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Eight North Texas Women Tackle Race, Diversity

All week, NBC 5 is taking a look at the Different Shades of Texas and how race and diversity affect our community.

A very special group of women from The Village Church know all too well how it impacts their communities.

The eight women formed a bond more than a year and a half ago when they decided to come together to better understand each other.

NBC 5's Meredith Land recently sat down with the group.

"It really was an answer to prayer, and when Nikki [another woman in the group] and I got the call, she called me and said, 'I'll go if you go,' from then on, it was a blessing," said Jen Rylander.

These women, four black and four white, all from different backgrounds, gather often to share a meal, laugh and talk. But it's not usually about what you many think most women like to discuss.

"If we build this trust, then maybe I can say, 'Can I ask you something that might be awkward?' and just start that conversation," said Lauren Chandler, wife of head pastor Matt Chandler. "[To] get to know them first as a person and second as a person who has a race and how they grew up."

These eight women frequently have the difficult conversations, about race, diversity, Christianity, politics and the future of our country.

"I found like immediately it was a safe place to be emotional, to let go, to be free and talk about the things nobody wants to talk about," said Rachel Joy.

Not only have these women covered so many topics, they've become life-long friends or as they call themselves, Sisters in Christ.

The women said they hope they will be an inspiration to others.

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