January 2026

Monthly News & Updates

NFJC Members,

Happy New Year! As we step into this new chapter, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you. Your continued engagement, dedication, and the work you do every day in our communities are what make NFJC’s mission come to life. 2025 was a tough year, but filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities.

As we move into 2026, I’m truly excited about what’s ahead. Together, we will continue to build, innovate, and create meaningful experiences that strengthen our communities and deepen our collective impact.



Thank you for being part of this important work—I’m grateful to be on this journey with you.

Rene Petties-Jones

ADVOCACY ACADEMY

On November 24, 2025, the Advocacy Academy of Community Tampa Bay, volunteered at Metropolitan Ministries for their annual Gratitude Service project.

The volunteers helped out in the kitchen prepping and serving lunch, putting together Thanksgiving Day meals, organizing donations in the thrift store, hanging out with the littles in daycare, and helping folks shop in the food pantry!

The Advocacy Academy is a year-round service learning program. The main goal of the academy is to expose young ANYTOWNers to different community organizations in the hopes that they come away inspired, stay involved, and continue finding meaningful ways to give back to their communities.

BIG MAMA SUNDAYS

On December 14, 2025, the Michigan Roundtable of Just Communities held their Big Mama Sundays Community Dinner.

It was an afternoon rooted in love, culture, and community care. Big Mama Sundays brings people together to learn, heal, and grow. The event was the launch of their Healthy Harvest Nutrition Lab, a new space for hands-on learning and healthier living.

STARR

NCCJ's STARR program is scheduled for January 24-26, 2025. STARR: Students Talking About Race + Racism is a two-day, non-residential program in Greensboro, NC that gives high school students a safe, welcoming space to share their experiences and ask questions about race and racism without fear of judgment. Participants also get to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

CONSCIOUS CLASSROOM FACILITATOR TRAINING

Confluence Rising will be offering a Conscious Classrooms Facilitator Training! This is a 3-day training on Thursdays: Feb 12, 19 & 26, 2026.Participants must attend all three sessions.

This FREE, in-person training includes light breakfast and lunch each day. Skilled participants may be eligible to earn stipends when facilitating with students.

ROOTS OF JUSTICE CONVENING

Confluence Rising will be having their annual Roots of Justice Convening on Friday, February 27, 2026. This will be a day dedicated to building equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Participants will get to connect, reflect, and grow through breakout sessions designed to deepen skills and relationships that strengthen our communities.

REAFFIRM DIVERSITY

Check out the #Reaffirmdiversity video, from The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio. This piece features respected Cleveland leaders speaking candidly about what diversity means in today’s landscape, a landscape where the very word “diversity” is often misunderstood or politicized.

PEOPLE-FIRST AI FUND RECIPIENT

Congratulations to NFJC-WNY on being named a People-First AI Fund recipient by the @OpenAI Foundation!

This support will help them deepen their work with students, schools, and communities, creating spaces for learning, dialogue, and connection. When people come first, meaningful progress follows.

DAYTON DIALOGUE ON RACE RELATIONS

Some members of NCCJ of Greater Dayton's 2025 inaugural Dayton Dialogue on Race Relations group had the opportunity to visit the Our American Journey exhibit at Sinclair Community College in mid-December. Michael Carter walked them through the exhibit, and shared powerful stories about their history.

Click below to view a video about the exhibit.

BREAKING BREAD & BARRIERS

On January 29, 2025, OneJax will be hosting another Breaking Bread & Barriers. This is Session 2: “Whose News? Media, Mistrust, and the Search for Truth.” Participants will enjoy dinner and conversation. The conversation will be about how we find truth together in the age of information

OCCJ STAFF UPDATE

The Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ) is happy to welcome Danielle Walker to their team. Danielle is OCCJ's new Operations and Engagement Administrator!

Danielle has spent over 20 years working in education, mental health, and nonprofits, always guided by a heart for people and a belief in the power of process. Outside of her professional life, she’s a proud mom to a busy teenage son and an enthusiastic track and soccer supporter. Known as a “Protector of People Through Process,” she finds joy in quietly championing missions and visions from the background, helping others shine while staying grounded in her own values.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

BLOOD DRIVE

This year Garden State Equality will offer their Ashbury office as the location for a New Year's Eve for a blood drive with the New Jersey Region Red Cross

Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days (or less), and platelets must be used within just 5 days. That’s why the New Jersey Region Red Cross collects blood every day of the year, even on holidays.

EQUALITY AT WORK

Equality at Work is Garden State Equality's annual symposium for leaders across education, healthcare, corporate, and community sectors dedicated to building equitable workplaces.

The theme for 2026 is "Healing, Accessibility, and Transformation". This theme calls us to create brave spaces for measurable change in how we lead, work, and care for one another. This year's symposium will feature spaces for dialogue, restoration, and innovation, connecting leaders who are committed to measurable impact, sustainable inclusion, and community connection. 

Click here to register for the symposium.

The NFJC is a network of organizations from across the country/world with years of experience, extensive knowledge, skills and expertise in the areas of human relations, social justice, community-building, and inter-group understanding. Founded in 2006, the National Federation for Just Communities was created by former NCCJ regional offices to sustain and advance our distinctive and award-winning work.

Check out the map below to see where our affiliates are located.