My name is Roy Walton. I would like to start by
thanking Illinois Times for providing this opportunity for organizations such
as Faith Coalition for the Common Good to highlight its work in the community
and for allowing me to share my story. With the right motivation, an open mind
and a little faith, you can become a powerful and productive leader despite
your shortcomings.
In my journey to change and overcome my obstacles, I have
made some bad decisions and suffered the consequences. Some people may relate
to my journey. It wasn’t until my life was in real jeopardy that I decided to
educate myself about personal change. After taking the initiative to help
myself and being successful at it, it motivated me to help others. I am
currently a leader with FCCG. After being invited by an organizer and attending
a transformational justice meeting, I decided to join. It has always been my
desire to be a voice for change. Since joining FCCG, I have been able to
redirect my anger and frustration to do positive work by utilizing some of the
leadership tools acquired through training, such as national leadership training
and the Race and Power Convention. These training sessions have helped me
become culturally educated and equipped to fight for the rights of myself and
others around transformational justice, environmental justice, and racial
equity. By knowing our rights, we can live better lives and increase freedoms
by no longer being ignorant of the laws and what certain policies need to
change.
Ultimately, my goal is to further the work within my own
non-profit, providing supportive systems for youth and the elderly. By working
with Faith Coalition, I stay readily motivated and inspired to continue the
work, and for this, I would like to thank the Faith Coalition for the Common
Good.
In closing, I want to remind anyone seeking change that it
is possible but you have to put in the effort. Be willing to fight for what you
believe in, and no matter how hard it gets, do not quit.
To continue the work of Faith Coalition, I would like to
invite readers to Faith Coalition’s Annual Spring Gala set for 6 to 8 p.m.
April 24 at Erin’s Pavilion. Tickets can be purchased at faithcoalition-il.org
or by emailing tyshianna@faithcoalition-il.org.
Roy Walton is a Transformational Justice Task force leader.
If you have any questions or want more information on how to get involved,
email tyshianna@faithcoalition-il.org or visit https://faithcoalition-il.org/.
This article appears in From bedsides to the boardroom.
