Nolan Wells should be starting school this year. He should be thinking about what comes next, discovering more about himself, making plans, changing plans, laughing, learning, dreaming, and becoming. He is not. And that is a great tragedy and a loss for us all.

The August 11 storm that struck Northwest Indiana was severe. Winds approached 100 miles per hour. More than half of Gary lost power. Some residents and businesses waited nearly two weeks for electricity to be restored. The damage was real. But so too were the questions it exposed about infrastructure, preparedness, response, and accountability.

Labor Day calls us to honor the history of workers whose labor and organizing helped shape the protections and possibilities we know today. It also asks us to look at the conditions people are being asked to live and work under now and at the systems responsible for protecting communities when crisis comes. That brings our attention to Gary, Indiana.

In Gary, Indiana, Black families have spent nearly two weeks waiting for the lights to come back on. With the call to pay attention, CRS has joined forces with Trinity United Church of Christ in Gary and their Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson Sr. We invite you to join our Eyes on Gary Taskforce.

There are far too few safe spaces for young people to question, explore, learn, make mistakes, dream, thrive, and simply become. That is why CRS is launching Our Faith. Our Schools. Our Community., an initiative inviting faith communities across Chicago to intentionally surround and support young people as they begin this school year.

Through Reclaim the Commission, CRS is calling for a shared-power bylaw amendment, inviting Chicagoans to participate in upcoming superintendent listening sessions, and supporting the development of community leaders interested in serving on Police District Councils.

CRS attended the July 12 Lawndale Christian Community Church Service to celebrate 20 years of The Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago. We heard Firehouse Executive Director Pastor Phil Jackson break down how this beacon of violence interruption and public safety ignited.

Looking ahead to the 250th Independence Day (July 4), CRS further recognizes the sacrifices and resilience of our ancestors who carried the promise of liberty forward, even when it was unjustly denied to them. Yet much work remains until freedom truly flies.

To support Chicagoans impacted by high temperatures, flooding, and tornadoes, CRS released a list of extreme weather resources from local, state and federal agencies. Read this blog article to access the resources.

Throughout scripture, Fathers and Father Figures are used to teach us about love, responsibility, sacrifice, and belonging. On Father’s Day, CRS honors those who embody these values and help build a better world for the generations that follow.

CRS holds Karmelo Anthony and his family in love and compassion. Their lives, too, have been forever altered. Whatever happens next, the circle of their family has also been broken. They are carrying fear, uncertainty, and pain that few of us can fully understand. 

CRS laments the death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton and holds his family, loved ones, and community in prayer following the recent verdict in South Carolina.

This Memorial Day, CRS remembers those who gave their lives in service to this nation. May we not grow weary. May we remain faithful. And may we continue striving toward a future worthy of what was given.

CRS grieves with the Islamic Center of San Diego and communities across our nation and world, bereaved due to the unrest of war, genocide, Islamophobia, state-sanctioned violence, and a culture of racism and violence we must decry.

We share a Mother’s Day reflection from CRS Manager of Development and Communications, Franchelle Stanford, who looks back on her motherhood journey, amazed at the power that mothering holds. 

In case you missed it, we gathered in Grant Park on March 28 to join the No Kings Rally hosted by faith and social justice organizations throughout Chicago. CRS Policy and Organizing Associate Ikechukwu Ozuzu Jr. reflects in this blog article.

CRS shares an Easter Reflection from our Temporary Acting Executive Director, Keron Blair, who calls people of faith and goodwill to ask questions worth exploring.

CRS Interim Executive Director Keron Blair wants to invite reflection and a call to action in this moment as our nation launches military strikes in Iran. As people of faith, we hold the view that human life is sacred. We are worried because war always comes with great loss of life. So with all this worry, what are we to do and say?

This March 2026, CRS celebrates Women’s History Month, an occasion to recognize well-known trailblazers and also uplift unsung heroes. Beyond the spotlight are courageous women who strategized in churches, led mass campaigns, and risked their lives to obtain the rights we have now. Their history is no longer in the headlines, but their resistance resides in modern-day mobilizers.

CRS was humbled to join The Power of the People Summit: Building Coalition to Protect Our Civil Rights hosted by U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) on February 20 at New Hope Bible Church in Chicago. Read our summit debrief here!