For over four decades the Interfaith Center for Racial Justice (ICRJ) has been building bridges of understanding between people of different cultures and religious traditions. ICRJ’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration of Macomb County, as well as ICRJ programming like Green Circle, the Macomb Mosaic, Passport America, Kindness & Justice Challenge, and most recently "Listen, Learn, & Live", Forums on Diversity, and the Macomb/Detroit Multicultural Youth Project have educated and inspired people to work together for social and economic justice that respects all.

Initiated by metropolitan Detroit religious leaders in 1968 in response to the Kerner Commission Report which followed a summer of racial disturbances—including the July 1967 civil disorder in the City Detroit—and which concluded that "our society is moving toward two societies, one Black and one White—separate and unequal," ICRJ has evolved to provide a consistent voice for unity. Partnering with local congregations, businesses, and schools ICRJ aims to change hearts and minds through innovative programming and its annual MLK Holiday Celebration of Macomb County.
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Current Organizational Structure

Rev. Curro joined ICRJ in August 2006. With his leadership ICRJ’s annual MLK Celebration has grown to over 1000 participants.  During his tenure ICRJ has developed the innovative "Listen, Learn, & Live" program to build bridges of understanding among people of different cultures and faith traditions. Rev. Curro is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He began his professional career as congregation based community organizer and has been involved in social justice and interfaith work for over two decades.

Rev. Michail T. Curro, ICRJ Executive Director

• J. David Ivers, President (Metropolitan AFL-CIO)
• Rev. Tyrone Martin, Vice-President (Greater Morning Star MBC, Mount Clemens)
• Eric Jackson, Treasurer (NAACP, Vinson Chapel C.M.E., Clinton Twp.)
• Kay Schwarzberg, Secretary (Beth Tephilath Moses, Mt. Clemens)
• Renee Arrington-Johnson (2009 MLK Committee Chairperson)
• Ed Bruley
• Rev. Bill Davis (First Presbyterian Church of Mount Clemens)
• Imam Steve Elturk (Islamic Organization of North America, IONA, Warren)
• Susan Kattula (St. George Chaldean Church, Shelby Twp.)
• Fr. Randall Phillips (St. Blase Catholic Church, Sterling Heights)
• Sarah Stovall (North Broadway Church of Christ, Mount Clemens)

2009 MLK Celebration Committee

Renee Arrington-Johnson, Chair
Ed Bruley
Rev. Michail Curro
Kimberly Meade, MISD Social Studies Director
Penny Hader
Lynette Holmes
Alice King
Audrey Mantey
Lindsey Martin
Julie Matuzak
Andy Melitz
Cindy Melitz
Michelina Plesco
Karyn Rudzinski
Imam Achmat Salie
Lynnette Sutman
Leslie Thompson

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