North Church Presbyterian, 4501 Superior Avenue, Cleveland
Join Racial Equity Buddies for a powerful community gathering honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through music, discussion, and action. The program includes live gospel music, a panel on Dr. King’s unfinished work, interactive breakout sessions, and a closing drum circle to inspire collective action. A continental breakfast will be served 10-10:30 AM.
Register here: https://sites.google.com/view/racialequitybuddiesofgreatercl/home
These times demand we strategize, organize & act! This gathering is a robust call to action—blending culture, knowledge, and community to resolutely honor Dr. King’s legacy and advance his fight for equity and justice. We gather to reclaim the spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We gather to uplift one another (we begin with live gospel/spirituals). We gather to learn from our esteemed panelists and moderator. We gather to strategize & build community (small brainstorming breakout groups to discuss actions). And we gather to embolden ourselves as we close with a dynamic drum circle.
We begin with uplifting spiritual and gospel music to set the tone. A thought-provoking panel follows, exploring Dr. King’s unfinished work and its impact on Greater Cleveland today. From there, we move into interactive breakout sessions to reflect, strategize, and find ways to take meaningful action. Each group will share key takeaways before we close, as we began, with culture—this time, a drum circle to embolden and energize us as we carry forward the work of justice.
Cultural artists include:
Professor Olu Manns, Africana Studies, Kent State University
Donna Walton, Gospel Artist
Panel moderated by Mara Smith, attorney and justice advocate. Panelists include:
Therapist Brenda Glass, MSSA, LISW-S, is the founder and executive director of the Brenda Glass Multipurpose Trauma Center. Ms. Glass specializes in trauma, cultural inclusivity, and innovative recovery practices for healing and thriving after trauma from violent crimes. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who earned her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Social Science Administration with a focus on Adult Mental Health, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from Ursuline College, and an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Human Services from Cuyahoga Community College. An advocacte for victims' rights and policy change, Ms. Glass is a speaker and facilitator of workshops to educate the survivors and community partners about the impact of trauma and possible resolutions in people of color sectors of our society. Ms. Glass received the Special Courage Award from the Attorney General’s Office and the Hidden Figures award from the City of Cleveland for her efforts in addressing the needs of survivors of violence.
Chris Knestrick serves as the Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), a position he has held since July 2017. With over two decades of experience working with the homeless community, Chris has been deeply involved in both local and international advocacy efforts. His commitment to social justice has taken him around the world, developing a dedication to organizing for change and nonviolent resistance that centers the voices most impacted by public policy and state violence. Before leading NEOCH, Chris was active in the Catholic Worker community in Cleveland and the Community Peacemaker Teams in Colombia, South America. Under Chris's leadership, NEOCH has continued to grow its mission to amplify the voices of homeless individuals, coordinate outreach efforts, and advocate and organize for systemic change to address the root causes of homelessness. He seeks to build communities that trust and allow individuals to recognize their authentic self and have the power and courage to seek justice and joy.
Matthew Ahn, Attorney, & criminal law & "justice" system expert.
Our drum major for justice, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., not only stood with the poor, oppressed, and marginalized—he was treated as one of them. We strive to revive that spirit within ourselves, acting boldly in the solidarity and justice he exemplified.
Honor MLK by Demanding Real Change. Dr. King knew that justice requires more than words—it demands radical structural change. He spoke unapologetically about systemic racism, writing in A Testament of Hope (1969), “White America must recognize that justice for Black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.” In Stride Toward Freedom (1958), he reminded us, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. In August 1967, King spoke about the three evils “the sickness of racism, excessive materialism, and militarism.”.
Join Us. Stand in Solidarity. Take Action.
Sponsors: Racial Equity Buddies of Greater Cleveland - Federated Church UCC, Chagrin Falls - Pretrial Support Team of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland.- The Eastside Citizen Empowerment Foundation of East Cleveland - The Peace and Justice Ministry of Lyndhurst Community of Faith Church -SURJ, NEO (Showing Up For Racial Justice) - NORA (Northern Ohio Recovery Association) - Food Strong - The ACLU, Ohio - Community Church of Chesterland, UCC
