For Immediate Release: January 17, 2019
Contact: Erin Williams, ewilliams@faithinaction.org
202-748-0688
Prayer Vigil is in Support of WKKF National Day of Racial Healing
WASHINGTON — Faith in Action is proud to join the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s annual National Day of Racial Healing by hosting an interfaith prayer vigil by phone on Jan. 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Registration can be done by clicking here.
As a network of spiritual leaders and lay people, our prayer vigil will reflect the many faith traditions that make up our national network. In addition to Faith in Action leaders and clergy, representatives from Demos, Advancement Project, Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum, National Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who, like Faith in Action, are WKKF racial equity grantees, will join the call and offer reflections for racial healing.
“Prayer represents both an intention to act and a prelude to action,” said the Rev. Alvin Herring, executive director of Faith in Action. “In an environment where the President’s administration is threatening to take funds from regions that have suffered in the wake of natural disasters – such as Puerto Rico, where more than 4,600 people were killed due to Hurricane Maria – to build a border wall, people of faith are not only praying, but acting. This vigil will help us hone our strategy and gear up for maximum impact.”
Click here to register for the call.
The first National Day of Racial Healing was established in 2017 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and its Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation grantees and partners. Faith in Action joins other racial healing grantees in supporting the NDORH, which occurs annually on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The day is a call to action to mobilize communities, organizations, and individuals across the United States in support of truth, racial healing and transformation.
“A prayer vigil is a call to action and a lament about the challenges we face and the harm that we have experienced,” the Rev. Alvin Herring said. “On Jan. 22, we will assembly clergy and lay leaders who will each offer 3-minute prayers or reflections for their tribes, communities, family and friends.”
During the prayer vigil, organizers will pray for:
- Wisdom in supporting communities targeted by an unjust criminal justice system.
- Courage to vehemently protect the humanity of undocumented communities.
- The deep racial divisions in our nation.
- An abundance of resources to lead life-changing organizing work.
- The renewed drive to engage people from all racial and ethnic groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.
At the conclusion of the event, Faith in Action will post the prayer vigil online as a source of inspiration and encouragement.
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Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network, is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information visit www.faithinaction.org.
