It was in the aftermath of experiencing the collective trauma and sacred work of pastoral accompaniment in Buffalo after the Topps shooting that  In the Public Square was born. 

 

In the Public Square is a training hub dedicated to building a coalition of trusted Black community leaders including faith leaders, organizers, healers, and community partners who are committed to liberation, equity, and justice.

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Rooted in the Black faith tradition and shaped by a long history of resistance and survival, we prioritize the protection, care, and flourishing of Black communities facing imminent and ongoing threats.

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Incorporated in the State of Missouri in 2024, the organization has been incubating for a moment such as this: a moment when troops are dispatched into Black-led communities, when coordinated judicial and legislative attacks threaten our people and our voting rights, and when too many communities are left to navigate crisis alone.

 

In the Public Square is not merely committed to showing up. We are committed to preparing people to show up well  training faith leaders, organizers, and community members to accompany communities through crisis, coordinate resistance to systemic threats, and build the collective power necessary to confront and ultimately transform the very systems that create these crises in the first place.