BUILD (Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct action): MQ is one of 27 congregations that make up BUILD. We are diverse by faiths, races, economics, and geographically. We come together to change injustices by changing systems through the power of people. We listen to our people in house meetings in the Fall and choose an issue that is of great concern and then research for proven solutions. At the Nehemiah Action we bring 2000 people from across Lexington to ask the official for this change.

BUILD has brought about great changes in pressing for the affordable housing fund which so far has built or rehabbed over 2000 homes! We have changed systems that help women experiencing drug addictions; youth needing restorative justice and bringing restorative practices to the schools to reduce suspensions, keeping kids in school; people leaving jail getting IDs so that they can get housing, health care and jobs quickly; expanding the needle exchange program at the health Dept., reducing the spread of diseases and helping to get people into rehab programs, etc. We need team leaders, justice ministry network members, and people to attend the Nehemiah Action. There are many levels of involvement, but all help to make Lexington a City for God.

 
Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church is a member of BUILD.

Fall is a season of new starts. The slower pace of Summer is past and it is time to get to work. This is the case for the BUILD yearly cycle. In the Fall we start the process with a very important part, we LISTEN to as many people as we can and from this listening we know what issues are of most importance to the community. Our diverse 27 congregations are having meetings all over Lexington. The issues that we take to work on come from the people’s cares and concerns we hear at our house meetings. 

We want and need to hear your stories and concerns. The stories in the past have surfaced the need for affordable housing, many problems with mental health, gun violence, inequities in our school system and BUILD is working to address those needs. If you have stories relating to these issues we want to hear them to better inform and focus our work. We want to hear about other issues as well. When we share our stories we find we are not alone and together we have power to make changes. This gives great hope because people are empowered to take action in an organized and powerful way.