Congregate Charlottesville is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Grounded in our own faith traditions, we use our voices, resources, and bodies to dismantle the systems that continuously dehumanize our siblings.
We are dedicated to providing educational resources that are rooted in faith, action oriented, and inspired by justice and liberation theologies.
A short history of Congregate Charlottesville
2 0 1 7– Leading up to the KKK rally on July 8, 2017, Rev. Brittany “Smash” Caine-Conley and Rev. Seth Wispelwey started having conversations with clergy and lay leaders of many faith traditions about solidarity in the face of white supremacist groups showing up in Charlottesville.– Congregate Charlottesville incorporated as a 501(c)3 after the KKK rally, when it became clear that more organizing for non-violent direct action was needed.– National level organizers of non-violent direct action were invited to facilitate trainings leading up to the Unite the Right rally of August 12, 2017.– Congregate Charlottesville organized an interfaith prayer and worship service the evening of Friday, August 11th.– Clergy and lay people of multiple faith traditions participated in non-violent direct action, resisting white supremacist groups throughout the day on August 12.– A community support network made up of Congregate participants and others was developed after August 12 to support survivors and others impacted by the events of August 11 & 12.2 0 1 8– Activists involved with Congregate and other local groups were active over the next year supporting survivors of August 11 & 12 and those impacted, providing court support and bail funds for those involved in legal cases, rallying against ICE, and building relationships in an effort to resist white supremacy in all its forms.– In the spring and into early summer of 2018, Congregate began preparing for the one-year anniversary of August 11 & 12, 2017, by providing “faithful presence” trainings and issuing a Call to Action.– Various events took place on August 11 & 12, 2018, including a Friday evening interfaith worship service, a rally and protest organized by UVa students on grounds, and a community event organized by numerous local groups at Washington Park.
2 0 1 9– The following year saw activists engaged in many issues, including protesting police violence, and continued court support for those involved in cases stemming from August 11 & 12, 2017, and continued fundraising for and with survivors.– In the spring of 2019, as numerous Congregate board members were making personal transitions, the board decided to intentionally shrink to three members, entering a fallow period, during which Congregate became intentionally less active while still keeping a pulse on community needs.– November 2019 - March 2020 Collaborative work on confederate monuments – Congregate supported Take ‘Em Down CVille in working to pass legislation allowing local control over monuments and memorials. Legislation was passed in early 2020 and helped facilitate the removal of Charlottesville’s Confederate monuments to white supremacy that summer.
2 0 2 0– March 2020 and into 2021Pandemic relief work with Cville Community Cares, a collaborative effort of local activist groups and individuals, along with support from the United Way and Charlottesville Area Community Foundation); included a major fundraiser and distribution of millions of dollars to some of the most vulnerable people in Charlottesville and surrounding counties. – Ongoing fundraisers: Cville Community Cares pandemic relief; 50 for Food (fundraiser for food distribution during the height of the pandemic, raised over $60,000); Cville Anti-Racist Organizing Fund (created to support Black & Brown leadership and move resources to Black & Brown organizers and artists; the fund was supported by Congregate Cville and Cville Cares, guided by local Black and Brown youth leaders).
2 0 2 1– Fiscal sponsorship of numerous groups led by BIPOC (Brown, Indiginous, and People of Color) folks, including Black Women Stitch Black Youth Action Committee Fire Flower Farm (Kents Store, VA) Cville Food Co-op– Collaborative work with Charlottesville Beyond Policing and Visions of Liberation Free Store. – Along with the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, trained and stationed volunteers to provide “faithful presence” at crucial times outside the Federal courthouse during the October 2021 Sines vs Kessler trial.
2 0 2 2– Fundraiser for A11/12 survivors in the wake of the October 2021 Sines vs. Kessler trial; $16k distributed to over 30 applicants.– Planning for the five-year anniversary of the Summer of Hate, along with numerous other groups, including SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), BLM Cville, CARML (Charlottesville Anti-Racist Media Liaisons), Beloved Community Cville, and the Charlottesville Clergy Collective.
– Continuation of fundraiser for A11/A12 survivors, many of whom continue to struggle with the aftermath of physical and emotional injury.2 0 2 3— Survive and Thrive Fund established with monies received from Integrity First for America. Congregate co-presidents developed a plan to distribute the funds, housed at the Charlottesville Albemarle Community Foundation (CACF), in various ways over multiple years to survivors and those directly impacted by the events of August 11 & 12, 2017.— The sixth anniversary of the events of summer 2017 saw Congregate distributing Survive and Thrive funds to individuals who continue to feel the impact of those events; also hosted a reflective and celebratory gathering for anti-racism activists and comrades on August 12.— Continued fiscal sponsorship work, which allows local BIPOC groups not ready to incorporate as non-profits a low-barrier, free-of-charge way to exist and organize without the fiscal and organizational burden. New groups this year: Black Girl Builders -- Black Girl Builders (BGB) is an initiative committed to holding space and building capacity for care and community that centers the needs of Black women and girls. BGB will work in collaboration with young people to give them the tools that are necessary for personal development and self-advocacy. BGB has a goal of serving 250 girls in the Charlottesville community by the end of 2023. CreativeMornings -- In 2008, CreativeMornings started out of a desire for an ongoing, accessible event for New York’s creative community. The concept was simple: breakfast and a short talk one Friday morning a month. Every event would be free of charge and open to anyone. Today, attendees gather in 180 chapters around the world and online to enjoy creative connections, inspiring community, and generous opportunities. CreativeMornings remains free thanks to the support of local partners, generous venues, and long-term global partners. The Charlottesville chapter of CreativeMornings started in 2018. — Congregate starts hosting regular social gatherings for local folks involved in anti-racism efforts.
[Congregate co-presidents: Christina Rivera, Rebekah Menning, Jordan Leahy]
As a 501(c)3 organization, all donations are fully tax deductible.