Dear Friend,

As this year comes to a close, I am filled with hope about 2022. I am pleased to share some highlights of the social good that MovementForward, Inc. (MFI) and our partners accomplished together in pursuit of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to as the Beloved Community. 

One of the highlights of 2021 was National Faith & Blue Weekend. This momentous event, with over 2,000 engagements, reached people in all fifty states via in-person and virtual events, media coverage, and social media. There were 119 different types of activities, from community dialogues to peace and unity marches to service projects. These engagements affirm my belief that Americans are searching for collaboration, not division. We will share our impact report on Faith & Blue in January 2022. In the interim, you can view some of the thousands of photos taken over the weekend at our online gallery. Faith & Blue was just one of the many programs that MFI initiated in 2021!

In June, our community engagement application “Community by MovementForward” was launched on Apple iOS and Google Play. The app, piloted in Indianapolis, provides a way for residents to get to know their local officers, request enforcement services, identify neighborhood resources, and access information on crime that can help keep everyone safe. Plans are now underway to offer this trailblazing technology to communities across the nation.

Additionally, MFI held regular forums and conversations, including “The Importance of Transparency and Accountability” on how law enforcement agencies can grow public trust and “Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community?” that discussed use of force, race, officer safety, and reducing crime. MFI also launched our One Congregation One Precinct initiative (OneCOP) in Jacksonville, Florida. OneCOP is MFI’s ongoing program that provides innovative means for officers and residents to work hand-in-hand in local neighborhoods. Stay tuned for an announcement about OneCOP expanding to a host of new cities in 2022, including Pittsburgh, PA; Arlington, TX; Aurora, CO, and Baltimore County, MD.

This work is possible because of community members and partners – like you – who eagerly engage our programming. I am grateful and humbled to lead an organization that is building a movement of connection, collaboration, unity, and reconciliation. As our nation continues to face unprecedented challenges from rising crime to political polarization, this work could not be more important or timely. To help keep this momentum going, please consider contributing to MFI’s various efforts by making a tax-deductible end-of-year or monthly contribution through our website.

I wish you a new year filled with peace, joy, and prosperity. 

In Hope,

Reverend Markel Hutchins
Chairman & CEO, MovementForward, Inc.
Lead Organizer, National Faith & Blue Weekend + One Congregation One Precinct (OneCOP)

Editorial Disclaimer: All blog posts are contributed by a member of the MovementForward, Inc. team in their personal capacity. The opinions expressed in the posts are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of MovementForward, Inc. or any other partnership associated with the organization.