Community Healing & Racial Justice Solutions

2020 has tested our communities. It has put a strain on our lives and relationships, as some of us have lost family and loved ones due to COVID-19, and have experienced the heightened violence of structural racism that continues to show its face in our lives.  As we  find a path forward, we at VRJ are grounded in the visions and dreams of our folks. We choose to move with  a commitment of organizing in a way that takes care of each other and allows for restoration and transformation. 

As the year comes to an end, we’ve set our goal of raising $25,000 to go towards supporting our work in digital storytelling, healing spaces, and community policy solutions.

The three areas of our work we are uplifting are the Women’s Circle, the Cultural Food Preservation Research Project, and The Quilt Podcast:

• The Women’s Circle emerged as an intergenerational healing space to connect women impacted by mass incarceration to community and resources, and a space to share their stories and build resilience. 
• The Cultural Food Preservation Research Project is a collaborative effort with partners across Minnesota to share learning about different ways of preserving foods as a strategy for sustaining our health, spirits and communities.
• The Quilt Podcast, launching this month, responds to the times that we’re in, connecting digital storytelling and community policy solutions. The podcast will foster conversations at the intersection of public policy, community organizing, journalism, art, and healing. Season one seeks to understand and answer the question, “What is this moment calling us to do together?”

Invest in a culturally rooted, long term vision for racial justice as you make plans for your end of year giving. In this moment, more than ever it’s crucial that our organizing is grounded in the cultural knowledge and wealth of our communities. We hope you’ll join us as we find a path forward in 2021 by giving to Voices for Racial Justice  and becoming a monthly sustaining donor at any level to help sustain in our vision.

In solidarity and gratitude,

Monica, Gabriella, &  Fayise

Executive Co-Directors,

Voices for Racial Justice