The work of RepGen would not be possible without the generous support of our many contributors, and one of those monthly contributors is Ben Bouwman.
For the past six years, Ben has served as a faith leader at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. As a pastor of the Mennonite faith, Ben is passionate about peace and social justice, and believes strongly that “God calls us to pay attention to those that have been oppressed and marginalized.” Like the original founders of RepGen, Ben was motivated by the tragic murder of George Floyd to learn more about our nation’s racial history, and to find concrete ways to address the ongoing inequalities caused by systemic racism. After learning about RepGen, Ben decided to become a monthly contributor and share information about the organization’s mission on the church’s website. “What drew me to RepGen,” Ben explains, “is that it wasn’t just talk. They were actually doing reparative work now!” For those still unsure about supporting reparations, Ben suggests careful listening and learning about the true history of those who have been oppressed. He was especially impacted by the resources provided by “reparations4slavery.com.” “The stories will stir you. It is a history that won’t let go, and then you see how the effects reverberate into the future.” Thank you, Ben, for your being a part of Reparation Generation.