Community Renewal Society

Community Renewal Society (CRS) works to combat social, economic, and racial injustice by bringing people of faith and congregations together, in partnership with communities, coalitions, interfaith organizations, and civic leaders, to intentionally and decisively transform society toward greater social justice at the intersection of racism and poverty. 

Mission and Vision

The Platform for Renewal encompasses five key issue areas. Our Platform reflects extensive listening sessions, detailed policy analysis and our commitment, together with our member congregations and coalition partners, to the work of anti-racism and justice.

Police Accountability

Shortly following the murder of Laquan McDonald on October 20, 2014, then-mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel created the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force, led by then-President of the Chicago Police Board Lori Lightfoot, to review the system of accountability, oversight and training that is currently in place for Chicago's police officers. This action prompted Community Renewal Society to adopt police accountability as an issue area in 2016 and to work to establish the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and to implement the Federal Consent Decree.

Restoring Opportunities & Justice Reform

Our goal is to increase employment, housing and educational opportunities for directly impacted people within jail or the prison industrial complex by advancing legislative reforms that restore rights and create economic opportunities for people with records.

Just Economy & Reparations

Many of our neighborhoods experience disproportionately high levels of violence. It ripples through our communities and should be a matter of concern for every resident in our state. We know that increased arrests and incarceration are not solutions. Instead, we need to invest economically in our communities to achieve equity. It is our job to advocate for reparations and economic justice as restitution for moral injury, protracted trauma and cultural disinheritance. 

LGBTQIA+ Faith, Race & Equity

Increase shared vision of The Beloved Community, commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, healing and advocacy in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ communities.

Healing Justice & Reconciliation

Engage in racial healing through our commitment to honor the full humanity of individuals impacted by the prison industrial complex, persons displaced and homeless and by honoring the narratives of those lives stolen by racialized violence, discrimination and police brutality. We are committed to building bridges and providing resources to facilitate healing in diverse capacities.