Press Releases

NEW YORK — United Women in Faith today mourned the devastating impact of flash flooding in Nepal and called to urgently address climate injustice. They released the following statement:

“United Women in Faith grieves the tragedy brought by flash flooding in Nepal and caused by glacial collapse,” said Sally Vonner, general secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith. “With at least 1,100 people dead and approximately 4,000 still missing, it is a pressing reminder of the need for climate justice.”

“Although frontline communities such as this are least responsible for the climate crisis, they disproportionately suffer its effects,” Vonner continued. “Moreover, women and children are more likely to be displaced and suffer gender-based violence in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

“We ask our members and all others to join United Women in Faith in action by utilizing our environmental justice resources to make positive changes to reduce our climate impact,” Vonner said. “Those looking to give can support the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) International Disaster Relief and Recovery efforts.”

“United Women in Faith prays for the children, women, families and all impacted by this disaster,” concluded Vonner. “We call on world leaders to invest in disaster relief and environmental protection; everyone in a position of power holds a responsibility to mitigate future harm and stop leaving frontline communities behind.”

“UMCOR is finalizing a solidarity grant to support United Mission Nepal as they aid impacted communities in the Dhading and Nuwakot districts with emergency food and non-food item assistance,” added Roland Fernandes, General Secretary of UMCOR, Global Ministries and Higher Education & Ministry. “We are also actively working with other partners for broader response as they assess capacity and access the affected areas.”

“These devastating floods represent much more than a natural disaster,” Fernandes continued. “They serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of a warming planet as we see vulnerable communities paying with their homes, livelihoods, and lives, despite having done the least to cause this crisis. We must move beyond expressions of concern and commit to meaningful action, ensuring that disaster relief, climate justice, and environmental protection receive the investment and urgency they demand.”

###

For Immediate Release

August 18, 2026

 WASHINGTON – The national racial equity organization Race Forward today announced that W. Kamau Bell will serve as an additional keynote for its 2026 Facing Race conference, taking place November 12-14, in Raleigh, NC. Kamau, a four-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian, filmmaker, podcast host, and author, joins previously announced keynote speaker Tressie McMillan Cottom, the sociologist, author and New York Times columnist. 

“This is a moment for those who want equity to prevail to unite,” said Race Forward President Glenn Harris. “We are delighted to have Kamau join our conference as he shares the same passion for democracy as our conference attendees. We believe he will offer an unvarnished yet hopeful take on what is possible when we refuse to accept the status quo.” 

Facing Race is the nation’s largest, multiracial, intergenerational, post-election gathering of racial justice advocates across the country. This one-of-a-kind gathering serves as a vital intersection where community organizers, activists, artists, educators, and movement makers come together to build collective power, sharpen strategy, and advance racial justice nationwide.

Kamau has a longstanding relationship with Race Forward, including previous appearances at Facing Race and past service on Race Forward’s board. 

Kamau is best known for hosting the Emmy award-winning CNN docuseries, United Shades of America, where he explored race, identity, and social issues across the nation. He is also a two-time New York Times bestselling author of Do the Work! An Antiracist Activity Book and a  contributing author to Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Kamau also hosts the Who’s With Me? podcast and Substack newsletter, and his current standup tour shares the same name.  

A limited number of media credentials are available for Facing Race. If you are interested in covering the conference, please complete this form by September 30: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/forms/media-credential.

###

For Immediate Release

August 10, 2026

WASHINGTON – Race Forward today announced sociologist, author and professor Tressie McMillan Cottom as the keynote speaker for its biennial Facing Race convening, taking place November 12-14, 2026. Facing Race is the country’s largest gathering of racial justice organizers, advocates, scholars, artists, public and civic leaders, and movement builders. 

Dr. Cottom is a towering intellectual whose extensive body of work and public scholarship closely aligns with Race Forward’s work to build a truly multiracial democracy. Her work challenges us to reimagine and transform the systems that determine who is included, who is excluded, and who has the power to shape our collective future. 

“We are keenly aware that this conference is occurring at a time of increasing efforts to undermine democracy,” said Glenn Harris, president, Race Forward. “The throughline between event speakers will be a sharp analysis of the state of race and democracy at a time of unprecedented attacks on both. We could not be more thrilled to have Tressie McMillan Cottom with us. She is exactly who our movement needs.”

