Jim Wallis, longtime leader of the Sojourners community in Washington, DC, would often write: “Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change.”  I was tasked with giving the summary and closing prayer at the end of the BREAD Nehemiah Action last night, and included this quote. 

BREAD is a coalition of 40+ congregations across Franklin County – Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and now also Muslim.  At its best, I think BREAD is in the business of helping to change the evidence, providing cause for hope toward laws and systems that better serve the most vulnerable in our community.  BREAD does this through the power of organized people, and the Nehemiah Action is the culmination of a yearly cycle of organizing.  Our unofficial attendance stands at 1477, up about 150 from last year.  CMC had 62 in the crowd. 

It was probably the most positive, celebratory Nehemiah Action I’ve been to.  One reason was the Columbus City Council’s recent passage of a rental registry for which BREAD advocated.  Councilmember Nick Bankston was present and spoke passionately about housing as a human right, quoting scripture and praising BREAD.

The new issue of livable wages is being addressed through coming alongside Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman and her vision for Career Academies in 10 CCS high schools by 2028-29.  Dr. Chapman agreed to work with BREAD and spoke about the Academy model.  As a strong believer in the liberal arts, I hope this is a both/and approach with humanities and critical thinking skills accompanying career prep.     

Although it wasn’t officially a BREAD project, we also celebrated the passage of Issue 5 which will create nonpolice community crisis response teams for qualifying 911 calls.

There are plenty of reasons to feel disempowered, but being in a room with nearly 1500 folks with the same commitments is an empowering experience.  Forming bonds of community and care in any setting is a way of shifting the evidence toward cause for hope.

Joel