Grant awarded
By The Rev. Gay Romack
Gay Romack is founder and executive director of Bridges Reentry. She was a real estate broker for over 20 years and served as development director for the West Valley Fine Arts Council. She was ordained a deacon in 2006 and served in the Diocese of Mississippi as St. Peter’s Episcopal Church membership coordinator.
Gay has done extensive work in the community serving on boards for Habitat for Humanity, the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, and others. Her outreach involves the Agua Fria Food Bank, Natalie’s House for Young Girls, Family Promise, and the Perryville Prison Ministry and Mentoring.
Join us in embracing the Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community vision, a path for addressing racial injustice and nurturing a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers driven by the dream of God.
Thanks to the support of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Litchfield Park, Bridges Reentry, Inc. has been awarded one of the impactful Becoming Beloved Community Grants. Bridges Reentry, Inc. is committed to empowering women transitioning from the justice system through the expansion of the Raising My Voice (RMV) Program. RMV empowers justice-involved women to share their stories of trauma, abuse, and resilience with parishioners and other community groups. Our aim is to collaborate with diverse women of color organizations and communities to amplify marginalized voices.
Raising My Voice (RMV) is a transformative leadership program designed to equip formerly incarcerated individuals with essential public speaking skills. By preparing participants to advocate for more compassionate reentry policies and engage civically, RMV enables them to make a positive impact on society. Join us in breaking down societal barriers faced by formerly incarcerated women and fostering a more inclusive, compassionate world.
By supporting Raising My Voice (RMV), stronger communities and lasting positive change occur. Help Bridges Reentry, Inc. engage in Becoming Beloved Community sharing with RMV:
Invite women to practice sharing and hearing stories about faith, race, and difference.
Build RMV story-sharing practices into all parts of congregational life.
Open church meetings with brief RMV story sharing.
Craft sermons that include stories of faith, race, and difference by creating space during sermons for one-to-two-minute story-sharing in pairs.
Express gratitude by providing appreciation honorariums for RMV speakers.
The Raising My Voice (RMV) Program embodies the Episcopal Church’s commitment to Becoming a Beloved Community. By actively addressing racial injustice and fostering reconciliation, justice-making, and healing, we can work towards God’s dream together. Consider hosting an RMV speaker to raise awareness about the challenges faced by incarcerated women and how they can reintegrate into society successfully.
Contact Dr. Khadijia White-Thomas at decreeconsult24@hotmail.com or at 623-748-7633 to coordinate a speaker. Let’s build a future of empathy, understanding, and positive change!