As I work with churches and communities groups developing strategies to reach "at-risk" youth two things are very clear. First, what was once considered a problem amongst inner city youth of color has now become a problem affecting suburban middle class families. Secondly, the term "at-risk" no longer applies only...

A shot caller is "an individual in a gang or neighborhood who has a high status." This person "calls the shots" but he doesn't carry it out -- he's already played that role. Thus, the shot caller is an elevated status. Shot callers are the power brokers on the streets...

Often, our public discourse regarding the need to end bullying centers around the assumption that children are only bullied at school. That assumption couldn't be further from the truth. Many children are bullied before they ever walk into a school -- they are bullied every day by parents, uncles, aunts,...

In recent conversations with a juvenile courts judge and the head of a school for professional psychology, I learned a great deal about emotional wellness and its tremendous impact on a child's ability to perform well and stay in school. I have learned that too often, very little is said...

I had an amazing experience. For the first time in my life, my work and my family from back home came together in one place, Oakland, CA. As a teenager, I left California in order to escape a life of crime, death, or seemingly inevitable imprisonment. I have been so...

Faith for Change is dear to my heart. At the age of 16 I left California to avoid becoming a victim of the streets. With no money, failing grades, not knowing where my mother was at the time I packed up and moved to NJ. My grandmother said, "leave and...

Recent data suggests that African American and Hispanic males are the primary victims of the nation's dropout crises. According to the Schott Foundation for Public Education, only 47% of black males graduate from high school in the United States, and the Urban Institute reports that only...

Last week we lost two great visionary leaders whose impact on the world has forever changed our lives. Yet, sadly I think we missed the opportunity to make their contributions to society a real teachable moment for our children. True to form many of us, and especially the media, focused...

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." --Matthew 13:44

Around the age of 10, I remember adults beginning to ask me an...

Last week, Rev. Michael Waters wrote a post entitled "An Odd Future for Faith In Hip-Hip." In the piece Rev. Waters asserts that "I am increasingly troubled by certain contemporary moves in hip-hop culture that embrace the occult and make a mockery of faith." I would agree with...

The debate about what is best for children and public schools continues to draw opinions from a wide variety of voices in both the private and public sectors. Although it is good to include a diversity of perspectives as we work to meet the needs of children, it is concerning...

We are constantly hearing arguments from school boards and politicians on why student performance on tests should be an indicator of success and used to evaluate teachers.  The assumption is that if students are passing tests then they must be learning.  That's a very dangerous assumption.  
 
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I've just finished reading the Huffington Post piece by Elise Buik, President and CEO, of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. I could not agree more with her statement:

"Education is a basic right for every child, regardless of race, religion, the street on which they live,...

Twelve years ago I started a journey of faith, a journey that would help me find my passion and not just a job. It started while I was looking for a place to live after graduating from college. A friend from church offered to let me live rent free in...

As a young man growing up in the inner city, every time I would see military recruiters in poor communities passing out materials at events I would cringe and get angry. I wondered if they were spending as much time and energy trying to enlist young men and women from...

For the past couple of weeks leading into the mid-term elections we have seen reports in the media on how much campaigns are spending to elect our nation's leaders. It is estimated that close to $4 billion will be spent during the mid-term elections on ads and millions more on...

During a retreat focused on vocation care sponsored by the Fund for Theological Education, we were asked to explore our personal stories or life experiences and the impact that they have on the work we are most passionate about. We were led through this process of storytelling by answering questions....

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to participate in a retreat on VocationCARE sponsored by the Fund for Theological Education (FTE). The purpose of the retreat was to explore a new model for nurturing young leaders in the process of exploring vocation, both inside and outside the church. We...

I'm sitting here watching the Oprah Winfrey Show and the great dialogue they are having about public education. I fully agree with everything they are saying about the state of public education. Oprah is right, what is happening to our children is immoral. And Secretary Duncan is correct; education is...

The Schott foundation study showing that less than 50 percent of black males are graduating from high school is astounding and depressing - but not a revelation to many in the African American community.

We've known for years that our public school systems are failing to meet the needs...