Talbot Fund for Racial Reconciliation Funds Research
St. Thomas the Apostle, Nassau Bay - Project on the grounds of St. Thomas, Nassau Bay honors African American contributions and achievements in NASA. The focus is on Ret. U.S. Marine Corps Major Charles Bolden, former administrator of NASA and native Episcopal Diocese of Texas member of St. Thomas, Nassau Bay, St. James, Houston, and board member of St. Luke’s Hospital.
Longview 1919 Project - This remembrance project sponsored by Trinity, Longview, involves a documentary about the Longview Race Riot during the Red Summer of 1919. The documentary captures oral histories of events followed by hosting community dialogues in the Longview area.
Tarrant County and Fort Worth Lynching Memorial - The Rt. Rev. Sandra Michels spearheads this joint project with Tarrant Coalition for Peace and Justice to care for a lynching memorial in honor of Fred Rouse where he was lynched in Fort Worth, in December of 1921. Influenced by a visit to Montgomery, Alabama, site of the lynching memorial, the project is currently being constructed and supported by six area congregations: Trinity, Fort Worth; All Souls, Arlington; St. Luke’s, Meadow; St. Stephens, Hurst; St. Christopher’s, Fort Worth; and St. Martin’s in the Fields, Keller.
Data Gathering - Better Understand and Address Obstacles to Racial Reconciliation Projects—Focus groups are formed to help the diocese understand the obstacles in talking openly about churches’ and communities’ roles in slavery and racial injustice. Two virtual focus groups with clergy across the diocese gather views on the obstacles to discussing race in the diocese while explaining the work of the Talbot Fund. Upon organization in 2022, sessions will be held in spring of 2023.
Provide an Educational Opportunity for Clergy and Lay Leaders - Clergy and lay leaders plan visits to the Equal Justice Museum and other significant sites. Tours would be customized based on needs, number of days, sites, and time for debriefing and processing. Planning began in 2022 with discussions centered around a possible late spring tour.