We starting the year off strong with an MLK Serve Saturday! Serve with us by signing up on the [volunteer] page. We thank you for serving with us and helping us to take #lovebeyondwalls
LBW Team
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from your friends and Love Beyond Walls.
It was such an honor to serve alongside many of you in 2018, and we know that our impact will not be forgotten. We reached many people, and made many new friends because of your support.
We hope that you enjoy the Holidays with friends and family, and we look forward to serving with you in the year to come.
Serve with you soon!
LBW Team
Today, we have started the process of building out the container. We are grateful that we have a crew starting this process. Huge S/O to our friend John and his crew for starting this process.
We are extremely grateful.
LBW Team
This Saturday, we will Gather in the heart of the city to serve those who are most vulnerable.
LBW Team
What is Privilege?
We love a few definitions about privilege given by NCCJ,
Privilege: Unearned access to resources (social power) that are only readily available to some people because of their social group membership; an advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by one societal group above and beyond the common advantage of all other groups. Privilege is often invisible to those who have it.
Social Power: Access to resources that enhance one’s chances of getting what one needs in order to lead a comfortable, productive and safe life.
Class Privilege: The unearned access, resources and social status systematically given to upper-middle, upper, rich and owning class individuals at the expense of working and poor class individuals.
Target or Oppressed Identities: Social groups that are negatively valued, considered to be inferior, abnormal, or dependent and given limited access to resources and social power.
Agent or Privileged Identities: Social groups that are positively valued considered superior, independent, or “normal” and have access to resources and power.
LBW Team
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
Today is DAY 4 of #MAP18 and my body is feeling the wear and tear already. Not to mention, I just looked outside and it’s raining. I remember these types of days during the last walk, and they are draining.
If I’m honest, I’d like to pack up my bags and go home where it’s comfortable and safe.
Why? Because the roads ahead of me are long, and filled with the unknown. But, I’m the type of person that never commits to anything that I’m not willing to complete and finish.
Sometimes people think because I do these type of campaigns that fear isn’t present, but that’s actually not true. Fear is always there, but my faith is greater!
I believe a little bit of fear is always present with all of us, and that same fear paralyzes some people from moving forward. It’s only four days into this journey and the fear is telling me to stop and go back home!
But, each time I see a different face of someone who is poor, voiceless, or vulnerable God’s courage tells me to continue.
We must press and move past the fear in order to fulfill our purpose(s). How fear is holding you back and telling you to go home?
Maybe to overcome it, you may have to do what I’m doing and listen to courage and faith more.
Last night, I was reminded that I’m not only walking for people who are poor, but also for those who may need to have their perspectives changed.
I was inboxed over Facebook by a man that I never met, but he said my posts changed his perspective.
He writes,
“Hey Terence. First of thank you for caring for the people of the world unconditionally. Second thank you for moving me. I seen a post of yours about 30 minutes ago and have been scroll threw your page. I’m young and have a young family and you have inspired me, and reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for. I have been feeling a little lost and it realized threw your videos and post and movement that it’s because I have been focused on myself and my family. When someone out there would love to just have a warm meal or even a kind word. Again thank you. I will share your story in hopes that your movement may change the world or at the very least someone else’s moment.”
His posts echos two messages that will push me today.
Firstly, it echos that no matter where we are in life, we should remain grateful. Gratitude is the fuel that keeps us focused on what matters most and centers us inwardly. This same gratitude pushes us to stand in awe of God.
Second and last, it echos that life is too short to only be focused on yourself and play it safe. We are are given opportunities to serve those around us and we must be bold in serving others.
As I close this blog, I’m thinking about Jesus’ words found in Luke 4,
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Luke 4:18-19, NKJV
Terence
This week, Love Beyond Walls got an amazing opportunity to support many students experiencing homelessness at Frank McClarin High School. We recently learned that many students in this school are fighting homelessness as they try to gain an education to better their lives.
The school is located less than a mile away from our Center in College Park.
With the support of many generous donors, we were able to provide resources to single teen mothers and the daycare housed at the school.
As days go on, we will continue working with this school and among its students. Why? Because we see education being a tool that can be used to overcome the plight of poverty.
Thank you for you continued support of our work!
LBW Team
MLK Day Recap + MAP18 Announcement! Make sure to grab your tickets for the March 3rd Rally at The Center For Civil & Center for Civil and Human Rights on our marchagainstpoverty.com site.
2018 MLK Day Recap from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.
LBW Team
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
