Our History
The Connecticut Coalition for Race Amity (CCRA) had its beginning in the fall
of 2016. The present Board of Director members Britt Williams and Bill Thomas were asked by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Windsor CT
to facilitate a Circle of Race Unity gathering at the Windsor Public Library.
This event took place in November 2016. More than thirty people attended.
After a consultation with the Assembly it was decided that Britt and Bill,
with the assistance of other people of diversity, would continue on our
own using the name of Circle of Race Unity (CRU).
After enlisting eight more people of different colors, religions and genders,
to join our group, we facilitated a CRU gathering at the Unitarian Univeralist Society: East Meeting House in Manchester in May of 2017.
This was followed up with a second CRU gathering, in 2017, at the
UU:E Meeting House, in Manchester and a gathering in Torrington at the
‘Unity in the Foothills’Church.
The following March (2018) members of our group participated in a
Race Unity workshop in Boston, MA. The goal of this workshop was the establishment of government proclamations encouraging people of each
state to host yearly Race Amity Days.
At this point the active membership grew. With the support of the South Windsor Human Relations Commission a Race Amity Day event took place, on
June 9th 2019, at a school facility in South Windsor.
During June of 2019 Bill, Britt and Janine Thomas decided to facilitate monthlyConversations on Race at the South Windsor Public Library.
This activity continued until March of 2020. We hoped that we could restart
later in the year. However, since social distancing is now the rule we
decided to continue conversations on race via zoom.
In May of 2020, with like-minded groups in the southeastern part of Connecticut, the concept of advertising the need for a Race Amity Day was spread to churches, television stations, and other like-minded organizations.
In August the CCRA decided it was time to incorporate. The proper paperwork has been forwarded to the Connecticut State Secretary of State.
Eventually we will apply for a non-profit status.
We are currently contacting members of the State Legislature to initiate
a bill that will have the Governor of Connecticut proclaim a Race Amity Day
the second Sunday ofJune every year.
We would be happy to have you join our coalition. See the ‘Contact Us” option at the top of this page, if you have questions, suggestions, or would like to join us.
