"Redlining," as many of you know, was a common practice in the housing industry used by mortgage companies to deny loans to certain populations. You can guess which populations those were. The practice got its name from maps in loan officers' offices on which areas were outlined in red to show where it was not “financially wise” to offer loan products. These denied loan services rendered it nearly impossible for people of color in the areas to qualify for better housing in other neighborhoods or the ability to improve their current home. I don’t have to tell you how this...
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Did you ever wonder how to make these Easter Eggs? Well now’s the perfect time to ask one of the Junior Youth or Robin Walton. Although I’ve had the pleasure of making them with Robin, I’m not going to let the secret out. It’s a Martha Stewart delight – yes it really did come from her magazine.
The picture is just a little sampling from one participant.
A couple of years ago I attended a panel on civil rights and fair housing issues. One panelist (“Panelist A”) was adamant that the only way to reparation and repentance would come through one-on-one conversations. It needs to start at home. At work. With our children and with our neighbors. It’s a grass roots movement that requires discernment, communion, and conversation.
While Panelist A was imparting this, Panelist B – a civil rights attorney and friend of mine – could be seen rolling his eyes and fidgeting in his chair.
When Panelist B took the podium, it became clear...
Can you really be sorry for something you’ve done, if you won’t take responsibility for repairing –or at least trying to repair--the damage?
Think about a person who’s done something to hurt you –something pretty significant. If you tell them what you need from them to repair the harm they’ve caused, and they ignore your response, are they really sorry? Or, maybe they acknowledge your words, but make no good faith effort to do anything. Or, what if they forget what you asked them to do?—forget that you even ever asked: Are they really sorry?...
Today, March 17, the IRS is releasing billions of dollars in stimulus money that will appear in bank accounts of American households. I checked this morning and ours is already there. That was fast. This will be a lifeline for many who are out of work or behind on bills or have always struggled to keep up with basic living costs, or all of the above. The flood of cash will no doubt stimulate the economy.
For those of us in a more stable economic situation, perhaps it can also stimulate generosity. Perhaps this giving takes the form of a stimulus tithe (10%), a nice round...