Green State deserves praise for loan program

Some of us who belong to New Song Episcopal Church have been participating in a book study, using “The Church Cracked Open” by Stephanie Spellers. One of the stewardship tasks suggested by the author is “Dismantle systems that reinforce domination, distribute wealth unequally, and diminish human life.”

We wish to call attention to a community action which furthers this goal. We humbly offer our recognition and thanks to Green State Credit Union. The credit union recently announced a plan to loan $1 billion to people of color in Iowa and neighboring states to help close a wide home ownership gap. Over many decades, discriminatory practices have resulted in great disparities in home ownership. The U.S. Census, as reported in the The Gazette on March 9, found that 70 percent of white American adults own their own homes, compared with 46 percent of Black American adults.

We should celebrate this endeavor by Green State and all remain alert to ways we can follow their example in dismantling racist systems.

Polly and Jim Porter

Iowa City