A Partnership in Economic Opportunity

Action

The Nehemiah Initiative

A Partnership in Economic Opportunity

Action

The Nehemiah Initiative

Black leaders have identified housing discrimination as a key source of the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites in America.

Economic equality means reversing the impact of that discrimination. Over the past 40 years, gentrification has reduced the Black population in Seattle’s Central District from 85% to 15%. The Nehemiah Initiative is a collaboration between Black churches in the CD and the University of Washington School of Architecture. It aims to stabilize the Black population in the CD through the creation of affordable housing and opportunities for home ownership. Through its connection with BJBBC, The Nehemiah Initiative is seeking the support and partnership of the Jewish community in this venture.

Partners

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Participating in the Bible studies group allows me to be in community with neighbors I’ve never before known and to open my eyes and heart to their experiences of struggle, vulnerability, hope and strength. I’ve studied these stories all my life, but I’ve never encountered them with such relevance and presence.
Diane Douglas
Black-Jewish Bible Study has been especially enlightening. It’s a space where individuals from the Black community and from the Jewish community come together to discuss text, and bring text into context regarding present day issues and events. I’ve learned so much from this crew and look forward to continued growth together.
Ashira Solomon
Rabbi Jay and Dr. Mark have done an outstanding job organizing multiple series of powerful Building Beloved Community interactive discussions for the Black and Jewish communities. While each meeting begins with Bible text to create neutral and mutually relatable content, discussions quickly launch into passionate, deeply resonating topics with personal histories, stories, and pleas. Conversations and experiences are shared with truth, emotion, and sincere openness. We lean into the belief that supporting each other will proceed at the speed for which trust and relationships are built. I made a dear new friend through my participation in this group. We’ve met on Zoom once a week for two years since the start of the Pandemic. This group and our growing relationships are a personal inspiration and can serve as a model that would greatly benefit all communities. I hope to see an expansion of this noble and worthwhile mission.
Etana Kunovsky
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Being part of the Jewish/Black Clergy Bible Study has been spiritually and intellectually rewarding for me. The (selected text and) opportunity to be paired together and study the bible from two rich faith traditions is simply awesome. The theological interpretations shared have been fascinating and extremely relevant when reflecting upon social issues of our time. Two historic marginalize groups finding common ground with the hope of individual and community spiritual transformation to help shape a better world is what I had hoped when joining this group. Together we are learning and continue to develop our respective hermeneutics with the collaboration of rabbi and theological scholars in this space. Onward… striving to uplift the beloved community!
Cynthia Bynum