Keeping the Dream Alive

To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University is offering an on-line dialogue titled Keeping the Dream Alive on Monday, August 28 from 6 – 7 p.m.

Although best remembered for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, the march was organized by leaders in the areas of civil rights, religion, and labor leaders to call for an end to segregation and racial discrimination, as well as advocating for fair wages and economic justice, voting rights, education, and long-overdue civil rights protections.

John Carr, founder of the Initiative and former director of justice and peace efforts for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will moderate the discussion.

Speakers include:

Sr. Anita Baird, DHM is the founding director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Racial Justice and a past president of the National Black Sisters' Conference. 

Marc Morial (L’83) is the president and CEO of the National Urban League, one of the original sponsors of the March on Washington 60 years ago.

Andrew Prevot is the new Amaturo Chair in Catholic Studies and professor of theology at Georgetown University. He is co-editor of Anti-Blackness and Christian Ethics.

Lauren Reliford, the political director at Sojourners, a Christian organization committed to advocacy for social justice, where she works on Sojourners’ policy strategy, positioning, framing, messaging, and advocacy for Congress and the Administration.

The participants will explore questions such as: 

-       What have we learned and where have we made progress in the 60 years since the March on Washington? Where have we not? 

-       What are key moral imperatives and policy priorities that advance racial and economic justice now? 

-       What is the connection between the civil rights and economic justice agendas from 60 years ago and those agendas now? 

-       Faith communities were a major part of the March on Washington. What are the continuing responsibilities of leaders and people of faith to advance freedom, equality, and justice for all? 

-       How do we engage and mobilize the broader U.S. community to address racism, economic justice, access to education, mass incarceration, and housing disparities?​

To register for the event, click here. A link to the recording will be sent to everyone who registers, regardless of whether they can attend the night of the event.

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