules with your community? These organizing groups and web pages can get you started:

• Chicago Regional Organizing for Antiracism (Chicago ROAR) — the Metro Chicago Organizing Partner of Crossroads

• The MSW@USC Diversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege

• Black Americans are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than White Americans

• Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community