Licking County nonprofit for racial justice dissolves

After over a year working in the community, Community Alliance for Racial Justice board members recently announced the nonprofit dissolved at the end of 2021.

In a Facebook post last week, the organization said “a year filled with unprecedented changes has challenged our non-profit organization on levels we did not expect. Therefore, it is with heavy hearts that CARJ’S Board of Directors announces the dissolution of the Community Alliance for Racial Justice as of December 31, 2021.”

Founded in the summer of 2020 by Jamie Holderman and Josh Jenkins, the organization sought to make a lasting impression on the Licking County community by bridging the gap between the Black community and existing organizations. One of their core initiatives was civic engagement, which focused on voter registration and nonpartisan education.

CARJ board president Konrod Morris said COVID-19 made it difficult for the nonprofit to execute their objectives. Above all, he said they remain thankful to their community, who he said was open and accepting of the organization, their donors, their volunteers, and their board members.

“It was heartfelt. We were all disappointed we couldn’t continue. We’ve seen a lot of work done,” he said, noting one of their next projects called “Curious Kids” was intended to get their organization into the classroom for education.

Reflecting on their work, Jenkins said he was most proud of the “togetherness” they created and how organizations stepped up to partner with CARJ and pave a path to accomplish meaningful work.

“It’s been a challenging year for everybody, but I think the willingness of people to step up is important, the volunteers. The way people came together is probably the most important for me,” he said.

Holderman said the organization was able to set up an atmosphere of being able to have important discussions in the community, as well as empower and inspire people to engage in the topic of racial justice.

“One of the things CARJ did was help people understand that this doesn’t have to be a divisive thing, but it’s something to create more unity within the community,” she said. “Because of that, people who maybe normally wouldn’t have thought themselves people who would be engaged in working with an organization dealing with racial justice, were actually really eager to be involved and to work alongside us. And I think that was really beautiful.”

Morris said the organization helped to spread awareness of Juneteenth locally, and showed people they can talk without being divisive and find common ground, as well as educate the community on Black history and families in Licking County.

Although Jenkins couldn’t pinpoint a specific project that stood out to him, Holderman said the work their organization did in Licking County schools was some of the most impactful. She reflected on some conversations with students that generated conversations with their parents.

She also said a book discussion on “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi generated an incredible response, prompting vulnerable and transparent discussion.

Both co-founders expressed pride in CARJ and the work they were able to accomplish.

“I think we showed the community that we can come together around the topic of race, and that even when things appear to be really polarizing, they can be a point where many diverse thoughts and viewpoints and political opinions can come together and build,” Holderman said. “I’m hopeful people want to continue to do that and step outside their comfort zones.”

She added she anticipates continuing to do some of the same work in her own life and she hopes people will do their own work in the community if they feel inspired, whether or not they feel qualified.

Jenkins said he hopes the community will see although some things may take a bit of work, anything is possible. He said he never thought he would be a co-founder of a nonprofit organization, but he hopes people know the sky is the limit.

Morris said CARJ was an organization built on love. Its founders, he said, shared a profound love for their community and youth.

He expressed pride in what the organization was able to accomplish, but acknowledged there’s still work to be done.