Newark’s Superpower: City-Wide Faith-Based Leaders Unite to Serve Newark Families By Kaylyn Kendall Dines
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ong before COVID-19 impacted the City of Newark, clergy from various religious and cultural beliefs joined forces to uplift families, support individuals, and improve neighborhoods. Together, they are the Newark Interfaith Alliance. “Our mission is to organize, mobilize, and unite faith-based leaders and individuals regardless of their religious background,”’ said Rev.Louise Scott-Rountree, manager of the Mayor’s Office of Clergy Affairs and chair of the Newark Interfaith Alliance. In July 2014, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka established the Mayor’s Office of Clergy Affairs/Newark Interfaith Alliance. With Rountree at the helm, members gravitated toward the grassroots mission because they recognized the collective power and strength that existed, in part, because of their differences. You could call them advocates for humanity, servant leaders, or citizens following the commandments of their faith. They engage in a wide range of activities including pastoral care, bereavement support, hospital visits, educational information and scholarship distribution, access to
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resources that address housing needs, and food insecurity. Alliance members host events and show up to support people facing challenges around the clock. Ask Newark resident Gevone Johnson, whose 29 yearold daughter was shot. At 1:00 AM, Rountree and alliance members arrived at University Hospital. “She made it her business to find me,” said Johnson. “When I saw her, it lifted me up. She always looks out for people.” Johnson remembers seeing members of the alliance servicing the community in the past. “Anybody who has a situation, they are always coming to the somebody’s rescue. You don’t find too many people reaching out.” Rountree said, “It’s important to address families on either side of a tragedy. I go to families for the Mayor and sit with them, no matter what their kid did.” This is part of her role in the Mayor’s Office of Clergy Affairs. “They still have grandmas and mamas who need to hear, ‘I’m here for you.’” At not quite 5-feet tall Rountree, known to sport six-inch heels, has a giant presence in her hometown. She is also known for her high energy and determination to help make life better for residents. “Faith plays a big part,” said Rountree, a reverend at Good Neighbor Baptist Church in Newark. “They say, ‘faith without works is dead,’ so many of us are doing the work because we have the faith. We know it is impossible to please God without faith. Our aim is to please God.” She often says, “My religion is personal, but my mission is humanity.” With more than 500 members in the alliance, she is not alone. In spite of the pandemic, the Interfaith Alliance pressed on with their mission. Clergy walked the streets, distributed masks, and urged local residents to stay home as coronavirus cases soared. Their seventh annual
At not quite 5-feet tall Rountree, known to sport six-inch heels, has a giant presence in her hometown. She is also known for her high energy and determination to help make life better for residents. cont’d on next page Fall 2020 The Positive Community
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