Community Focus
Something inspiring and powerful happened on the streets of Lancaster in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. On one Sunday alone, over 1,000 people joined a protest against police brutality and systemic racism. Protests continued throughout the summer of 2020, not just in Lancaster, but in places such as Manheim, Lititz and Quarryville. Black and white, young and old, city dwellers and suburbanites. The diversity of Lancaster County was on display, engendering a palpable sense of solidarity around the idea that things must change.
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But exactly what had to change? And how was it going to happen? Those questions went unanswered as the pandemic and politics pushed racial reconciliation to the side.
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We are a grassroots committee of citizens who see challenges and a broad spectrum of people in our community who want to tackle them. Our goal is to help Lancaster County push forward by creating an opportunity for a community conversation around issues that are hard to talk about, especially for white people, but that must be talked about.
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Specifically, we are planning a day-long summit called “Targeting Injustices Hidden in Plain Sight.”
Together We Can:
A Townhall for Targeting Hidden Injustices
The Townhall will highlight our belief that through collective action by everyone who has a heart for social and racial justice, we can assure that our government, criminal justice system, schools, health care and other institutions are free of systemic bias.
Main Objectives:
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To bring together people from across Lancaster County for a morning of conversation and networking focused on working together.
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To gain support and jumpstart planning for a bigger, day-long forum in the fall of 2023 that we are calling the Targeting Injustices Hidden in Plain Sight Summit.
Summit
Targeting Hidden Injustices in Plain Sight
We envision the summit as a historic forum for an interracial, intergenerational gathering of over 1,000 people, with a special emphasis on young adults of color. The summit will be a day for elders to tell their stories of struggle, for data-driven social scientists to explain the crippling legacy of racism in Lancaster County, and for advocates to showcase their work in repairing the damage.
Most importantly, the summit in the fall will conclude with a session laying out a collaborative plan of action for sustainable, meaningful activism.
The summit should not be seen as a one-day event, but as the launch of a new wave of change.