As the first post-election gathering of its kind, Facing Race will bring together leaders and practitioners from across the racial justice movement to strengthen alignment and expand the conditions needed for justice, equity, and democracy to thrive. For more than two decades, Facing Race has served as a space for connection and exploration.

The event will occur in North Carolina, the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. North Carolina, and the South more broadly, has long been a bastion of civil rights struggle and innovation. For example, the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) at Shaw University in Raleigh became a driving force for grassroots organizing across the South. 

The enduring leadership of Indigenous nations whose stewardship of this land predates the state itself, as well as the labor, cultural resistance, and organizing traditions of Black farmers, migrant workers, laborers, and freedom fighters who demanded dignity and justice in the face of systemic opposition. It is only appropriate that we return to the land of our ancestors, with the hope of learning from their triumphs and trials.

“Structural racism remains one of the greatest barriers to realizing a democracy where everyone is truly free,” Harris said. “This moment invites us to reimagine the future, the path forward and the ways in which we work and show up for one another. We will continue this work in North Carolina.”

Facing Race offers attendees unprecedented access to resources, information, cultural experiences, and collaborative opportunities designed to push racial equity forward across movements, sectors, and communities.

Throughout its history, Race Forward has consistently delivered this transformative experience, convening thousands in cities over the years, including Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Baltimore, Berkeley, New York, and St. Louis. Each chapter of Facing Race is intentionally rooted in place—honoring the people, histories, and movements that have shaped the fight for justice.

This biennial event has a limited number of media spots. If you are interested in applying for media credentials, please complete this form by September 30: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/forms/media-credential.

WASHINGTON – As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, millions are questioning whether democracy can truly deliver on its promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Race Forward will host a July 1 webinar to explore the possibilities for strengthening democracy through co-governance. The conversation will occur as part of the organization’s #RaceAnd series and will be held July 1 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PT.

For Immediate Release
June 9, 2026

National Black Justice Collective, United by Equity, Black Music Action Coalition, and Other Civil Rights, LGBTQ+ Equality, Reproductive Health, and Immigrant Rights Orgs Host Equity Week 2026

The Series of Events Will Spotlight Reparative Justice, Equity-Driven Legislation, Civic Engagement, Racial Healing, and Black LGBTQ+/SGL Cultural Power.

WASHINGTON—From Thursday, June 11 to Friday, June 12, the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), alongside United by Equity, Black Music Action Coalition, and a broad coalition of racial justice, civic engagement, and community partners, will host National Equity Week 2026 — a multi-day convening focused on reparative justice, public policy advocacy, racial healing, and Black LGBTQ+/SGL cultural celebration.

At a time when attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, voting rights, LGBTQ+/SGL communities, and historically honest education continue escalating nationwide, Equity Week 2026 will bring together advocates, scholars, artists, elected leaders, ballroom houses, students, and community members to build power, deepen civic engagement, and advance conversations around repair, equity, democracy, and liberation.

OUT ON THE HILL

Date: Thursday, June 11
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST
Location: Capitol Visitor’s Center South Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 268)

Participants will meet directly with members of Congress and congressional staff to advocate for legislation impacting Black, LGBTQ+/SGL, and marginalized communities. The day will focus on hands-on civic engagement, advocacy training, and coalition-building around issues including reparative justice, voting rights, healthcare equity, education, and civil rights protections. The event will kick off with a reparations press conference hosted by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) at the House Triangle.

RACIAL HEALING CIRCLE

Date: Friday, June 12
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Location: Busboys and Poets, 14th and V

This community-centered listening session and panel discussion, co-hosted with the Sue Aft Memorial and George Mason University, will convene Equity Week leadership and attendees for a conversation focused on racial healing, repair, and the work required to build more just and equitable communities.

THE EQUITY BALL

Date: Friday, June 12
Time: 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM EST
Location: Howard Theatre

The Equity Ball will close Equity Week with a powerful celebration of ballroom culture, Black queer artistry, and civic engagement. Legendary houses will compete in categories centered on community impact and empowerment, with cash prizes awarded throughout the evening in a vibrant showcase of Black LGBTQ+/SGL excellence, creativity, resilience, and joy.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF EVENTS AND REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE

“Equity is not a trend, slogan, or political talking point; it is a moral and democratic imperative imprinted by our Founders as vital to the success of the American experiment,” said Dr. David J. Johns, CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective. “Equity Week exists to remind this nation that repair requires action — action from lawmakers, institutions, communities, and each of us. In this moment of escalating attacks on Black history, LGBTQ+/SGL people, education, and democracy itself, gathering together in truth, culture, and collective power is both necessary and transformative.”

