The Greater Hartford Sponsoring Committee began in 2015 when a group of imams, rabbis, priests, and ministers gathered to imagine what life in greater Hartford could be like if our religious institutions actually possessed the moral force to make it a more just and equitable place. Since that initial meeting, CAC has trained clergy from 53 institutions in the principles of broad-based organizing. Many of these institutions are now in the process of creating core teams within their institutions.
“My church has been engaged in some good ministries that focus on the immediate and often urgent physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others,” stated Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell, Rector of St. Monica’s Episcopal Church in Hartford, “but they are now excited to come together in new and uncharted ways. They are excited to utilize organizing principles to answer God’s call to love our neighbors, stand with the marginalized, and work with God for a more just society.”
Indeed, clergy and parishioners stood with resident leaders from the HUD subsidized Clay Arsenal Renaissance Apartments (CARA) on July 11, 2017, as they launched a major No More Slumlord campaign against owner, Emmanuel Ku. “I thought I was alone,” said Joshua Serrano, CARA resident leader, “until that meeting and I saw we had an army.”
To ensure racial justice within our organizing work, CAC contracted with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB) to conduct antiracism training. Forty people – including clergy leaders and CAC staff and board members – attended the 2.5-day training. CAC has scheduled two more sessions in 2018 to train an additional 80 leaders.
Our goal for 2018 is to solidify the training of core teams in the member congregations for a strong launch of the faith based organizing initiative in early 2019.
