A group of about 20 Parkway people started at the beginning of this calendar year to delve into examples of systemic racial inequity in our local community, to reach out to those doing important work in addressing them, and to identify ways our congregation could act in partnership. Thank you to each of you for your participation, courage, and research. Each of the four teams – education, food access, health care, and housing have completed their Second Sunday presentations. Three of the groups have decided to no longer meet regularly, but keep an eye on ways to be supportive.

The Second Sunday Planning Team recently met after I checked in with each of the four teams. This is the proposal we share of what specific ways we at Parkway may continue to offer our energy and resources. We worked with two criteria in distilling down this proposal for continued investment. The first is to identify opportunities to build and be in relationship with others in our wider community. The second is to identify steps that are manageable and specific enough for us to make some progress. We are glad for your feedback about this proposal.

Education: This group continues to meet, especially in partnership with the Coalition for Equity in Public Education, and are preparing recommendations about the school assignment plan and watch for opportunities to advocate for more funding for pre-K education locally;

Food Access: We will continue to connect with and promote the Forsyth Community Supported Agriculture program purchasing produce from local, Black farmers in relationship with the Minister’s Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA, and Janco Farms;

Health Care: We will consider a recommendation to offer financial support from the Mission Projects line item to help with scholarships for nursing students through the Hispanic League and continued relational support for Anuli, an organization which supports pregnant women, especially women of color;
Continue to work to become a Welcoming – Informed – Supportive – Engaged congregation of the UCC with persons with mental illness and their loved ones. This includes creating a congregational covenant outlining our specific commitments;

Housing: We will work in relationship with local apartment residents, the North Carolina Congress of Latino Organizations, and the Justice Collective to get satisfactory responses from the City of Winston-Salem in regard to code violations, especially in the Old Town neighborhood. These violations include flooding, mold, and high levels of lead;

General: We will continue our discernment about participating in a process to build a multi-racial, broad-based community organizing group in our community, building on the work of the North Carolina Congress of Latino Organizations. Their goal is an initial 30 congregations, advocacy groups, and neighborhood associations, and civic groups invested in building citizen power.

We are interested in your responses, participation, and continued relationship.