Keeping the faith is one way to navigate the challenges the world faces in 2020 with the global pandemic of COVID-19 and recent national civil rest in the United States. This past summer Rashanah caught up with her dear friend and fellow Englewoodian Pastor Jonathan Brooks of Chicago on how he is keeping the peace in his home community of West Englewood, how residents are expressing their frustrations holistically through community activism, community organizing, and the policy changes needed to propel underserved communities forward. Pastah J, as he is affectionately called, is a sought-after speaker, writer, artist, and community activist.  He has contributed to numerous blogs, articles, and books and recently released the book Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods. Jonathan Brooks is a lifelong resident of Chicago and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Canaan Community Church in the West Englewood neighborhood and as an educator on many different levels.  As a firm believer in investing in your local community, Jonathan has a deep desire to impress this virtue on the students and young people in his congregation, classroom, and community.  His ministry focuses on youth development, holistic health, college scholarships, art and music training, and restorative justice practices and cares for the incarcerated and their families. 

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