LA Times features former DOOR participant

Stephanie Pashby, a YAV/Dwell participant in Hollywood 2007-2008, was featured in a recent LA Times article about her work with PATH Outreach in LA. Click Here for article.

My freshman year of college I took Congregational Worship, an elective course. We learned about many things, but I got wrapped up in theology of space. What does our space say about our theology? What should our theology speak into our space? As I travel around the DOOR network, I am drawn to look churches in this way. I find it fascinating and also very important.

This morning, I participated with a Discover team at Oakleaf Farm, a farm run by Berea Mennonite Church, a partner church of DOOR Atlanta. Oakleaf Farm is actually in the yard of Berea Mennonite. I learned that the church has been trying to decide how to use its space for awhile now, and this idea of having a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm was born out of that process. In the front, back, and side yards of this church there are rows of vegetables in which 10% goes to the community free of charge and much of the rest is purchased by getting a share in the CSA.

This redefines the theology of space for me. Its not just the chapel, the fellowship hall and the Sunday School rooms, but also how we use all our space, including the yard. May we continue to figure out new ways to use the space around us to live out what we believe!

Some more thoughts on Washington DC

If I think about it too long, I worry that my new desire to research Robert E Lee is a bit misguided. Should I be interested in the general who lead the charge to continue enslaving people in the South? True to my love of history, and in debt to my history teachers along the way, I have become reinterested in his life thanks to a recent trip to Arlington National Cemetery.

My 8th grade history teacher may be horrified to know that I forgot about Robert E Lee’s story. He was a West Point graduate. President Lincoln offered him the top job in the Union Army, Lee said no even though he didn’t agree with secession or the Confederacy which he mocked in letters before the Civil War. Why? His allegiance was to his home state of Virginia, and when Virginia seceded, Lee left the Union Army and joined the Virginia state troops. If that isn’t interesting enough, once the Union won, the land around Lee’s house (passed down from his in-laws who happened to be related to George Washington) was declared to become the National Cemetery, including a big monument in the family’s rose garden.

General Lee’s story makes me wonder about my allegiances. Slavery was and is wrong. Period. Lee, in my opinion, made the wrong decision. So the questions become – What is my allegiance to? What or Who in my life plays the role of Virginia that could sway my opinions and decisions so drastically? How can I show my concern and my commitment to people without giving them complete allegiance?

Living in the midst of the City

I just finished Home Girl: Building a Dream House on a Lawless Block by Judith Matloff. I could relate in many ways to the story of this woman who has chosen to purchase a house in West Harlem, a place that was not on most realtor’s maps and her friends wouldn’t come visit during the early 2000s. Her story is humbling, funny, and reflective.

She reflects at several points in the book about gentrification. As she sees her neighborhood change from a Dominician stronghold and a place that realtors have labeled frontier and those that were interested in buying there as pioneers to a multicultural block with closer amenities, she struggles with understanding whose side she was on.

Was Miguel the local head drug guy really that bad? Were her fears of her next door neighbor who liked crack founded? Should she worry about being in this neighborhood? Would it be hell to pay if Miguel found out that while relating with him she also attended community activism meetings to try to get the drug trade to move from her street?

These are good questions, for Matloff, for me, and for our DOOR year long (Dwell) participants. By living in a place that doesn’t have clear cut answers within a complex intentional community and in a neighborhood filled with stories, the answers won’t come easy.

Maybe in asking of the questions we are able to live more intentionally?

Vacation

I thought I was on vacation.

While touring the American Museum of History last month my husband and I sat down for a presentation about the Civil Rights Movement in front of the Woolworth lunch counter from Greensboro, North Carolina where four students had participated in a sit in. For more information about the event and to see the counter, click here.

The presentation was about how folks prepared for these acts of non-violent action and at one point the presenter handed out historic Woolworth’s menus “to help prepare us for what was ahead”. Like good schoolchildren, we passed around these menus until everyone had seen them. The presenter asked where the menus were, there was one laying on the chair next to me and like 3 others in the audience, held the menu up expecting to be asked to pass it to the front. Instead, the four of us were asked to come sit at the lunch counter.

While sitting at the lunch counter, we were given instructions not to react to negative responses and that we were to just sit. Then after awhile we were surrounded by the rest of audience to represent the people who gave negative responses to the original four protesters.

Tears came to my eyes. This is what I believe in….working to bring a diverse world to the table, and standing up (or in this case sitting down) to injustices that prevent this from happening.

