Cornerstone Corporation understands community development to be deeply spiritual work and because of the years of intentional disinvestment of Black spaces, it is also painful work.
Specifically, we recognize that there are multiple devastations to belief systems core to promoting an agenda of change and partnership, with the demonic goal of eroding good-will, peace, equity, and hope. Too many are driven to a point of frustration or exhaustion. As this is a spiritual work, we need to pray. Here are my prayers for the work:
Jehovah Rophe repair the breach, restore (reveal) the path, and heal the brokenhearted. Specifically:
Anoint Cornerstone Corporation to advance healing in the community side-by-side our local and regional partners as we acknowledge the harm we have done in the past and commit to steadily getting it right. Make our homes a sanctuary for safety, peace, and encouragement, and make us to consistently operate in a trustworthy, honorable, and faithful way.
Break all patterns of disinvestment, distrust, mistrust, and deceit operating in the West End & Visitation Park neighborhood so that there can be a refreshing and loosening of a new season of collaboration, peace, and hope. Dry up the spirits that would erode good-will and strength. Sustain every worker (in particular the volunteer) who is seeking to dismantle systems of oppression; may they never tire, but give them rest.
Bind every manner of violence in the West End & Visitation Park that would seek to destroy the work we all are called to do to bring healing to the land. Specifically, I call out:
Civic Violence that would stifle true partnership across institutions
Mental Violence that promotes disbelief that change is possible and any seat of community-trauma
Political Violence that would side-step, dismiss, or undermine resident voice, with an emphasis on that of the renter
Physical Violence attempting to manifest as death, accidents, theft, car crashes or self-harm
Material Violence against the built environment represented by decay or vacancy
Jehovah Rophe repair the breach, restore (reveal) the path, and heal the brokenhearted.
Monique Thomas, Executive Director, Cornerstone Corporation
We want to hear from you. What are your hopes for the West End & Visitation Park?