The new year is just around the corner, and one Ohio faith leader is asking folks to find comfort in community during uncertain times.

With the Omicron coronavirus variant surging, some folks may begin to feel isolated from their friends and loved ones.

Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches, said relying on people in our community can be a powerful tool.

"I think it's important, especially now, during this era of COVID, that each of us lives as a continuing education student of life and the beautiful array of people who live on this Earth alongside us," Sullivan urged.

The pandemic has exacerbated mental-health concerns. In a November Gallup poll, only 34% of respondents said their mental health was "excellent," a 21-year low.

For those who need additional support, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services offers a 24/7 toll-free emotional health hotline.

As part of building community in 2022, Sullivan advised people to speak out against hatred and divisiveness, and to go forward into the new year with a mindset of love and cooperation. The Ohio Council of Churches has several resources on its website for combatting racism and hate.

"We must be willing to avoid cooperating with hate and injustice and indifference, and instead cooperate and project love and peace and justice in the world and our communities," Sullivan contended.

Sullivan added community connection does not necessarily need to be in-person. Connecting virtually can also be a powerful tool for combatting stress and anxiety over challenges in the new year. For those who do meet up in-person, public health officials recommend wearing a mask, social distancing and getting vaccinated and boosted.

Plenty of political and social leaders are calling for unity and condemning political violence after this weekend's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. However, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas sociologist said he is not too optimistic about the country's capacity to use this political moment to catalyze change.

Robert Futrell, professor of sociology at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, who studies social movements and social change, said while Saturday's event has every hallmark of a political and social turning point, he thinks it is unlikely to happen given the country's recent history.

"If we can't come together and imagine that a better world is possible without political violence and without guns kind of fueling that, helping to fuel that, I'm not sure that this one is going to turn the tide either, unfortunately," Futrell explained.

Futrell emphasized the question becomes, 'Can and will the U.S. find the political willpower to act and stem the tide on the various forms of violence plaguing the nation?' Recent research showed almost 7% of Americans believe the use of force would be "appropriate" to restore former President Trump to office. And 10% of Americans said political violence would be justified to prevent Trump from becoming president again.

Futrell noted conspiracy theorists have already started to alter the symbolic images from Saturday's fiasco. He has seen altered images of Secret Service agents smiling as the tragedy took place. According to Futrell, conspiracy theorists take a slight shred of evidence, altered or not, to create what he calls a "mythology" that fits preestablished ideas about how politics and power work, which he said added dangerous fuel to the fire.

"After the horror of 'there has been a shooting of a former president' goes past -- and we're probably already past that in some ways -- that the tales will get spun in the ways that seem politically beneficial to whoever's spinning them, be that the far right, the left," Futrell pointed out. "Conspiracists are really good at that."

Futrell added not everyone thinks about the power words hold and while he appreciates the immediate sentiment of unity, he encouraged everyone to reflect moving forward.

"We need to debate but debate on grounds that don't lead to deep tensions and hatred," Futrell advised. "I agree with all of that. I would ask folks to think about whether they individually, and we collectively, are doing that a week from now, a month from now, a year from now."

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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Groups supporting peace around the globe say the budget approved by Congress is lacking crucial components.

After a monthslong stalemate, Congress has approved the fiscal year 2024 budget.

Megan Rodgers, U.S. policy and advocacy manager for the group Nonviolent Peaceforce, said there are cuts across the board affecting humanitarian aid and civilian support. She pointed out the bill also does not include language recognizing unarmed civilian protection, a methodology to peacefully protect civilians in violent conflicts.

"Any violent conflict that's making headlines today, there are UCP groups that are working and very effective, have access that other traditional aid groups don't, are equipping and protecting civilians that often go overlooked and disproportionately feel the effects of this violent conflict," Rodgers explained.

Rodgers pointed out unarmed civilian protection is used around the world and the U.S. government provides funds for groups employing it.

Rodgers noted budget negotiations for next year are already happening.

"That language was not included for the first time in about five years in the fiscal year 2024 bill and we are really keen to have that included in fiscal year 2025," Rodgers emphasized.

Rodgers added Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has a lot of influence on funds, such as for groups using unarmed civilian protection, as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"We have appreciated her leadership in the past but are certainly looking for more support specifically for unarmed civilian protection as well as peace building and protection in the upcoming year," Rodgers stressed.

Organizations are asking people to join them in a fast on Thanksgiving in solidarity with people suffering from war conditions in Gaza.

Groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations Oregon and the Movement for Black Lives are calling for a global fast to highlight the dire humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza.

Je Amaechi, digital organizer for Freedom to Thrive, said Thanksgiving Day was chosen for a reason.

"That was intentional because we know a lot of people are gathering to celebrate, to feast," Amaechi explained. "We also want people to experience a slight aspect of deprivation so they can feel a little bit of what Palestinians experience daily in Gaza."

At least 12,000 people in Gaza have died since Israel began its military action there. Israel began the assault in response to an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 people.

Amaechi noted the event is inspired by fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Black August, which has a fasting tradition held in solidarity with and in commemoration of Black political prisoners.

"We were both drawing from our own fasting traditions and our cultures and understanding from those traditions that there can be sort of a spiritual framework or spiritual underpinning to the political work we're doing," Amaechi emphasized.

Amaechi added organizations like Freedom to Thrive will continue to work toward peace in Gaza.

"Fasting is not enough and we recognize that there has to be more than that," Amaechi acknowledged. "But we're hoping this can be sort of like a spiritual challenge that can help us reflect on our privileges and just consider the stark contrast with those suffering under occupation in Gaza."