In August, IMAN mobilized nearly a thousand people from across the country for The Fierce Urgency of Now: A National March into Marquette Park. Led by IMAN, alongside more than 75 faith, civic, labor and community organizations from across the Chicagoland region, the event commemorated the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march into the park.

Back in the spring, IMAN’s chief executive director, Alia Bilal, spoke about organizing the march as the organization’s solidarity project. She talked about how leaders in her Solidarity Collaborative cohort were building stronger connections through their projects – like the Kairos Center bringing a busload of people to the march in Chicago – and in other organic ways. She also shared why she thinks it’s important that funders support efforts like the Solidarity Collaborative.