On June 3, the Summit Interfaith Council co-sponsored the #WearOrange rally on the Village Green which drew hundreds of people. Among the many notable speakers, SIC president Rev. Vernon Williams represented the communities of faith.
During his remarks, Rev. Williams said, “It’s not a race issue … it’s a societal issue exacerbated by bigotry and hate that doesn’t allow us to open our eyes to our collective humanity.”
A STAR Youth Coordinator is responsible for leading a group of local high school students interested in taking a stand against racism and creating a more equitable and just community.
The Youth Coordinator’s duties include:
Establishing a form of regular communication with the students
Organizing quarterly projects to advance the mission of STAR
Increase the public awareness of STAR
Develop leadership opportunities
Communicate goals and objectives with the STAR Leadership Committee
Coordinate with parents of the students regarding activities and meetings
Recruit new participants into STAR
They should have prior training in anti-racism work and should have some experience working with and leading teenagers.
This is a part-time position requiring 10 hours of work per month at a rate of $25.00 per hour from May thru June 2022 and September 2022 thru April 2023.
Recent stories of the detestable, racially motivated attacks on Asian/Pacific Islander/Americans across the United States are difficult to bear; our family, friends, and neighbors have incurred violence and harassment while simply going about their daily routines. These incidents have historical precedence which should not be repeated and are contrary to America’s foundational principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
There is no rationale- biological, pathological, moral, legal, ethical, reasonable, or unreasonable- for these malicious assaults against people merely because of the color of their skin, perceived racial traits, and background.
We, the undersigned, are outraged over these acts of domestic terrorism against Asian/Pacific Islander/Americans. We offer our empathy to those victimized by horrific verbal, physical, virtual, and cyber assaults, either directly or indirectly. You are in our prayers for healing, comfort, restitution, and the strength to move on with your lives without fear of the recurrence of similar transgressions.
We condemn this abhorrent aggression, and we invite you to join us to stop these unconscionable attacks by:
Speaking out against these atrocities, racial slurs and stereotyping about Asians/Pacific Islander/Americans.
Helping to identify perpetrators of these attacks.
Demanding swift apprehension and accountability for those committing these egregious hate crimes.
Learning about racism and how to eliminate it in all areas of American life.
As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. advised us that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Furthermore, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer admonished that, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.” Lastly, we are following Civil Rights Activist Angela Davis asserting, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
With gratitude to the Racial Equity Task Force of Christ Church Summit for coordinating the effort to craft this joint statement.
In response to the dire needs of local immigrants resulting from the global pandemic, the Summit Interfaith Council has established the Summit Emergency Covid-19 Relief Fund for Undocumented Individuals and Families. Many of our immigrant neighbors have lost jobs, but because they lack documentation, they are ineligible for federal emergency stimulus funds and unemployment benefits, even though pay taxes. Funds raised by the Council will be given directly to families and individuals in order to help pay for housing, food, utilities and other bills. Donate today- every amount will help people in need right here in Summit!