As we honor and remember the contributions of the great civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it offers a time for us to reflect on one of Dr. King's central tenants: the Beloved Community, based upon equality, justice and love among one another. Dr. King was dedicated to the manifestation of the Beloved Community throughout his ministry, from the marches to secure freedom from discrimination based upon race, to the final year of King's life when he spoke out for peace calling for an end to the Vietnam war. We can garner courage and inspiration from his example of taking a stand and organizing for the betterment of communities everywhere, bringing his words to life: Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.
As we embark on a new year, IPC is at a critical juncture to expand our work more broadly to manifest a beloved community within the Chesapeake Bay. IPC, with gratitude and excitement, celebrates the granting of $1M from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as an opportunity to contribute to the creation of the beloved community as we take a stand for a clean healthy environment for all through education, advocacy and action creating a qualitative change for all life within our watershed communities. With this grant over the next 3 years, we will continue to engage faith communities in deepening their connection and understanding of their local watershed, it's beauty and it's challenges. In doing so, we are responding to Dr. King's call for people to be of service to their community: Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Through our organizing efforts with partners, we will be offering more opportunities for you to serve your own beloved community!
Building upon the successful One Water Partnership in the Jones Falls watershed (see here for results), IPC, along with these partners - Blue Water Baltimore, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Watershed Stewards Academies in Anne Arundel County and Harford County, Interfaith Power & Light-DMV, Lower Shore Land Trust, Wicomico Environmental Trust, READY of Anne Arundel County, and the University of Maryland Extension Office Sea Grant, will continue to build upon our work in Baltimore and Harford County, while also expanding to Anne Arundel, Wicomico County on the lower Eastern Shore, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Through the award of this 3-year grant program, we will mobilize 100 congregations, of which 36 will commit to deep engagement and high-impact stormwater management or restoration projects.
Read more here and sign up to learn more or participate in this wonderful and exciting development for IPC as we, along with you, contribute to this beloved community of the Chesapeake Bay.
Kolya Braun-Greiner