(1999 - 2002) Lorelei McClure (then of the Baha'is of Evanston and the National Center), Pastors Stephanie Perdew and Dave Owens (First Congregational Church, U.C.C., Wilmette), and Rev. Heather VanDeventer (St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Wilmette) at an anti-hate rally at Niles West High School in 2000. RELATE was responsible for the hundreds of "No Room in My Heart forPrejudice" stickers worn by all that day, protesting the KKK.
When a white supremacist from the North Shore went on a racist shooting rampage in early July 1999, including killing African American Ricky Byrdsong as he strolled with his children in Skokie, Gail Schechter and the Board President of Open Communities – then the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs – quickly pulled together over 40 religious leaders from 28 congregations. They expressed outrage, engaged in honest soul-searching, and then acted.
Constituting themselves as RELATE, they released a strong public statement against "fear of the Other," met with political leaders to stop racial profiling by police, promoted affordable housing, and compiled anti-hate educational programs for high schools. With the events of 9/11, RELATE stood together against anti-Muslim bigotry.
RELATE also denounced racial profiling by police against African Americans and Latinos on the North Shore and worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rainbow PUSH to host a national hearing on the topic at St. Paul AME Church in Glencoe, presided over by Rep. John Conyers. (2000)