news article
From INR to DRIA: A new name, the same mission
September 15, 2025 / By Georgia Whitney and the Rev. Dr. Holly Strickland / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Seven years ago, the Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) launched an innovative anti-racism ministry, Imagine No Racism (INR). Combined with CCORR’s dedication to addressing both systemic and personal manifestations of racism, this ministry has catalyzed essential conversations and concrete actions throughout our communities.
However, we at CCORR have heard concerns about the name of this ministry. People of Color in UNY have rightly said that since they experience racism daily, it’s not something that can be “imagined away.” To quote one Black woman in our conference, “racism permeates every interaction, structure, and system in our society.”
While the name "Imagine No Racism" carries hope and aspiration, we’re concerned that it inadvertently minimizes the persistent struggles that People of Color face. For those who bear the weight of racism, the conference’s challenge isn't to imagine racism’s absence but to acknowledge and dismantle its very real presence.
Which is why, last spring, the CCORR team decided to reconsider the initiative's name to one that speaks directly to the lived experiences and ongoing journey toward racial justice. We began to consider terminology that reflects our active commitment to confronting and dismantling racism, not just imagining it away. We believed this change could strengthen the program's impact within our conference.
After prayerful consideration, we elected to change “Imagine No Racism” to “Dismantling Racism: from Imagination to Action” (DRIA). We believe it validates the experiences of those directly impacted by racism while challenging all participants to work tirelessly toward manifesting Christ's inclusive and reconciling love in our world.
As we continue this vital work, our hope is that a sustained commitment to anti-racism will move us ever closer to a reality where Christ’s boundless love is a visible and lived experience for all, binding us together in perfect unity.