Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders Received Outstanding Ally Award

On December 3, 2025, Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders received the Outstanding Ally Award at the National Symposium for State and Local Reparations held in Evanston. In 2020, Evanston became the first municipality in the country to commit to funding reparations for those in our community who had been harmed by racism. In the spring of 2022, 18 congregations in Evanston, including Beth Emet, pledged to raise money for this effort to repair the harm done by systemic racism. On Martin Luther King Day in 2023, the Evanston clergy announced they had received almost $1,000,000 in pledges. We are delighted that Beth Emet and the Evanston faith community have been recognized for this important work, which other communities around the country are now working to emulate.

Take a look at the statement below that the interfaith community signed in 2022. Matt Feldman, treasurer of First Repair, Evanston’s reparations movement, and Rabbi London signed on behalf of our congregation. The Evanston Community Foundation is still accepting donations for reparations here. Please contribute if you feel moved to do so.