Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse is an interfaith network in Syracuse, New York that advocates for race-focused social policies. ¹ Its most notable project is its “Race Matters Book Club” that encourages study of books espousing critical race theory and similar radical-left racial ideologies.

Race Matters Book Club

Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse sponsors a book club that focuses on analyzing society through the lens of race relations. The stated objective of the book club is for “white people to gain clarity about White Privilege and its role in Systemic Racism.” ² The book club further asserts that “it is understood that not all white people are privileged in the sense of being members of the ‘privileged’ socio-economic class of persons in our society. However, regardless of class position, all white persons can claim white privilege simply because of the color of their skin.” ³

Books covered by the organization include Tears We Cannot Stop – A Sermon to White America, by Michael Eric Dyson; The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas; White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo; and Becoming, by Michelle Obama. ⁴

Finances

In 2018, Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse received $8,510 in contributions, $22,924 in membership dues, and $16,852 from gaming and fundraising events. ⁵ In total, the organization collected $42,286 in revenue. ⁶ The organization incurred $37,020 in expenses, and had $32,719 in net assets. ⁷

Leadership

Reverend Eric Jackson is the president of Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, a minister in the United Church of Christ, self-styled “Anti-Racist” religious educator, and former president of the Manchester, New Hampshire chapter of the NAACP. ^{8 9 10} He is a Ph.D. candidate in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. ¹¹

1. “About Us” Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse. https://www.acts-syracuse.org/about-us
2. “Learn More About Our Race Matters Book Club!” Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse.  https://www.acts-syracuse.org/race-matters-book-club
3. “Learn More About Our Race Matters Book Club!” Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse.  https://www.acts-syracuse.org/race-matters-book-club
4. “Learn More About Our Race Matters Book Club!” Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse. https://www.acts-syracuse.org/race-matters-book-club
5. Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
6. Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
7. Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
8. “Who We Are” Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse. https://www.acts-syracuse.org/about-us
9. “Freedom Fund Event 2021.” Manchester-NAACP. https://main.du8vjjsljccj4.amplifyapp.com/web/documents/2021_Freedom_Fund_Program_Book.pdf
10. “Rev. Eric Jackson.” Plymouth Congregational Church. https://www.plymouthsyr.org/about/staff/
11. Interfaith Works of Central New York “CNY Inspirations: Enough is enough?” Syracuse.com. https://www.syracuse.com/living/2021/06/cny-inspirations-enough-is-enough.html