The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas stands in solidarity in mourning the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Amaud Arbery. We join all who are calling for systemic change and an end to racism. 

Some resources to help us heal and be part of healing and reconciliation: 

1. Becoming Beloved Community - https://episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community.  Resources on Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice

 

2. https://episcopalchurch.org/responding-to-racist-violence?fbclid=IwAR1kJK5tKqgseaKLnzftn5Frz98dgArtc8nvgzPsGtxBWqOEVd8zpP2qKqk

 

3. Wonderful resources from The Center for Racial Healing with Dr. Catherine Meeks. http://www.centerforracialhealing.org/

 

4. WHY ADVOCATE NOW?

We have heard from many of you over the past week – sharing your stories of protesting, expressing outrage at the injustices that continue, and asking what you can do. There are, of course, many ways to show up in this moment: you can join protesters peacefully marching for an end to police brutality; you can educate yourself about how to be an anti-racist; you can pray and lament alongside those who are aching right now. We hope that the resources provided by The Episcopal Church can help you find ways to engage meaningfully.

We also urge you to call your elected officials. As we have highlighted, COVID-19 reveals the discrimination and systemic racism that pervades our society, and we have seen that the disease has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color, especially Black and Indigenous Americans. Congress needs to act to help our country make it through this pandemic, and our government has a role in helping us all through this moment of national trauma.

This week, former President George W. Bush released a statement saying, “The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all is the duty of all.” Former President Obama urged us, “aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.”

We list several key priorities for The Episcopal Church in the alert and would ask that you write your Senators and tell them they need to act now. Take these issues to your members of Congress and share with them the priorities you have. You can find information about the issue areas The Episcopal Church has taken a position on here, including anti-poverty efforts, human rights and peace-building, immigration and refugees, creation care, and racial reconciliation. There are dozens of other issues where we have signed on as well.

We urge you to join with the Office of Government Relations in prioritizing legislation that will address urgent health care needs and racial disparities, and that will provide protections for essential workers and incarcerated people.

https://episcopalchurch.org/OGR/action-alerts…

#EpiscopalAdvocacy

 5. Join the work in Dallas through the Greater Dallas Coalition. Contact Carrie Headington at

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 PROJECT US: Unite and Serve Update 

The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, through our PROJECT US: UNITE AND SERVE Initiative continues the call of Jesus to serve our brothers and sisters in need (Matthew 25) in partnership with the wider body of Christ (John 17) in South Dallas. This past week the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas joined with the Greater Dallas Coalition to accomplish the following:

1. Through Farmers to Families: 1,000 food boxes were distributed at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 448 food boxes at Victory Outreach Church, and 100 food boxes at the Metropolitan Dream Center. Additionally, 3000 boxes of food were distributed through our local South Dallas Church partners totally 58,880 pounds of food! 
2. 2,200 Meals were provided to children at low income apartment complexes.
3. 5 Fans were purchased for Inspired Vision and Compassion Center which provides between 1300-1800 families with groceries per day. They are unable to pay for their air conditioning so the fans have been very helpful.
4. 75 volunteers were fed on Friday by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas at the Inspired Vision and Compassion Center.

 CURRENT NEEDS and Upcoming outreaches:

1. Inspired Vision and Compassion Center which provides 1300-1800 families groceries per day needs a refrigerated truck so they can have access to food and milk that needs cooling. The cost is $9,500.
2.  Metropolitan Dream Center which is run by older women is in great need of volunteers who can help pick up items, lift items, and unload items. They serve the poorest of the poor in South Dallas and are in great need of help especially on Mondays and Tuesday.
3. Cornerstone Baptist Church is needing help with the following projects which could be a wonderful way to get our children helping:
4. In ziplock bags place 3 feet of toilet paper and a word of encouragement. They need lots of baggies with toilet paper to provide their homeless population.
5. In ziplock bags put a plastic fork, knife, spoon and napkin with a word of encouragement note.
6. They need to go plates for their homeless population. They feed 1,000 homeless people daily.

Thank you, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas for your ongoing support and help. You are changing lives in the name of Jesus. To get connected to this work, do not hesitate to contact Canon Carrie Headington at give directly to

www.greaterdallascoalition.net.

Or send check to: The Greater Dallas Coalition

P.O. Box 151221

Dallas, Texas 75215

In the MEMO put: COVID CARE

*The Greater Dallas Coalition is a 501 c 3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.