“I am grateful to return to this event with the wonderful community doing this work,” said Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, executive director of United by Equity. “As we gather ahead of Juneteenth, we want people to know that the holiday was always intended to be accompanied by reparations. No matter the challenges we face, we will continue the pursuit of healing, repair, and justice for everyone.”

“We are not at an arbitrary crossroads; we are inside of a reckoning,” said Dreisen Heath, Founder of the Why We Can’t Wait Reparations Network. “The attacks on Black history, voting rights, economic mobility, and other civil rights protections are not separate crises — they are predictable consequences of a country that has never settled its debts. Reparative justice can’t wait for the right political and social climate; it is the floor beneath every fight for Black freedom and liberation. Equity Week is where that understanding becomes action.”

If you are interested in learning more about National Equity Week, Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Organizer, UCLA professor, and executive director of United by Equity, is available to discuss what’s in store and the coalition’s continued calls for elected leaders to take up and pass federal racial equity and reparations legislation.

For Immediate Release 
March 12, 2026 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Missourians overwhelmingly agree that living a healthy life requires more than access to medical care. According to a statewide survey, Speak Up MO, commissioned by Missouri Foundation for Health, residents view good jobs, quality schools and libraries, low levels of crime, and treating people with respect as essential for building healthy communities.

The poll surveyed more than 1,800 Missourians, and conducted focus groups with roughly 70 community members, gauging their views on a range of issues including physical and mental health, civic engagement, the economy, financial well-being, and belonging. The findings offer a look at Missourians’ priorities and concerns about what they need to thrive.

Key findings include:

● Cost of living and the cost of health care continue to be dominant concerns for Missourians.
● 97% of Missourians view high-quality jobs as the primary factor for a healthy community.
● Most Missourians report a feeling of belonging in their community, but some groups, notably Latinos and LGBTQ+ Missourians feel that way at much lower rates.
● More than half of Missourians experienced mental strain last year. Those reporting difficulty accessing mental health care increased from 39% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.
● Just 10% of residents feel they can meaningfully impact or influence community decisions; this cuts across party lines.

“These findings reaffirm what we hear every day. Missourians know what it takes to build thriving communities,” said Sheldon Weisgrau, Vice President of Health Policy and Advocacy, Missouri Foundation for Health. “They want meaningful jobs with fair pay and good benefits, strong community connections, and access to affordable care, among other things. When we align our policy priorities around what Missourians say they value, we move closer to a Missouri where everyone has what they need to live their healthiest lives.”

Belonging
The data also outlined areas for elected officials and community leaders to further explore. For instance, Latino and LGBTQ+ residents reported lower rates of belonging than other groups surveyed. A strong sense of belonging supports overall health by increasing the likelihood that an individual perceives themselves as having places where they can access support and successfully manage the stressors of everyday life.

Health Care
The report also highlighted growing concerns around health care accessibility and affordability. Most Missourians rely on coverage through an employer, Medicare, or a spouse’s plan. Additionally, many respondents reported having a lapse in health care coverage at some point in the year. This means many may have gone without care, racked up medical debt, or redirected household funds to cover medical expenses.

Mental Health Care
At least 52% of residents reported mental strain last year, and more than half had difficulty accessing mental health care. This challenge was especially pronounced among marginalized groups, with 68% of Latinos, 67% of LGBTQ individuals, and 59% of women reporting difficulty. Black Missourians also cited health care discrimination, particularly in mental health.

About the Poll
This study was conducted in collaboration with bipartisan polling partners, FM3 Research and New Bridge Strategy, utilizing a combination of surveys conducted among 1,833 adult Missourians. The data was collected in English and Spanish via phone, online surveys, and in-person focus groups. The margin of sampling error was +/- 2.3@ at the 95% confidence level.

###

Missouri Foundation for Health is building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment. Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to promote fairness within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes.