Skip to main content
Category

Social Justice

Terence Lester
In Love Beyond Walls, , Volunteerism

Gathering in November

We are a little under a month away from gathering together to share love with our community for the Holidays.

We’re grateful that we have the opportunity to walk with people every single week and forge meaningful relationships. 

In fact, that’s why we gather! We gather to build relationships, bring people together, but ultimately to see lives change for the better. For a little over a year, we have mobilized people from all walks of life to come together and serve others in a way that provides dignity and hope.

We ask that you partner with us as we partner with Woodward Academy for the fourth year in a row to serve our community in College Park.

When we gather this year, we will announce plans that we are dreaming about as we continue to grow as an organization. 

We encourage you to sign up to serve [HERE] or by using the button below.

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Get Educated, Poverty, , Vision, Volunteerism

What is Gentrification?

What is Gentrification?

Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district’s character and culture. The term is often used negatively, suggesting the displacement of poor communities by rich outsiders. But the effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies.

Many aspects of the gentrification process are desirable. Who wouldn’t want to see reduced crime, new investment in buildings and infrastructure, and increased economic activity in their neighborhoods? Unfortunately, the benefits of these changes are often enjoyed disproportionately by the new arrivals, while the established residents find themselves economically and socially marginalized.

Gentrification has been the cause of painful conflict in many American cities, often along racial and economic fault lines. Neighborhood change is often viewed as a miscarriage of social justice, in which wealthy, usually newcomers are congratulated for “improving” a neighborhood whose poor, minority residents are displaced by skyrocketing rents and economic change.

Although there is not a clear-cut technical definition of gentrification, it is characterized by several changes.

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In MAP16, MAP18, , Vision

Why I’m Marching – MAP18

It’s official. The countdown begins. Today, Terence will make 21 days walking on behalf of the poor in our country. On March 3rd, he set out on a 386 mile journey on foot to the Lorraine Motel to bring attention to poverty and honor MLK’s life.

He started from the Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta, GA and has walked all the way to Mississippi. It’s his hope to arrive at the Lorraine by April 4th (MLK50th).

People have asked him what’s the one thing he wants people to hear from this sacrifice. It’s simple. We have over a 100 million people in our country living near or below the poverty line. Therefore, “Poor People Matter.”

Why I’m Marching – MAP18 from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In MAP18, March Against Poverty, , Struggle, Vision

18 DAYS AWAY – MAP18

In 18 Days, we will launch #MAP18 to take a stand against systemic poverty and racial division.

Terence will walk 386 miles from Atlanta, GA to Memphis, Tennessee to the motel where King was assassinated to bring attention to poverty and division (two of the triple evils that King stood against).

Through this journey Johnny & Terence hope to model what in means to walk together in unity and stand against an issue that plagues millions of lives.

Will you join us in the March Against Poverty 2018?

Follow the conversation! #MAP18 #LoveBeyondWalls #MLK50th

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Get Educated,

Podcast Interview on Voting Conditions, Systemic Oppression, and Hope for the Furture

This month we had the opportunity to talk to Wanda Mosely from My Vote Matters GA.

The political climate lately has been difficult to navigate.

It’s hard to believe that there are still systemic conditions that keep people from voting. The most underrepresented group are the marginalized and vulnerable. Minorities are still struggling to make it to the polls.

What consequences does our country see when voices are not represented? And how does this affect the policies in place?

More importantly, how can we help create change?

Wanda offers a uniquely hopeful position on what we can do to make a difference.

Listen to the full episode here.

Terence Lester
In Documentaries, Poverty, Raising Awareness, , Vision, Voiceless Film

documentary critique by rev. neichelle r. guidry, phd

voiceless: a documentary on systemic poverty: is a poignant portrayal of the complexity and humanity of poverty in the United States of America. this documentary illuminates the hypocritical paradox of inequity and disparity in the “land of opportunity.” the primary vehicle for accomplishing this end is through the self-narrated stories of several individuals who are suffering through the imposition of homelessness.

in their own voices, viewers hear of how the problem of poverty is exacerbated by social location. sexism, racism, immigration status, criminal history and generational poverty produce nuanced intersections of suffering, immobility, and hopelessness. through their stories, people like Erica, a single mother of three, weave two common threads through the film. the first common thread is the idea that no one ever desires to be homeless, and the second is the fact that despite their greatest efforts, systems that were built to privilege the wealthy make it impossible for the poor to change their circumstances.

in the wake of the “tax cuts and jobs act,” these people and their stories are the clarion calls to conscious advocacy, self-surveillance of privilege and doing justice. enter Terence Lester, the starter of Love Beyond Walls. in this film, he gives an insider perspective on his March Against Poverty from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the poor. montages of his daily musings and meetings punctuate the film with images of the costs, challenges and joys of doing justice with and for the poor.

as a clergywoman, i am especially convicted by the critique of the church as an institution that does good only on Sundays, conflates justice with charity, and exchanges the poverty of Jesus for capitalistic prosperity. there is a flailing faith center in the fight against poverty, which is unfortunate because religious traditions, including but not limited to, Christianity, possess the means for leveling economic fields, galvanizing political resources and making lasting transformation. altogether, this documentary is a formidable, motivation, and it calls viewers into the fight. more importantly, it calls viewers into relationship, thereby humanizing the numbers and statistics of poverty through personal engagement with the poor and taking on their pain as our own, to feel and to eradicate.

rev. neichelle r. guidry, phd

Terence Lester
In Love Beyond Walls Story, MAP16, Mission, Raising Awareness, , Voiceless Film

WATCH VOICELESS DOCUMENTARY FREE!!!

WATCH VOICELESS DOCUMENTARY FREE!!!

About three weeks ago, our organization was offered a distribution deal for our documentary film “Voiceless.”

Although it was a huge opportunity, I (Terence) felt the pressure of having to entrust our message to many people who are not connected to the day-to-day work of fighting for those who are marginalized.

So, instead I (Terence) have chosen to make our documentary free to the public. Many would say this is foolish and insane to turn down a deal, but my heart has always been about educating, equiping, and moving people to care about those suffering with poverty in our country.

Therefore, if you have not seen our documentary and have always wanted to see it you can do so FREE of charge below.

Please read the disclaimer note to support our work!

Disclaimer Note:

After watching this film, you have three options to support Love Beyond Walls:

1) Go directly to our site and make a donation to our cause. Your support helps us to continue fighting poverty and homelessness (lovebeyondwalls.org/give).

2) Download a free 22 page workbook on our site at (lovebeyondwalls.org/voicelessfilm) to get next steps and continue the conversation on poverty.

3) Share this film as it is an important message in our country.

Voiceless: A Documentary On Systemic Poverty from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

#lovebeyondwalls#voicelessfilm#endpoverty#MAP16

Terence Lester
In Mission, Missions, Raising Awareness, Relief Efforts, Resources, , Vision, Voiceless Film, Volunteerism

Trucks Made It To Texas + Packed Screening in Florida

We asked, and you showed up!

We had an overwhelming show of generosity in response to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Thanks to your donations these past few weeks, we’ve been able to resource two truckloads of basic necessities to Texas.

Special shout out to Mike Fye for driving down to deliver the much-needed supplies — thanks, Mike!

Screening at Genesis Church

This past weekend, we were invited to screen “Voiceless” in our third state — Florida! 

The screening was packed out with hundreds of people in attendance. We were blown away by the response! 

A big thanks to Genesis Church i

n Orlando for hosting us as we continue to bring attention to systemic poverty. 

If you’re interested in bringing this important film to your group, church, or organization visit voicelessfilm.com.

LBW Team

Close Menu