Our Mission
Dismantling racism through love in action. Creating justice with dignity and respect.
The Beloved Community Initiative for Racial Justice, Healing, and Reconciliation in Iowa aims to “grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers” (Becoming, 5).
We organize our work in four major areas: telling the truth, proclaiming the dream of Beloved Community, practicing the Way of Love, and repairing the breach in society and institutions.
Annual Reports
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
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2018 Annual Report
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We aim to...
The Beloved Community Initiative aims to be a place that helps people grow as reconcilers, builds their capacity to become justice-makers, and offers a space for healing from the damage that racism inflicts on all people.
— The Rev. Meg Wagner, Missioner for Communication and Reconciliation, Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Beloved Community Initiative
This whole symbol is a heart, which is a representation of community and love. The unevenness of the heart represents how things are not fair and the justice we are fighting for. The lines represent a simple
labyrinth with the center being the safe space for conversation and change.
"Like walking the labyrinth, we engage and reengage the commitments that lead toward reconciliation, healing, and justice: Telling the Truth, Proclaiming the Dream, Practicing the Way of Love, and Repairing the Breach. We never have the sense that we have mastered or completed any one stage, nor are we naïve enough to imagine anyone ever truly “finishes” the work. The commitment is long-term; the formation is lifelong." - Becoming Beloved Community
Our logo
Our logo was designed for us by Andre' Wright. Andre' Wright is a highly acclaimed and widely sought after social entrepreneur specializing in fashion and connecting people. Over the years after creating various design pieces for clients, Andre' had a passion for t-shirts and clothing lines and help develop the popular tailgating brand Tailgatebarn and scaled his business to a national t-shirt brand. Now he has branded his self as the guru of fashion in Iowa and considered the leader of the new fashion industry. Andre' has his own fashion label Born Leaders United. Andre’ is an outspoken leader and regularly gives back to schools and to the community. Two words describe Andre’—energetic & dedicated.
HUMANIZE MY HOODIE
The Humanize My Hoodie Project is designed to foster critical conversations about threat perception. With the senseless killing of Trayvon Martin, many conversations spurred about people of color, Black people in particular, and their use of hoodies. We seek to further the discussion with hoodies that seek to dismantle the stigma associated with clothing items. The Humanize My Hoodie Project is an opportunity for people to discuss the ways in which we view threat. This is a nationwide movement started by Jason Sole and Andre' Wright and all merchandise will be exclusively sold on our website. Please get yourself a hoodie to support the movement. Rep it when you have a big event to show solidarity.