Rev. Allison Mark is senior pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, California.
Mariam Mengistie is executive director of missions at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Beverly Mitchell is professor of Historical Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary.
William Moore is executive director of The Eleanor Crook Foundation.
Carol Myers has been a Bread supporter since 1975. In a previous term on Bread’s board, she served as vice chair and on a committee to establish the endowment.
Dawn Pierce is a licensed practical nurse and community advocate.
The Right Rev. Frank Madison Reid, III is the ecumenical officer for the African Methodist Episcopal Church as well as Presiding Prelate of the Third Episcopal District.
By Edith Avila Olea
To say that 2020 was an overwhelming year is an understatement. 2020 touched us all, rich and poor, people of color and white people, and West Coast to East Coast. No country went untouched by the pandemic and its economic impacts. We all have a 2020 story to share.
Though the pandemic surpassed borders and class, its effects have lasted longer for some compared to others. For the uninsured and underinsured, the underemployed and unemployed, health care and essential workers, among others, the pandemic has created deep wounds.
This year has shown us how interrelated our inequities are in society. We saw how the pandemic devastated communities of color because of high risk factors related to general employment industries, crowded housing conditions, lack of appropriate access to health care, lack of child care, and more.