Sing, walk, worship for peace, unity, racial reconciliation.

This Saturday, August 15, Evanston's Pastor Karl Angelia Adair of New Beginnings North Shore Church invites all of Evanston--children and adults--to walk, worship, sing, and come together for unity, peace, and racial reconciliation (all masked and socially distanced, of course).

When: 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Meet at James Park (Oakton and Dodge); end at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) I asked Pastor Adair what moved him to organize this event.

"I believe we are in a moment in history right now like no other," he said. "The nation is in trauma and instead of being healed, we are divided on so many issues. So God place it on my heart to call for a day of healing and peace right here in the community where we live."

Police shootings and even gang shootings, Adair said, are more than a one-dimensional crisis. "These are multi-layered problems that we need to resolve. We in the religious community need to understand that we have a responsibility to our cities to declare peace and help share the love of God to humanity."

Adair said he wants participants to leave the day "knowing we're not standing on the sidelines, not just waiting until times get better, for racism to cease, or gun violence to cease, but that we've encouraged some young person who lost hope, uplifted a family that felt racially marginalized, brought about unity between cultures and ethnicities."

Speakers at the event include:

-- Young activists from Talking Whiteness on Central Street -- Detective Ken Carter, Evanston Police Department -- Teya Covin, better known as Sugar Baker, who is an ordained deacon -- Neticia Waldron, minister and author of Worship & Warfare -- Pastor Job Ramos, Hermosa Church -- Pastor Edgar Rodriguez, New City Fellowship -- Gloria Wilson, worship leader, Waukegan