“The Illinois EPA is keen to work with UCM and other interested local organizations to facilitate a quarterly meetings intended to connect members of the community and relevant Agency staff, including myself, to discuss environmental issues affecting the region.”

“God measures us by how we treat the 'least of these'...and right now the least of these is most of us.” - Rev. Charles Burton

The question is not simply how long America has existed. The question is whether America has become what it declared itself to be. Have the poor been heard? Have the oppressed been lifted? Have the forgotten been remembered? Has justice truly rolled down like waters? Or have we simply become better at celebrating the illusion of freedom while tolerating inequality? I love this country enough to tell the truth about it.

The most meaningful relationships of my life have been forged during the twenty-six years of my involvement in UCM. When asked why I keep doing the work, I reply that “I can not, not do this work”. I consider the work UCM does in our communities as my vocation.

As someone familiar to the area this came as no surprise. We all know the times where pools of water sit on the sides of the road, often stretching out into the street causing slippery driving conditions, often spanning days after rain came to and left the area. What was a surprise was how normal that abnormality was to me. Proper drainage infrastructure can be fixed, yet after a lifetime of never seeing East St. Louis without clear ditches that reality is often justified as just the way things are.

Article XI of the Illinois Constitution guarantees that “each person has the right to a healthful environment.” The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director reminded the audience of this at a recent Fireside Chat event, hosted by United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) in East St. Louis. This constitutional promise reflects a core principle of “environmental justice”: that all people should be protected from environmental pollution regardless of race, income, or where they live. 

UCM’s Disco and Disruption was a friend-raising event that not only honored community leadership but challenged our position on current events while allowing us to boogie down in the process. 

Today is the National Day of Prayer. And I’ll be honest: this year, prayer feels different.

Because we are not praying in a country at peace with itself.

We are praying in a country where voting rights are under attack, where courts are making decisions that could weaken the voice and power of Black communities, Brown communities, poor communities, and working people.

We are praying in a country where people are tired. Tired of high bills. Tired of political games. Tired of being told to be patient while their neighborhoods flood, their children breathe polluted air, their water is unsafe, and their communities are ignored until somebody needs a vote.

Thank you for the privilege to serve as President of UCM. I will continue to support the mission, the new leadership team, and the communities we are called to uplift. Together, we will keep building power, advancing justice, and transforming the Metro-East for generations to come.

As we take time to honor Earth Day, I want to ground us in a truth that is both spiritual and practical:

In the beginning, we were given dominion not domination.
We were given responsibility not permission to destroy.

Community Day is an event dedicated to uplifting the Metro-East community by connecting residents with valuable resources, job employers, and pathways to education, health, and wealth. Join us next year as we continue to restore opportunity and move forward together because when we invest in health, wealth and jobs, we invest in our future.

Let’s be clear: when families cannot trust the water coming from their faucet, that is not just an infrastructure failure it is a moral failure.

The inspiration behind the event came from a desire to create a space where the younger population felt heard and valued. During such an important moment in our political climate, many young people have strong opinions, frustrations, and questions, but not always a place where they feel comfortable expressing them. This event was meant to change that by encouraging honest dialogue, respectful disagreement, and thoughtful reflection.

We spent the entire day listening to each other’s stories - wins, losses and frustrations - and building a brave space that allows our voices to be heard. UCM’s Executive Director, Darnell Tingle, posed the question: What impact would a specific harm have on your community. It was a harsh reality that many of us have already had to live through.

As an Organizer with UCM, Kayla brings lived experience, academic expertise, and a deep commitment to justice to her work. She has dedicated her career to challenging systemic barriers and creating opportunities for marginalized communities through immigration advocacy, voter engagement, and policy work. With degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Johns Hopkins University, and currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration, she continues to turn her passion for equity into meaningful, community-driven change.

Leaders took to the stage to bring different perspectives: how are these injustices affecting our youth, our politics, our daily lives. While each may have come from a different angle, they were all linked together for a complete picture of what it looks like when leadership stops being silent and uses their voices to power their communities.