Welcome to IC4BL! Black Lives Matter! Immigrant Lives Matter!

On Sunday, September 21 from 1:30 to 2:30 we will hold our rally at 1400 Merritt Blvd, Dundalk, MD 21222. 

We have had several successful rallies at this location in Baltimore County.  It is also our honor to again designate Our Community Feeding Others as September's Related Action.  Please bring nonperishable items to the Rally.  Our Community Feeding Others is located at St. Matthew UMC in Turner Station where they provide food to approximately 75 families every Saturday (except for the first Saturday of the month).  

Suggested items to donate: canned vegetables or fruit (especially low sodium); pasta; cooking oil; rice; cereals, etc.  Please check all items to make sure they are not close to the expiration date and please do not donate opened packages!

If you would prefer to bring a check, please make it payable to St. Matthew UMC and write "food pantry" in the memo line.  

Although President Trump disparaged Baltimore and vowed to send the National Guard in, no one knows if he will really make good on his threat.  On September 3rd, Trump suggested he may instead send troops to New Orleans because Louisiana's Republican Governor has welcomed them in his State.  

Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned that the administration is looking for an excuse to continue its narrative that crime is out of control in American cities where most residents are Black or brown.

Meanwhile, faith communities are forging connections with other faith groups.  It is critical that we listen to  leaders of Black and brown communities to determine a response if troops do come to Baltimore.  

So, what can you or your faith community do?  Start by finding out what other faith communities are doing here and in other cities.  See what connections your faith community currently has with those who don't look like your community -- how can you develop those connections or strengthen the connections you have?  What do your neighbors -- especially your Black and brown neighbors -- need to feel safe? Don't presume (if you're white) that you know the answers.  Are there groups that need the support of white allies?  For example, walking children to school, shopping for groceries, getting medicines, etc., for neighbors with precarious immigration status?  Most of this information won't be shared in the mainstream news or even on social media -- but there are many Signal Chats organized across the city to strategize.  Signal is a messaging app that is encrypted on both ends of the conversation.  If you would like more information, ask someone on the IC4BL planning team to direct you to a member who can help you connect.  We are stronger together.

Although President Trump disparaged Baltimore and vowed to send the National Guard in, no one knows if he will really make good on his threat.  On September 3rd, Trump suggested he may instead send troops to New Orleans because Louisiana's Republican Governor has welcomed them in his State.  

Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned that the administration is looking for an excuse to continue its narrative that crime is out of control in American cities where most residents are Black or brown.

Meanwhile, faith communities are forging connections with other faith groups.  It is critical that we listen to  leaders of Black and brown communities to determine a response if troops do come to Baltimore.  

So, what can you or your faith community do?  Start by finding out what other faith communities are doing here and in other cities.  See what connections your faith community currently has with those who don't look like your community -- how can you develop those connections or strengthen the connections you have?  What do your neighbors -- especially your Black and brown neighbors -- need to feel safe? Don't presume (if you're white) that you know the answers.  Are there groups that need the support of white allies?  For example, walking children to school, shopping for groceries, getting medicines, etc., for neighbors with precarious immigration status?  Most of this information won't be shared in the mainstream news or even on social media -- but there are many Signal Chats organized across the city to strategize.  Signal is a messaging app that is encrypted on both ends of the conversation.  If you would like more information, ask someone on the IC4BL planning team to direct you to a member who can help you connect.  We are stronger together.

On Sunday, September 21 from 1:30 to 2:30 we will hold our rally at 1400 Merritt Blvd, Dundalk, MD 21222. 

We have had several successful rallies at this location in Baltimore County.  It is also our honor to again designate Our Community Feeding Others as September's Related Action.  Please bring nonperishable items to the Rally.  Our Community Feeding Others is located at St. Matthew UMC in Turner Station where they provide food to approximately 75 families every Saturday (except for the first Saturday of the month).  

Suggested items to donate: canned vegetables or fruit (especially low sodium); pasta; cooking oil; rice; cereals, etc.  Please check all items to make sure they are not close to the expiration date and please do not donate opened packages!

If you would prefer to bring a check, please make it payable to St. Matthew UMC and write "food pantry" in the memo line.  

