Currently working with other faith communities to insure that affodable housing is not sacrificed to gentrification, the goal of the justice team is to take our faith to the streets: to fight for equity and justice, to hold public officials accountable, to make the Southside of Chicago a better place to live, for all people. We want to live the words of ISAIAH 58:12 "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in." In order to be effective in living these words, a number of us on the justice team have participated in a week-long training program in faith-based community activism. The training is run by an organization called Gamaliel and brings together people of faith throughout the Midwest several times a year to train them in the basic principles of community organizing.

When the SPR justice team was formed several years ago, we talked to nearly 100 parishioners to determine what community issues most concerned members of the parish. We heard two concerns over and over: lack of adequate recreational facilities for children in the community, and concern for personal safety. We have acted on both of those concerns over the past several years.

Dyett Pool is the only Park District indoor pool between the loop and 71st street in eastern quadrant, and it was closed two years ago. Our efforts resulted in the re-opening of the pool to the public in the fall of 2002. Another inequity is the lack of a Park District field house in our area with a population of 148,000. By contrast, citywide there is an average of one field house for every 36,000 people. Working with other Southside churches, our current campaign is to get a field house built with an indoor pool, dedicated gymnastics space, basketball courts, and a flexible space that can accommodate indoor tennis, indoor soccer, and volleyball.

In terms of safety, we have provided leadership for a campaign to eliminate gang activity and bullying around nearby Kenwood High School. Working closely with the local police, we have helped to organize community meetings and marches to help make the streets safer.