T.R.U.E. Transforming Racial Understanding & Engagement
TRUE AT CHRIST CHURCH
In the spring of 2020, a group at Christ Church came together for a couple of book studies focused on race. What began as structured study quickly grew into something deeper. As the official sessions ended, we found ourselves drawn to keep the conversation going — gathering informally to reflect on what we were reading, watching, and experiencing in our lives.
Through those early conversations, a powerful realization began to take shape: we had only scratched the surface. Exploring Black history, and engaging honestly with the realities of racism in America, opened our eyes to how much more there was to learn, to feel, and to understand. The journey we had begun felt sacred. We called it Facing Racism.
Today, we call it TRUE: Transforming Racial Understanding & Engagement. The name reflects our mission: to seek and share truth about racism in America, and to advocate for healing, equity, and real transformation. We believe that confronting racism isn’t just about justice for some, it’s about freedom for all.
At the heart of TRUE is a commitment to building what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called Beloved Community: a vision of a world where people of every race, class, and culture live together in justice, mutual respect, and shared humanity.
Whether or not you are a member of Christ Church, we invite you to join us on this journey. Whether you’re just beginning to ask questions or have long been on this path, there is space for you. You don’t need expertise, just curiosity, courage, and an open heart.
We’re building spaces for honest dialogue, deep listening, and radical grace because we believe that as we engage more deeply with each other we come closer to the truth, and to one another. Together, we are learning. Together, we are healing. And together, we are Becoming Beloved Community.
For more information on TRUE, contact Stacy Shepherd.
TRUE’S UPCOMING EVENTS
At TRUE, we believe progress begins with truth. Over the past few years, we’ve explored the roots of slavery, the failures of Reconstruction, the persistence of racial terror, and the ongoing impact of segregation — always with the goal of creating a more just future for all. This year we’re celebrating progress and pushing forward. Join us as we continue the work of TRUE: Transforming Racial Understanding & Engagement. Together, we can know more… and we can do more.
DID YOU KNOW?
An Evening Celebrating the Contributions of People of Color
Friday, October 3, 6:30–8:30 pm
Are you aware of the tremendous successes and contributions made by People of Color? Accomplishments achieved in spite of countless barriers put in front of them? We begin the year with an evening of celebration, emceed by Ken Amaro, former Jacksonville news anchor. It will feature personal stories by local professionals across a variety of disciplines: law, medicine/science, the arts, education and more. These heroes will inspire you… in fact, we believe they’ll wow you. The evening will conclude with an audience.
A MOVIE NIGHT and SPEAKER featuring “RACE”
Tuesday, November 18, 5:30-8:30 pm
“Race” is a 2016 biographical drama about African-American athlete Jesse Owens. Owens battled racism at home and abroad, yet with courage and determination won a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. Following the film, we’ll hear from MaliVai Washington, local tennis professional and founder of the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation. Washington reached the men’s singles final at Wimbledon, won four APT titles and achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 11 in the world.
A WORKSHOP: HOW TO DIALOGUE ACROSS RACES
On the National Day of Racial Healing
Tuesday, January 20, 5:30-8:30 pm
In its ninth year, the National Day of Racial Healing aims to raise awareness about the need for racial healing, inspire collective action, and build common ground. The day will be centered around the idea that racial healing is at the core of racial equity, and it will emphasize building relationships, bridging divides, and fostering trust. TRUE participates in this National Day of Racial Healing by offering this skills-building workshop to promote dialogue across races.
A BOOK STUDY of “LOVELY ONE” by Ketanji Brown Jackson
Thursday, February 26, 6:30-8:30 pm
Read the book and join us for a deep discussion of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir, “Lovely One”. As the first Black woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court, Justice Jackson chronicles her path to this extraordinary achievement, inviting readers into her life and world. Her moving and intimate story of trials and triumphs is both enlightening and inspiring.
AN AFTERNOON with the RITZ CHAMBER PLAYERS
Sunday, April 26, 4:00pm
From their debut at Carnegie Hall to enthusiastic receptions across the country, Jacksonville’s Ritz Chamber Players captivate audiences as they amplify the voices of Black composers and champion diversity. Join us at St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville Beach, as this renowned ensemble of the world’s foremost musicians of African descent offers not just a concert — but an experience that will challenge perceptions and create cultural connections.
“SACRED GROUND” — A PILGRIMAGE IN PLACE
Thursdays Evenings beginning January 2026
“We don’t know what we don’t know, until we know it!” says Father Bob Morris, retired priest at Christ Church and Sacred Ground facilitator. “That’s been the testimony of many at Christ Church who have participated in Sacred Ground Circles.”
Sacred Ground is a transformative film-and-readings-based dialogue series on race and faith, created by the Episcopal Church. This 10-session “pilgrimage in place” invites participants to explore America’s complex history of race and racism through powerful documentaries, thought-provoking readings and honest conversation. Focusing on the intersecting experiences of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Asian American and European communities, Sacred Ground calls us to learn, lament and grow together toward the vision of Becoming Beloved Community.
Parishioner Stacy Shepherd, who was part of Christ Church’s first Sacred Ground Circle, says that the experience changed her. “I feel it gave me a much broader sense of humanity as a whole,” she says. “And the importance of keeping an open mind and an open heart.”
Father Tom Reeder, Mother Laura Magevney and Deacon Leila Quinlan participated in a Sacred Ground Circle for clergy. “The curriculum was fantastic,” Deacon Leila says. “In every cultural group we learned there are power struggles and discrimination. It broadened my empathy to the struggles people have.” She especially valued that the series concluded with participants considering, “Who am I going forward? And how can I expand my own loving kindness to people of all ethnicities?”
For more information on Sacred Ground, contact Deb Billard.