Dear Friends,
Our hearts are breaking with the daily news of racial hatred and violence - the death of another black man murdered for no reason. Our hearts are heavy alongside brothers and sisters who have lived this trauma for 400 years. Our anger is triggered at the disproportionate cost Covid-19 heaps on black bodies and families. Our fear rises for the futures of children who will fall behind in school as they have no access to technology for continued learning. If there was ever a time to be about truth-telling, building relationships, healing from wounds, and working for systemic change, we are in that time. Our hope is knowing your hearts are hungry for racial justice in a nation that cares for all its citizens. A shared vision of “better” brings comfort in the midst of grief.
We want to tell you where shared vision has brought CTTT-RVA in the last five months. It is a long and twisty road to “
a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past; from slavery and the many forms of racism it spawned.”
Because of
you
and a widespread longing for this new kind of community, the programs, partnerships, and projects we offer are exploding in numbers. Our voice in local and national scenes is being sought. Attendance at live dinners, discussions, panels, and working groups, pre-isolation, was running so high that all our volunteers were running to keep up! Now that we are catching on to the digital possibilities for more than our website and newsletter, we have added “attendees” from around the country as well as our local faithful to ZOOM conversations. Our first Annual
Community Report
to the newly formed Board of Directors is chock full of good news of growth.
We see the challenges. We hear with Martin Luther King that
“a riot is the language of the unheard.”
We know with Anne Braden that
“The fight against racism is our issue. It’s not something that we’re called on to help People of Color with. We need to become involved with it as if our lives depended on it because really in truth, they do.”
Now, in the middle of riots and a pandemic, is
exactly the time
for keeping on with the work of truthful “clumsy conversation” and relationship building. It is
exactly the time
to look honestly at history and its painful present manifestations. It is
exactly the time
to work together toward healing and reparative actions, both individual and systemic. It is
exactly the time
to work in new and renewed ways. We invite you to maintain with us a heart of hope and a knowledge that you can be a light in the darkness on this twisty path. You are needed and valued. Your financial gifts will help us carry out our mission - and be matched dollar for dollar by a generous Board member. Hit the “
Donate
” button! Your gifts of time and skills will help us get it done with grace. Your presence, whenever you can join us, will enrich our spirits and yours.
We promise.
Thankful we do this together,
