Time has been a bizarre phenomenon in the time of COVID-19. Two weeks ago, I received an envelope addressed to me in my handwriting, and I couldn’t imagine what it could be. I opened the envelope and realized it was a note I had written as a closing exercise at the Beloved Community Workshop that I attended earlier in the year as a part of my Exploring Baptismal Ministry experience. I opened the note, and it stated a lofty goal that I would work accomplish during the six months post the workshop. My goal read “to work in a ministry addressing institutional racism.” Little did I know that I would be at Memorial or that I would be fortunate enough to be working with Dr. Carol Scott and Ms. Shannon McCullough on KindredCoaches.
KindredCoaches is the result of an activist’s heart and her sense of spiritual responsibility to address injustice where ever she sees it. Dr. Scott’s recognition that communities of color experience healthcare injustices at an alarming rate, is not news to her. She has been addressing issues of healthcare disparities for years and became a Wellcoach to enhance her skills in working with patients. She is an advocate for others and a warrior in this fight to bring health equity to communities of color. The evidence of her latest advocacy work is the development and launching of KindredCoaches.
Kindred Coaches will encourage Courageous Conversations on an individual level and in group activities. The goals of this ministry are to address health inequities and healthcare disparities within communities of color within the Diocese of Maryland, primarily in Baltimore and surrounding areas. KindredCoaches is a partnership between Dr. Scott, the Diocese of Maryland’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and Memorial Episcopal Church. This program was launched on Sunday, October 18, and currently, there are 38 registered participants in the six-week training sessions.
This ministry received a small grant from the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, NY. This grant will allow the ministry to begin the hard work of fighting against healthcare inequities in communities of color. The program continues to accept registration for our next training after the beginning of the year and will continue to seek additional funds to continue its mission.
When I wrote that note to myself over six months ago, I had no idea that I would be blessed to work with such a worthy mission. But I know that God knew. Thanks be to God.
For more information on KindredCoaches visit the website at www.kindredcoaches.com.