by Steve Park The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Proverbs 29:7 (NIV) I don’t like conflict. I also don’t like asking for things. Perhaps it’s my personality or my Korean family background that values politeness, but advocacy work is not …
“Do Not Cross”: The Disruption of Gun Violence
by Mike Davis, Executive Director, Youth For ChristReducing Gun Violence Network Connector “Do Not Cross” is what the yellow tape reads as we watch as officers motion for drivers to redirect or turn around, creating an unexpected detour. In addition to the inconvenience, there is an audience …
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Uvalde: 1 Year Later
by Christina Foor & Norma Ruiz Read Part 1 of this blog here. It’s been a year since the terrible mass shooting that happened in my hometown of Uvalde. Last year, I reflected on Mark 4 as a way to process the deep despair and hope I was feeling in that moment. This year, the story of the …
For People in Prison, a Listening Ear Can Make All the Difference
by Paige Deur Matthew grew up in a Christian family. At nineteen, he gave his life to Christ and began to see his life transform. Four years later, he found his life falling apart as he sunk into depression. “This was at the beginning of my marriage when I was supposed to be happy, but I …
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Sacred Neighboring
By Rev. Dr. Lori E. Banfield 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you …
The Weaponization of Trauma upon Reentry
by Antonio (Tony) Pizarro What is trauma? How does trauma affect reentry? This is the question that we should be asking ourselves. We fight collectively for liberation. Yet, once liberation is achieved, there is no fight to address the traumatizing events that could hinder a successful …
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Welcoming a Bit of the Garden of Eden into the Reentry Process
by Stephanie Vander Lugt “Its time to play… Guess. That. Vegetable!” The room erupted into game-show-worthy applause as cruciferous and leafy wonders passed from table to table. Hushed tones ensued. Is it a beet? A melon? A kind of celery? Each team efforted to correctly identify the most …
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How our Church got Involved in Mass Incarceration
by Joe Marcucci Our entry to the dizzying world of Mass Incarceration began with the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, and the book Rethinking Incarceration by Dominique Gilliard. We were determined to move the marker for what our church was engaged with. When the initial registration for …
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