A Prayer for Our New Mayor

Our fair city is in a critical moment in its history  
The election of Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and community activist, to lead our city is a powerful one  
 
And yet, we know that the mantle of leadership is not always easy to carry  
There is so much at stake and collective hope wrapped up in this moment and the next four years  
We must make right injustices that have defined our city for too long  
We must take on issues of race and racism that in many ways define life in Chicago 
We must make space for all people in our city to find home and thrive  
We must work to ensure that our communities are safe and that police do not abuse their power  
We must do more to protect and expand opportunities for trans sisters and brothers
 
And so we pause to pray for and hold our new mayor in the light  
We pray that he will have clarity in his vision for his term in office and our city  
We pray that he will have the courage to make hard decisions that straighten crooked paths  
We pray that he will be surrounded by grounded and good advisors who will help make policies that liberate more than they incarcerate 
We pray that he will be sustained by the wildest dreams of our ancestors;  
dreams of shared economic prosperity;  
dreams of thriving communities;  
dreams of equitable and just access to all that Chicago has to offer;  
dreams of affordable rent and opportunities for homeownership;  
dreams of great public and community schools;  
dreams of the end of police violence;  
and dreams of real and lasting solutions to our city’s gang and gun problem

This is the prayer of our community for our new mayor  
Amen

Keron Blair
Capacity Building Manager for Organizing and Policy