Learning from Jean’s journey to justice

The region will receive a very special visitor this week and some lucky schoolchildren will get to spend some time with a living legend.

Jean Stallings was born in the United States in 1940. In the 60s she became an activist with the National Welfare Right Organisation, and fought for the dignity of poor black women at a time of huge prejudice.

She was part of a delegation of women who met Martin Luther King and demanded women played a greater part in the civil rights movement.

Jean recently featured in the ‘Journey to Justice’ exhibition in Sunderland Museum. The exhibition used little-known people from the civil rights movement to make us think about the ‘hidden heroes’ of the city who have struggled for justice and change.

The exhibition revealed the Chartists, Suffragettes, trade unionists and community activists who have shaped the city over the centuries.

People of faith believe that it is our duty to work together to improve society.

Whether it is local refugees doing community clean ups, or local churches working hard to support those plunged into poverty.

Alongside Jean, we must work to inspire a new generation of children to believe that the city can always be improved, and can become a shining light of hope to others. We have our own ‘journey to justice’ that we need to embark on if we are to become a ‘city of light’ Chris Howson, Chaplain to the University of Sunderland and cochairman of Sunderland Interfaith Forum.