Racial & Economic Justice

This group works to actively challenge racism and economic injustice locally and nationally. The Racial and Economic Justice Task Force is involved in many current issues.

Addresses key ballot initiatives over the past years (including Proposal 2 which sought to ban affirmative action and more recently the Health Care for MI Campaign to make health care affordable and accessible for every resident of MI.);
Hosts monthly Racial Justice Book Groups, on titles such as Uprooting Racism by Paul Kivel, Privilege Revealed by Stephanie Wildman and The Debt by Randall Robinson;
Addresses the systemic inequality related to health disparities and access to healthcare through workshops and film screenings/discussions (featuring PBS documentary: Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?);
Partners with RAAH (Religious Action for Affordable Housing) to mobilize human and financial resources for affordable housing in Washtenaw County;
Organizes regular Poverty Simulation workshops for congregations, university departments, community agencies, and other organizations to raise awareness about the realities of living in poverty in MI;
Promotes access to affordable, practical public transit for our communities; advocates for better county-wide public transit in collaboration with other local groups including Partners for Transit;
Offers informational resources on healthcare policies and plans; engages community in discussions about the implications of racial and economic injustice on our health
Explores the achievement gap in the local school system and how our communities can respond to this inequality;
Partners with the Michigan Campaign for Justice to promote reform to the public defenders system in Michigan.

The Racial and Economic Justice Task Force meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 12:00 to 1:30PM, at 1679 Broadway, Ann Arbor, please call (734) 663-1870 or email info@icpj.net to confirm.

Recent Racial and Economic Justice News from ICPJ

Racial Justice Book Group: The New Jim Crow
Unstuck: Reviving the Movement for Social Justice, Human Dignity, & the Environment
Race and Religion Project
Facing Poverty: What would you do?
Book Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Support Proposal 3: Michigan Energy/Michigan Jobs
Chipocrisy!
Racial Justice Book Group: "Is Everyone Really Equal?"
Discussions of Diversity: Increasing Inclusion at ICPJ
How the 1% Crashed the Economy Teach-in
Ninety-Four Area Faith and Community Leaders Call On County to Save Human Service Funding
Faith and Community Leaders Sign-On Letter for Human Services Funding
Playing for Peace Fundraiser
Imprisoning Michigan's Future
Tell the County Commission Not to Cut the Safety Net
May 3: Vote YES for Education
No Cuts to our Safety Net: Speak Out Monday Night
American Sons video online
State of the Movement Forum
Reason 8 to donate to ICPJ: ICPJ Works for Racial Justice
Religious Freedom Day Jan. 16: Discuss, Serve, Learn, Preach
The Color of Wealth
ICPJ responds to coordinated funding proposal
American Sons: Reflections on Being Muslim in America
UPDATE: Contact City Council passed resolution in response to anti-Muslim activities
Don't Burn a Qur'an. Preach Tolerance, Preach the Qur'an
How to respond to a racist comment
Torture and Prisons
Faith & Civil Rights Vigil in Support of Justice at Andiamo workers
Muslim Movie Series: Journey into America
Racial Justice Book Group: Uprooting Racism
State of the Peace Movement Panel
Why is Health Care a Moral Issue for you?
Independence Day Community Discussion and Potluck
Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative Spring 2008 Faith Based & Community Organization Conference
We need your help to make health care available to all in Michigan!
Help bring health care reform to Michigan
Shopping locally for the holidays is a gift to your community
Is Racism Dead?
The "Jena 6" Reminds Us Why We Must Work for Racial Justice
The Michigan Food Stamp Challenge: Don't cut Food Stamps to Pay for War
Volunteer Opportunity: Welfare Simulation
Message to Michigan: Don't Cut Social Services
It's happened to me, why we need to cover the uninsured
Public Official's Forum about the Prisoner ReEntry Program
Ripple Effects: Motivating Personal Action for Economic Justice
ICPJ's Welfare Simulations Featured in Lansing City Pulse
A Christian Perspective on Affirmative Action: The Last Will Be First
Say no to minimum wage dirty trick
Racial and Economic Justice- Suggested Reading
Host a House Party- Protect Diversity
Immigration and Ann Arbor--The Restaurant Workplace Project
Reflections on "Poverty Can be Beaten"
Poverty Can Be Beaten
Keep Ypsi Rolling
Build on our victory--take the minimum wage raise national!
We Raised the Wage!
Save Bus Service to Ypsi Petition
Lansing State Journal tells stories of minimum wage workers
Governor backs minimum wage increase
Raise the Minimum Wage: A Good First Step in Addressing Poverty Iraq -- ICPJ Update -- January 25, 2006
Minimum Wage campaign gets press

Racial and Economic Justice: Suggested Reading

Proposal 2 would roll back progress for women and minorities!

We Raised the Wage! Quick Success Brings Raise Campaign to a Close. Now let’s build on our Victory- Take the Minimum Wage Raise National!
Ann Arbor Police Department Racial Profiling Study (PDF, 451 KB)

Religious Teaching on Worker Rights

Catholic Social Teaching on Labor, Unions, and Workers Rights
Episcopal Church: It is about more than just wages
Lutheran: Workers Rights – Assembly Action
Reform Judaism: Living Wage
Conservative Judaism: Welfare Reform
American Friends Service Committee: Peacework Magazine “4 Myths”