As I come to the conclusion of my time as a CAPS Fellow with Community Renewal Society, I find myself reflecting on how I have grown and developed through my experiences as a Communications and Development intern. While this summer has certainly gone by fast, it has been a delight to learn about various macro-level and policy approaches for tackling the connections between racism and poverty, participate in webinars on engaging members of a congregation and building a valued donor base, aid in launching the new CRS website, and celebrate the passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act in Illinois. Most notably, it has been incredibly educational and rewarding to witness the elimination of cash money bond, a crucial part of the prison industrial complex that furthers racial and economic disparities for individuals presumed to be innocent. Despite the time it has taken to recognize the value of eliminating this inequitable and unjust system, the hard work of the Coalition to End Money Bond, the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, and CRS’s own policy and organizing team remind me of the importance of celebrating the little wins in the larger pursuit for healing justice and social change.
One of the most enjoyable and exciting things this summer has been the writing and publishing of a three-part series featured on CRS’s blog. In particular, I had the opportunity to share my experience as a facilitator for the 2023 Kansha Project through the Japanese American Citizen’s League (JACL) of Chicago. The Kansha Project is a program that was established in 2011 with the aim of connecting self-identified Japanese Americans aged between 18 and 25 from the Midwest to their identity, history, and community. Participants are given the opportunity to partake in an immersive educational trip to Los Angeles’ historic Little Tokyo neighborhood and Manzanar National Historic Site, where they engage in an in-depth examination of the WWII confinement site experience. Through this writing opportunity, I was able to reflect on the striking similarities between the modern-day movement for reparations towards descendants of slavery compared to the redress movement for survivors of the World War II Japanese American Concentration Camps. If interested, you can read all three parts of my blog article series here, on the new Community Renewal Society website!
In addition to writing about my time as a facilitator for the Kansha Project, I have had the joy of speaking on the sentiments of legacy, gratitude, and remembrance. In particular, it was incredibly moving to reflect on the experiences of my ancestors and compare them to the modern-day struggle against anti-Asian sentiment, unjust policing practices, and the need for economic restitution for other marginalized communities. Through this internship, I feel that I am now able to see myself as an advocate for social justice through my enhanced understanding of historical context and the effect it has on shaping public policy. Moving forward, I hope to bring with me the focus of building a Beloved Community where all of God’s children can flourish in my developing and evolving career as a social worker.
– Katie Hill, Community Renewal Society