Although President Trump disparaged Baltimore and vowed to send the National Guard in, no one knows if he will really make good on his threat.  On September 3rd, Trump suggested he may instead send troops to New Orleans because Louisiana's Republican Governor has welcomed them in his State.  

Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned that the administration is looking for an excuse to continue its narrative that crime is out of control in American cities where most residents are Black or brown.

Meanwhile, faith communities are forging connections with other faith groups.  It is critical that we listen to  leaders of Black and brown communities to determine a response if troops do come to Baltimore.  

So, what can you or your faith community do?  Start by finding out what other faith communities are doing here and in other cities.  See what connections your faith community currently has with those who don't look like your community -- how can you develop those connections or strengthen the connections you have?  What do your neighbors -- especially your Black and brown neighbors -- need to feel safe? Don't presume (if you're white) that you know the answers.  Are there groups that need the support of white allies?  For example, walking children to school, shopping for groceries, getting medicines, etc., for neighbors with precarious immigration status?  Most of this information won't be shared in the mainstream news or even on social media -- but there are many Signal Chats organized across the city to strategize.  Signal is a messaging app that is encrypted on both ends of the conversation.  If you would like more information, ask someone on the IC4BL planning team to direct you to a member who can help you connect.  We are stronger together.

Although President Trump disparaged Baltimore and vowed to send the National Guard in, no one knows if he will really make good on his threat.  On September 3rd, Trump suggested he may instead send troops to New Orleans because Louisiana's Republican Governor has welcomed them in his State.  

Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned that the administration is looking for an excuse to continue its narrative that crime is out of control in American cities where most residents are Black or brown.

Meanwhile, faith communities are forging connections with other faith groups.  It is critical that we listen to  leaders of Black and brown communities to determine a response if troops do come to Baltimore.  

So, what can you or your faith community do?  Start by finding out what other faith communities are doing here and in other cities.  See what connections your faith community currently has with those who don't look like your community -- how can you develop those connections or strengthen the connections you have?  What do your neighbors -- especially your Black and brown neighbors -- need to feel safe? Don't presume (if you're white) that you know the answers.  Are there groups that need the support of white allies?  For example, walking children to school, shopping for groceries, getting medicines, etc., for neighbors with precarious immigration status?  Most of this information won't be shared in the mainstream news or even on social media -- but there are many Signal Chats organized across the city to strategize.  Signal is a messaging app that is encrypted on both ends of the conversation.  If you would like more information, ask someone on the IC4BL planning team to direct you to a member who can help you connect.  We are stronger together.

Although President Trump disparaged Baltimore and vowed to send the National Guard in, no one knows if he will really make good on his threat.  On September 3rd, Trump suggested he may instead send troops to New Orleans because Louisiana's Republican Governor has welcomed them in his State.  

Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned that the administration is looking for an excuse to continue its narrative that crime is out of control in American cities where most residents are Black or brown.

Meanwhile, faith communities are forging connections with other faith groups.  It is critical that we listen to  leaders of Black and brown communities to determine a response if troops do come to Baltimore.  

So, what can you or your faith community do?  Start by finding out what other faith communities are doing here and in other cities.  See what connections your faith community currently has with those who don't look like your community -- how can you develop those connections or strengthen the connections you have?  What do your neighbors -- especially your Black and brown neighbors -- need to feel safe? Don't presume (if you're white) that you know the answers.  Are there groups that need the support of white allies?  For example, walking children to school, shopping for groceries, getting medicines, etc., for neighbors with precarious immigration status?  Most of this information won't be shared in the mainstream news or even on social media -- but there are many Signal Chats organized across the city to strategize.  Signal is a messaging app that is encrypted on both ends of the conversation.  If you would like more information, ask someone on the IC4BL planning team to direct you to a member who can help you connect.  We are stronger together.

Many of us know Olivia Lomax (left)  as the guiding force at Our Community Serving Others, a food pantry in historic Turner Station run by St. Matthew UMC.  Turner Station in Baltimore County was the home of the largest African-American community when redlining prevented Black families from living in Dundalk.  But, did you know that Ms. Lomax and her granddaughter are also involved in addressing climate change in their community?   Watch this wonderful movie produced by the Nature Conservancy highlighting what Ms. Lomax is doing to improve the resiliency of her community for generations to come!