Archive
Say Their Names: Honoring Black Lives – USC Vigil
In the spirit of solidarity and support, USC hosted an online university vigil honoring the lives of those who have died as the result of systemic anti-Black racism and police brutality in …
NBCLA’s Virtual Town Hall: Najuma Smith-Pollard on Fighting for Real Reform and Solutions Against Racism
Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager for the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, participated as a panelist for NBCLA’s Virtual Town Hall, “The Time is Now: Rooting Out Racism.” The conversation …
Critical Conversations on Activism, Online and Off
With so many Americans across the country seeking to get their voices heard both in the streets and on social media this week, CRCC is hosting a conversation about what it means …
Stand in Power, Speak in Power, Live in Power: Smith-Pollard on the Death of George Floyd
Najuma Smith-Pollard shared the following remarks at a press conference with the mayor of Los Angeles about the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the protests and civil unrest in …
Faith & Politics: Leadership in the Time of COVID-19
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement’s hosts a conversation with two of its alumni about how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring: Dr. Michael Fisher, Greater Zion Church …
LA Times: CRCC on the Impact of Covid-19 on Religious Groups
Mosques generally raise a significant portion of their funds during Ramadan. But due to Covid-19, people are not coming in to pray and break fast together. The LA Times interviewed Brie Loskota on …
Church in the Wake of COVID-19: Helpful Info & Tips for Congregations
In the wake of COVID-19, the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement has compiled an infographic with helpful facts and tips for congregations with information from the Center for Disease Control …
A nascent #ChurchToo movement could improve gender equality in the black church
This article was originally published by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. By Susan Bell The first advice the Reverend Najuma Smith-Pollard gives male pastors is not to use …
Census 2020: Facts, Fictions and Faith
What is the census? The census is a counting of all residents in the United States. Our constitution mandates that we do a census every 10 years, and that it be used …
National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Religious Literacy Primer 2019
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement created this religious literacy primer for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), in an effort to help members of the organization engage …
Community Connection: Najuma Smith-Pollard on #MeToo in the Black Church
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement organized a meeting of women leaders in the Black Church about #MeToo this fall, prompting an article in the L.A. Times. Following the article, …
LA Times: Murray Center Gathers Women for Discussion of #MeToo in Black Church
The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement convened a group of prominent women to discuss sexual harassment in the Black Church. The Los Angeles Times covered the #MeToo-inspired gathering, organized by …
The Cosby Case at Church: Why Pastors Should Address Sexual Assault
Bill Cosby is back in court this week. This time, in Pittsburgh, his sexual assault case is framed against the backdrop of #MeToo, the movement raising awareness of sexual harassment, and #ChurchToo. …
As King Encouraged, America Must Face Her Flaws
This post originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel. In Dr. Martin Luther King’s posthumously published essay, “A Testament of Hope,” he wrote, “It is forcing America to face all its interrelated …
KPCC Take Two: Najuma Smith-Pollard on Atonement
A StoryCorps confession from an 94-year-old white man about steeling $2 from his African American maid has led to a wider conversation about race, guilt, forgiveness and atonement. KPCC’s Take Two asked …
L.A. Sentinel: Faith Leaders Urge Thankfulness
The Los Angeles Sentinel asked Southern California faith leaders to share what they’re thankful for during a year that has been particularly hard on communities of color. The article quoted both the …
A Post-Election Prayer for Love, Families and Unity
The Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager for the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, was part of a prayer service for hope and unity at the Cathedral of Our Lady of …
Being Prophetic from the Pulpit in a Strained Political Season
This post was also published by the Los Angeles Sentinel. I was not quite ready for the personal challenge posed by “The Birth of a Nation,” the new film by Nate Parker. …
L.A. Focus News Profiles Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard
L.A. Focus News interviewed Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, for its “pastor profile.” Smith-Pollard shared the story of how she found her calling …
What’s a Preacher to Say in the Wake of Tragedy?
If you were anywhere near a radio, TV to catch the news this past week, you know that July 5-8 was a difficult and emotionally charged week. We saw footage of not …