RVA Races Together is a small movement to encourage Richmond's churches, faith communities and other local organizations
to partner across racial and ethnic lines to build bridges of
understanding and make a tangible positive impact on our city through
volunteering and preparing for the UCI Road World Championships in
September 2015 and beyond.
RVA Races Together started
as an idea between St. Michael's, Bon Air (a mostly white church) and
Fourth Baptist Church in Church Hill (a mostly black church). Our two
churches are working together on a clean up project on Aug. 29, then doing pulpit exchanges in October, and building from there.
You can be a part of RVA Races Together. Simply like their Facebook page and/or join the MeetUp Group, and come on out to help the Civic and Community organizations. Or, if you want to make a greater reach, gather a group from your own church or organization, then reach out to another church or organization that is culturally / ethnically different than your own to partner on: one event to help prepare for the UCI Race; one of the MeetUp events scheduled; one of the IMPACT cleanup sites to join with; participate in one of the areas of need identified by the city's Neighbor to Neighbor program; and more.
As the eyes of the world turn toward Richmond, the double meaning of "Races Together" will become a visible witness to the wider city and the world. In light of the recent racist shooting in Charleston, and Richmond's own challenging history with slavery and race relations, RVA Races Together encourages black and white churches to partner together for clean up and beautification projects along the race route, and local community organizations of all ethnic backgrounds to intentionally reach out across ethnic and cultural lines to form volunteer teams to help with other needs of the city to prepare for the race.
Our hope is that the cross-cultural partnerships formed in the next few weeks leading up to the race will continue afterwards in programs of mutual understanding and tangible outreach to help our city and region as a whole and build friendships.
