Riverside Weekly Actions | August 20, 2026

Organizing for Collective Power 

Last week I was invited to volunteer with the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement to canvass and share information about Tenant Organizing through their initiative, Organize NYC. I got to meet other volunteers from all over the city of various backgrounds, including a lot of young NYers! Many had been involved in canvassing for various campaigns with one goal: to build people power to shape city decisions. I was so inspired!! What a great way to take the church out of the building and really get to know the people whom we are advocating for in the city! I got to learn more about the other canvassers and what their concerns were. I listened to tenants and their stories.

So often, I feel as though we make assumptions about what various communities need. We react to statistics and the news, taking action, without asking impacted communities what they need for us to do. Jesus organized too. Talking to people throughout his ministry and inviting his disciples to do the same. He didn’t just leave them with the message of the Gospel. He made sure he met the needs of the people; healing the sick and feeding the hungry. And he asked his disciples to do the same.

Change has to center the community impacted and be community driven. It starts by building relationships and building power collectively. I’m so excited to hit the streets again, to organize our city so we can make long term meaningful change.

Do you want to get involved? Look up a volunteer event here: Volunteer Events – NYC Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement Bring a friend or a neighbor with you. Or reach out to me through email msjoyner@trcnyc.org, and we can go together.

If the thought of door knocking seems like a daunting way to start building relationships, come and take part in our Multifaith Pilgrimage next Friday:

On Friday, August 28, The Riverside Church will join GreenFaith and partners from across the country to launch the Covenant for Our Future campaign, a national, multifaith movement calling for the repeal of the One Big Beautiful (Ugly) Bill Act and renewed investments in people and the planet.

Please note that the pilgrimage route has changed!

The day will begin with a rally at 26 Federal Plaza, where we will hear from Rabbi Abby Stein and The Very Reverend Winnie Varghese and more. From there, we will undertake a pilgrimage to Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, lifting our voices for the climate justice, immigrant dignity, economic justice, and policies that protect the most vulnerable. We will close our team in community together, sharing a meal with our friends from UPROSE. Save the date, invite friends and family. More information and registration here: Multifaith Climate & Immigration Justice Pilgrimage in NYC