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Candace Moore Joins Race Forward as Senior Strategic Advisor

For Immediate Release

December 15, 2023

Race Forward today announced Candace Moore, Esq., a policy and systems strategist with demonstrated experience addressing issues of equity and racial justice, will join the organization on January 8, 2024, as Senior Strategic Advisor. Moore brings executive government, legal practice and community-based advocacy experience to this role, in which she will focus on bridging and aligning the placed-based work of Race Forward’s programs and deepening collaborations. She will also lead the expansion into new sites of our place-based strategies, training curriculum  and tools for government and community.

“Race Forward is thrilled to have Candace Moore join our team  during this time when attacks on communities of color continue unabated,” said Race Forward President Glenn Harris. “From efforts to dismantle the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to attacks on reproductive rights, and attacks on public education, we know the importance of local and regional governments working to advance racial justice and democracy. The experience Candace brings with a rich background and expertise in government and community-based work will allow her to develop innovative strategies and initiatives to advance racial equity and democracy in communities across this country.”

Race Forward’s Place-Based Strategy works locally and trans-locally to implement organizational goals in and across places. Collective power building goals include transforming the public sector to govern for racial equity, building governing power of communities of color, and building narratives that advance a just multiracial democracy. Candace’s leadership will help Race Forward to achieve scale and impact in local communities across the country.

“We are in a moment in our fight for racial justice that demands we build new ways of collaborating and demonstrate to our communities that a system rooted in racial inclusion is worthy and can deliver a more fair and just democracy,” Moore said. “This is why I am excited to step into my next chapter at Race Forward. Throughout my career, the work of Race Forward has been an anchor grounding me in ideas, strategies, and tools to drive equity and racial justice in the communities I’ve served. Whether serving in Chicago as a civil rights attorney or the city’s first Chief Equity Officer, my goal has always been to demonstrate that we can make real change toward racial justice. Joining the team as Senior Strategic Advisor is a dynamic opportunity to connect and partner with fellow racial justice colleagues to support their impact in communities across the country. My intention is to learn, connect resources and people, and spotlight the power of our movement.”

Prior to joining Race Forward, Moore served as the first chief equity officer for the City of Chicago; a senior staff attorney for education equity at the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; and a campaign coordinator for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

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About Race Forward

Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. Working in partnership with communities, community-based and grassroots organizations, and government entities across sectors, we advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture by building strategies to bridge community organizations and government, training individuals and organizations on racial equitable practices, and convening activists, organizers, and leaders in racial justice for shared learning, understanding, strategizing and action.

United Women in Faith Highlights Devastating Impact of War on Women and Children, Pleads for Ceasefire and Women’s Voices and Perspectives to be Included in Peace Negotiations

For Immediate Release

Dec. 8, 2023

NEW YORK – United Women in Faith joins voices from across the world in decrying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As an entity committed to the uplift of women, children and youth, the organization highlighted the disproportionate toll of war on women, children and youth. It urges all parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire, abide by international norms, and include women, women’s organizations and gender perspectives in peace negotiations. It also encourages all parties to prioritize the safety and well-being of women, children, and youth.

Its General Secretary and CEO, Sally Vonner, issued the following statement:

“There is no question that Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. It is imperative that President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress refrain from providing U.S. funding for the siege on Gaza. There must be a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution that promotes just and lasting peace.

“United Women in Faith condemns the violent attacks of Hamas on October 7 that caused the loss of 1,200 Israelis and other nationals, and the kidnapping of more than 200 hostages. We also condemn the Israeli government’s cutting off water, gas, electricity, goods, and supplies to Gaza. We decry the Israeli government’s large-scale air bombardment and ground invasion of hospitals, homes, schools, mosques, and houses of worship.

“As the largest denominational organization for women, United Women in Faith anchors its beliefs on The UMC Social Principles, which state, ‘As disciples of Christ, we are called to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. … We believe that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities.’

“These actions place women and girls at greater risk for gender-based violence, unwanted pregnancies, and infections and disrupt access to essential resources like food, water, medicine, social services, and medical care. We must not lose sight of the physical, psychological, and spiritual impact war and instability has on women, children, and youth.” “As of December 5, 12,000 of the 16,200 Palestinians killed have been women and children, per UN Women. Over 951,490 women and girls have been displaced. Fifty thousand women in Gaza are pregnant, with over 180 giving birth each day, and many are unable to receive care or access medical resources for emergency C-sections or clean water for mixing infant formula.

“As women of faith committed to peace with justice, we are inspired by the work of Palestinian, Arab Israeli, and Jewish Israeli women who advocate for solutions that minimize bloodshed and provide a path forward. We unite our voices with Palestinian and Israeli women who have long recognized that achieving long-term peace in the region will require a negotiated political solution. The status quo of continued occupation, denial of self-determination, and intermittent war will not lead to just and lasting peace, freedom, and security for both peoples. We also join with Israeli voices who call for the repudiation of extremist language and for the Israeli government to demonstrate that it will not pursue a genocidal program against Palestinians in Gaza.

“We condemn anti-Palestinian, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim rhetoric and the resulting rise in hate crimes targeting Palestinian, Jewish, and Muslim individuals, families and communities in the United States and across the globe. We encourage our members and the broader public to actively speak out against anti-Palestinian, antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate speech and actions.

“We continue to pray fervently for just and lasting peace.”

We urge the Biden Administration and Congress to support:

● An immediate permanent ceasefire.

● Abidance of international humanitarian laws and release of all civilian hostages.

● Lifting the 16-year blockade on Gaza that has subjected 2.2 million Palestinians to collective punishment.

● Full, unhindered humanitarian access and delivery to all parts of Gaza.

● An end to providing U.S. arms to Israel and an overall arms embargo on the whole region.

● The inclusion of women, women’s organizations, and gender perspectives in peace negotiation and future resolution, complying with the global framework laid out in Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

 

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EVENT: Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye to Lead Workshop on Grief, Stress and Coping During the Holidays

For Immediate Release

Dec. 4, 2023

BALTIMORE – Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye, an acclaimed author and psychotherapist, will lead a workshop on grief, stress and coping during the holidays for the Institute for Spirituality and Health. The event occurs on December 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. N’Diaye will also discuss her most recent book, “Big Mama Speaks: Love Lessons from a Harlem River Swan.”

“I am here while I’m here with a purpose to bring healing, hope and help. I want to help people come to a place of deepened self-awareness and to understand with their whole bodies that they are here for a glorious reason. Every person has a purpose. I want people to leave feeling and believing that, even amidst grief and pain.”

WHO:            Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye, Acclaimed Author and Psychotherapist

WHAT:           Silent Nights: Grief, Stress and Coping During the Holidays workshop

WHEN:          Thursday, December 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Rothko Chapel, 3900 Yupon Street, Houston

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