Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.  There have been many conversations around issues of racial inequality, bias in the criminal justice system and the need for municipal government reform. Currently, the Ferguson Commission, appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon, is formulating its recommendations for the best ways for our region to heal, grow and effect needed change.  

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is committed to continuing its focus on its programs that are addressing the issues of racial inequality and criminal justice reform. These include:

• The work of the Community Against Poverty (CAP) Coalition and the Newmark Institute for Human Relations in the area of improving access to quality, affordable early childhood education in under resourced communities;
• The work of CAP in combatting poverty and marshaling community resources to alleviate hunger;
• JCRC’s ongoing collaboration with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, including  co-sponsorship of the African-American-Jewish Task Force, which meets regularly to dialogue on common issues of concern, and JCRC’s work in support of the Save Our Sons Program;
• The focus of the Newmark Institute on the issue of mass incarceration.     

The Jewish Community Relations Council marks the one year anniversary of Ferguson with profound hope that the racial divides that were brought into sharp relief by the events surrounding the death of Michael Brown will continue to be intensively addressed.   JCRC is committed to equal rights, justice and opportunity for all and will continue to work for a St. Louis community that is dedicated to addressing what divides us and finding positive solutions moving forward. 

Robert D. Millstone, President

Batya Abramson-Goldstein, Executive Director