People: Accomplishments
of Community and Religious Organizations
A grassroots-led multiethnic human rights alliance mobilizing people, policy and ideals for the equitable advancement of marginalized communities.
Mission :: Our Story :: Our Leadership :: Youth Voices :: Our Members :: Accomplishments
Accomplishments:
Next Steps:
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2005: The United Congress was founded by Target Area Development Corporation and the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois .
August 2006: First retreat with Executive Directors and board members of six organizations in Three Rivers, MI.
2006-2007: The Lived Black Experience held in Auburn-Gresham, the Lived Mexican Experience held in Little Village, and the Lived Black and Immigrant Experience in Albany Park brought hundreds of leaders together across racial, religious and geographic boundaries.
2006-2007: The United Congress expands to two partner and nine member organizations.
September 2007: Premiered Prince Among Slaves film at Iftar attended by over one thousand Christians and Muslims who broke fast together at Ambassadors for Christ World Outreach Center.
December 2007-February 2008: Conducted Racial Justice and Policy trainings for over one hundred United Congress leaders in English and Spanish.
February 2008: State of Unity Summit in Springfield, IL. Over 300 leaders delivered the Applied Research Center’s Illinois Report Card on Racial to all Illinois legislators and Constitutional office holders. The Summit honored the state’s top legislators promoting racial equity.
July 2008: United Congress and its member organizations won 500 summer jobs for youth through the Governor’s 2008 Summer Youth Works Program.
August 2008: Summer Youth Leadership Initiative. Forty youth built relationships and leadership across fifteen neighborhoods. Youth leaders were trained on racial justice and developed a shared vision of human rights.
September 2008: The United Congress adopts the People’s Platform for Equity and Justice that outlines a clear vision of principles and priorities to mobilize a grassroots human rights agenda.
September 2008: United Congress youth leaders hold “Fasting for Faith and Justice” connecting stories across communities of how fasting has been practiced to fight for justice and build community. Hunger strikers provide experiences from the struggle for Little Village Lawndale High School and Muslim-youth leaders share their perspectives on Ramadan.
October-November 2008: The State of Race: Redefining Identity, Building Power, Changing Communities brought together over 400 leaders from Chicago and across the country to discuss issues of race, human rights and movement building.
December 2008: The United Congress and Th!nkInc host a discussion on “Race and Identity” with Yamina Benguigui, acclaimed French filmmaker and Deputy Mayor of Paris for Human Rights and Exclusion Issues.