The Richmond Pledge to End Racism monthly newsletter is an effort to help us maintain and build upon our pledge commitments.  And welcome to those who recently completed the Living the Pledge workshop. We hope this newsletter is helpful, but know you can update your subscription preferences.

This moment in our nation demands our attention.  We cannot ignore it and we cannot sit things out, even if the work that needs to be done feels so overwhelming. 

October 2020

Learning Opportunity (Upcoming Events)

When Home is a Dangerous Place: Breonna Taylor & American Domestic Terror

• Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Part of the "Just Talk / Talk Just" free webinar series, this panel conversation will address Breonna Taylor's death and the meaning of justice for Black women. Learn more and register here.   Sponsored by the Center for Social Justice & Reconciliation (CSJR) and the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership at Union Presbyterian Seminary.

Voting Rights: The Struggle in Song

• Tuesday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Join the Living Legacy Project for a special evening of music to prepare our minds and hearts for the work post-election. The final program in their webinar series, Voting Rights: The Struggle Continues, will feature three of the most prominent song leaders of this time and place, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, Greg Greenway, and Reggie Harris. These amazing artists will offer us their voices of wisdom, inspiration, and joy. Together they will help us to center ourselves for whatever lies ahead with songs that call us to "Keep Our Eyes On the Prize" as we go forward shining our individual and collective light. We are "Wading in the Water" of history and "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us 'Round."  Join us for an hour of song and soul power!.  Learn more and register here.

Volunteer Opportunity

The Social Education for Economic Development Initiative (S.E.E.D), a multi-faceted grass-roots action-oriented organization, needs volunteers to help carry out its mission to remove the barriers that adversely impact economic growth for low to moderate income African Americans adults in Virginia.

This is a great opportunity to ‘Live the Pledge’ for someone who has interest in and knowledge in any of the following areas:  

• Business development, especially minority business
• Advising/Consulting Nonprofits
• General office support (email correspondence, making phone calls and appointments)
• Investments and financial markets
• Financial literacy
• Teaching employability skills
• Teaching business skills
• Grant writing
• IT (Websites, apps, security)
• Coalition Building with community organizations

Get involved and help this exciting new program provide skills training and opportunities for economic growth to Communities of Color. Learn more at seedshares.org.

Please call 804.852.9079 or e-mail: seed4va@gmail.com Frank Moseley II, Founder/CEO
 

Giving Opportunity

Racism is a learned behavior. It’s not enough to teach our kids not to be racist; we must teach to be anti-racist. Through education, the future of racism and human rights can look different. We can empower our youth and make a difference.

The Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation provides individuals, teachers and classrooms with learning materials to help shed light on American history that is often either misunderstood or skipped over. Using reading materials and video, students are given a multi-faceted approach to learning, catering to the different ways they can best understand new concepts.

Join us in ending racism through education. Click here to donate.

Spreading the Word about the Pledge

Postcards are available at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 1000 Blanton Avenue on the social justice table. Please help yourself and let us know if you are going to an event where you might distribute them.  A limited number of bumper stickers are also still available at the church building for Pledge signers.

You may also download an electronic version of the card to pass along via email. 

We also have a few double-sided yard signs still available.  We are requesting a donation of $12.50 apiece (about half of the cost). You can place your order here and it will be delivered to you.  If you’d like to have a sign but aren’t able to pay for it at this time, let us know and we can provide one.