Interfaith Coalition Against Racism
March 2019
Conversations on race and racism have recently re-emerged in the national discourse in new and urgent ways. As a public health organization, Gospel Run has taken an active role in facilitating this conversation within the Chicago faith community.
In 2018, the Interfaith Coalition Against Racism (ICAR) became a strategic partner of Gospel Run. They are also one of the Official Charity Partners of the Chicago Gospel Run 5K/10K. ICAR is an organization of twelve (12) faith-based member institutions, and it was formed after the 2014 crisis in Ferguson, Missouri. Its goal is to unite faith leaders and organizations in a bold shared vision of dismantling racism.
Reverend Vicky Curtiss, a leader of the Interfaith Coalition Against Racism (ICAR) and Associate Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, explains ICAR’s work and how the organization has leveraged funds raised through the Gospel Run 5K/10K to address racism through their collective faith communities.
GR: What is the mission of ICAR?
Rev. Vicky Curtiss: Through interfaith collaboration, ICAR does advocacy, public education, peace circles, and anti-racism trainings. We host public forums on issues such as police accountability, the racial health gap, and the impact of trauma on youth and families. We also advocate for reducing gun violence, equitable funding for schools in Chicago, and mass incarceration.
GR: How has ICAR used funds raised through the Gospel Run 5K to further its mission?
Rev. Vicky Curtiss: We’re grateful to be an Official Charity Partner of the race. Our Gospel Run team members have been able to raise about $7,000. We used the funds raised to help pay for multiple anti-racism training sessions led by C-ROAR (Chicago Regional Organizing for Anti-Racism). So far, over 200 people have raised their hands and have completed the anti-racism trainings. Each time we offered it, they filled up. We offered both one-day trainings and 2.5-day trainings.
GR: Has the anti-racism training made a difference? If so, what has the impact been?
Rev. Vicky Curtiss: The training is not just personal; it’s also about analyzing systemic racism. You learn what to look for and how to recognize it. Once your eyes are opened, you can’t not see it. It’s expanded our thinking and awareness of racial and cultural reinforcement and systems. After the training, I have a better understanding of some of the core values that we need to live into if we want to live without racism.
Institutionally, our church has formed a racial equity council among our leadership, and we’ve launched a transformation team among our congregational members who have completed the training. We’re in the midst of an institutional audit at Fourth Presbyterian Church to examine our own personnel and organizational structure. It is a nine-month process. Once the audit is completed, we will have a set of recommendations on what needs to change within our institution.
Organizational changes are not always easy, and there will be push-back. But that’s a part of the process.
GR: Why was it so important for you to take on the issue of racism as an individual, church, and as an organization?
Rev. Vicky Curtiss: Our vision is to live the beloved community described by Dr. King. I believe racism is so harmful to all of us, and it does huge damage to people of color. Our church was initially doing multicultural trainings, but we weren’t getting anywhere and were getting frustrated. Racism is systemic and is much bigger than individual attitudes. We needed tools.
As a white person, I was eager to learn more about systemic racism and how to make organizational change. We’re all indoctrinated into white supremacist thinking. It’s like the water that fish swim in. As a church leader, I want to mobilize our church to battle systemic racism – something that will take a whole lifetime.
GR: How was ICAR’s Gospel Run 5K/10K experience on race day?
Rev. Vicky Curtiss: It was fun to be part of the larger community of Chicagoans brought together by Gospel Run! It’s a gift of fellowship and community with one another. Gospel Run not only enabled us to raise funds to further our mission through anti-racism work, but deepened friendships among participants who are diverse racially. It celebrates who we all are.
ICAR Member Organizations: Fourth Presbyterian Church, Downtown Islamic Center, Trinity United Church of Christ, Old Saint Patrick’s Church, St. James Cathedral, Congregation Sinai, First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, LaSalle Street Church, St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, and Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.