Richmond Pledge to End Racism

Tag: Richmond

  • Richmond faith communities invited to join the Pledge to End Racism – Workshop Oct 6 and 20, 2018

    Richmond faith communities invited to join the Pledge to End Racism – Workshop Oct 6 and 20, 2018

    Members of the first Living the Pledge Class - Spring 2015Since 2015, over 250 people from throughout the Greater Richmond Region have taken part in a workshop called “Living the Pledge to End Racism.”  The Richmond Pledge to End Racism is a personal pledge based on The Birmingham Pledge, “To eliminate racism and prejudice, all over the world, one person at a time.” And the Richmond Pledge is also more than that, because a personal pledge cannot stop there. One person cannot dismantle systemic and institutional racism by themselves. They must do it in concert with other committed people.

    The Richmond Pledge to End Racism is a community-wide effort, sponsored by First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, to address racism in all its forms. Its goal is to develop confidence and competence in identifying and addressing issues of racism wherever it lives.

    As part of this workshop, participants will develop a community of support and an understanding of how to use support in deepening their work in building a just and equitable multicultural world.

    The Richmond Pledge to End Racism is offering its next “Living the Pledge” workshop on October 6 and 20, 2018, at Richmond Hill. Representatives from Richmond-area faith communities who are interesting in bringing the Pledge to their congregations are especially invited to participate.

    For more information about and to register for upcoming Living the Pledge Workshop, visit Living the Pledge Workshops.

    Download a promotional flyer about the October 2018 Living the Pledge Workshop at Richmond Hill

  • Beyond Richmond

    Beyond Richmond

    As it developed over the years, the Birmingham Pledge did not limit itself to Birmingham. The founders dreamed that it would become an international movement to address racial inequality throughout the world. Well-known signers of the Birmingham Pledge include Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former South African prime minister F. W. DeKlerk, former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Birmingham bombing survivor Carolyn McKinstry, author Harper Lee, General Colin L. Powell, Governor Bob Riley, and many others (See Encyclopedia of Alabama for more information). In celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2017, the Birmingham Pledge Foundation hopes to expand it’s global initiatives.

    United States map graphicAs we’ve developed the Richmond Pledge, centered in Unitarian Universalist congregations and moving out to our communities, we, too, envision a wide adoption of this important effort. In June of 2016, we presented the Richmond Pledge at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Columbus, OH, and invited those in attendance to take the Pledge back to their communities. A number of congregations, from San Diego to St. Louis and closer to home in Arlington, VA (UU Church of Arlington’s program), embraced the idea and are starting Pledge programs in their congregations and communities.

    Watch here for more information about how you might start a similar effort in your community.