The Hope for the Future Conference was open to White allies this year, and I was grateful to attend. It’s an annual gathering for BIPOC leaders — Black, Indigenous and other people of color within Mennonite Church USA. It was an encouraging and joy–filled space, nearby for me in Goshen, Ind. As we celebrated 30 years of Damascus Road antiracism training, every keynote speaker and seminar called us to continue this work.

Representing Anabaptist World along with me were digital strategist Juan Moya and two of our board members, Melody Pannell and Tobin Miller Shearer. There were also AW columnists and other writers in attendance, and I am grateful for each one.

You can read Camille Dager’s article about the conference on page 26. Cami is MC USA’s chief communication officer. The photos are by Juan Moya, who served as the event’s photographer for both AW and MC USA. We’re glad for every opportunity to collaborate with MC USA, since AW is the successor to its former magazine, The Mennonite.

This issue features articles on “Grief and Hope.” While the theme is linked to Easter, its main purpose is to give voice to people’s journeys through grief and loss.

I believe these articles are special, because it takes courage to share vulnerably about such hard things.

I want to call special attention to Janet Christophel’s article, “Ashes.” Her poetic expression is a gift. As I read, I felt the throbbing of her grief. May we receive her gift with care.