In Isaiah 58, God, through the voice of the prophet, calls us to be repairers of the breach — and by repairing the breach, we will, by God’s grace, be led into a new season of justice, freedom and peace.
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.” —Isaiah 58
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On April 27 gathering with the organizers of the Justice League of Greater Lansing —
Founder Willye Bryan and President Prince Solace — is an opportunity to learn if there is
interest in Kalamazoo in exploring an initiative similar to Lansing’s. The Justice League in
Lansing is working to address the impact of slavery, fostering relationships and reparations to boost wealth equity for African Americans in Lansing. They link faith with racial justice,
promoting healing and unity. Join us 10 to 11:30 a.m., April 27, 2024, in the Gathering Place, Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church.
RSVP Allison Hammond: allehamm@gmail.com, or Kelly Short: kellys@fpckzoo.org.
Willye Bryan is the founder of the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan, which had its inception in January 2021. It grew out of Willye’s concern over the nation’s injustices and racial disparities and more specifically those in the greater Lansing area. She began to consider how to “repair the breach” caused by centuries of slavery and its continued devasting aftermath, such as prison leasing, lynchings, legalized segregation, redlining, mass incarceration and more. And she wondered how predominately White churches can apply the doctrine of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
She contacted Rev. Stan Jenkins, her pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing and her friend, Prince Solace in June 2021, to discuss starting a faith-based Reparations Project in the Greater Lansing Area (GLA). They both supported the idea. After defining and promoting reparations for predominately White churches the Reparations Project became a successful reality. Now the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan is working to address the impact of slavery, fostering relationships and reparations to boost wealth equity for African Americans in Lansing. They link faith with racial justice, promoting healing and unity, tackling large issues with constructive, attainable goals.
Willye is a retired classical biological control entomologist, she began her entomological career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS). She worked for 25 years doing research on the biological control of row crop insect pests in the Mississippi Delta. While at USDA Willye also initiated the first Black History Programs in the USDA-ARS, Mid-South Area. Willye moved to Michigan and worked until retirement at Michigan State University in the biological control of insects. She has over 35 scientific publications and presentations on entomology, including a book she co-edited: Memoirs of Black Entomologists: Reflections on Childhood, University, and Career Experiences.
Prince Solace is President of the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan.
He also is Director of Congregational Life and Community Outreach at Lansing First Presbyterian Church. Prince is a graduate student at Michigan State University specializing in Strategic Communications. He serves underprivileged communities by strategically connecting people to resources that promote financial awareness, wealth equity, and self-love. His experience includes working strategically with the MSU Federal Credit Union’s human resource department to execute collaborative projects that built a more positive work environment for African Americans. He was President of the African American Employee Resource Group for the credit union.
Faith and civic leaders from across the community have been invited to attend.