I was on vacation, but this is my life. I hear DOOR participants talk about being on vacation while in our Discover program and often hear about “taking a year off” for service. However, like my experience with the Greensboro lunch counter, I hope that participants see their time at DOOR as a part of their journey instead of a special instance of service, God, or reflection. My prayer is that participants will commit or recommit to their passions, to God, and to a life of reflection in new ways while at DOOR because cultivating a life of service and reflection isn’t something that can be left for vacation.

Discovering the City

When groups register for our week-long discover program, we don’t just ask for their name, contact information and a check. Instead we start the process of reflection by asking several questions which include expectations, goals and ideas of service. A group recently registered with the following.

Q:“What are some images you have of the inner city?”
A.“A place where vibrant life meets real struggles and needs.”


Yes. Yes. And Amen. The City is full of life and needs. May the vibrant life be witnessed by the Discover participants this summer.

Generalizations and Reflections

Here is a recent reflection from Anna Yoder, serving in a partner program of Radical Journey. Anna is serving in South Africa and yet I think she captures many of feelings that I hear around the DOOR network.

It's really hard to sit there, unsure what to say, when people make generalizations right at you. This surprisingly hasn't happened a lot since we've been here, but earlier this week it seemed to come with full force. I was sitting in the office trying to work on BCA's annual report when someone came and started talking to me forever about how Americans are.

Uh…

Don't get me wrong, I am the first to admit that there are lots of things that have gone wrong in the States. After all, we have a lot of blood (and high fructose corn syrup) on our hands. Part of the reason I wanted to do this program as to get out of the United States for awhile. I have found that it's hard to explain that to people here, even if they don't like the US they are often surprised when I say that as whole, I do not either.

I've been struggling with this a lot since being here. I miss home, which means I miss the States. And that sounds weird and out of place to me. Yet, when I think about that, it's not that unnatural since what I love about the States comes down to people (well, and ice cream. Ha) – my family, friends, and people who have impacted my life (and that I'm tired of being far away from). When this someone told me that Americans (as in our Radical Journey group here) are more prone to stay in the states as oppose to the Canadians who are more open to it (I'm not sure where this guy got this from), I wanted to tell him that for me I guess that is true but it comes down to the fact that Barb, Sanford, Aaron, Janice, Titus, Michaela, Leah, Jeron, Kare, Jille, Drea, Laura, Krista, Steph, and Jills live there than easy access to cheap, corn feed and filled food.

Regardless, I get really frustrated when South Africans come up to me and tell me everything that is wrong with the States, especially when they loop me in with their generalizations. I find it very difficult to say anything in these situations. Sometimes, I wonder if would do anything if I spoke up for myself at all. After all, the States needs to be lectured on lots of things. Often, it is also that I don't even know what to say. How do you tell someone who tells you to your face that all Americans are materialistic and only care about clothes and make-up when hello! I'm right here in front of them with practically no make-up, my hair frizzy from the humidity, and the fact that I've been wearing the same pair of pants consistently for the past week.

I'm pretty bad at sticking up for myself, especially when I sometimes agree with everything they are saying. Still, I don't like to be lumped into the "you Americans" group, when I rather be lumped in with those environmental, pro-Palestinian, God's kingdom on earth, anti-corn syrup, anti-blind consumerism, jubilee economics, simple living, third way Jesus' shalom type of hippy freaks so would rather challenge the system they live in rather than become just like it or run from it. Obviously, I don't have these things down. But it's hard to express that there is so much more to me than being an America. Or that doesn't always have to mean the terrible connotations that it holds throughout the world. Maybe God has placed me there for a reason – to be a part of a movement that challenges what my government is doing with my tax dollars, that doesn't live with a blind eye to the world, but rather engages, yet never fully participates in order to bring about radical generosity and love to the places I find myself in.

I want to live in a way in which people are confused as to why I don't fit into their "you Americans" generalizations. Am I there yet? I am not sure…

For the blog in its entirety, see http://radicaljourney-annayoder.blogspot.com/2010/04/you-americans.html

Its more than money

DOOR Hollywood member Mark Horvath’s recent addition to Huffington Post Imagine Dropping Off your Grandmother to Sleep on the Street provides more than a story, but with a challenge. “Housing alone will not cure homelessness. We must also be community conscious. Elaine would rather live on the streets where she has social contact with people she knows than be housed in a different part of town.”
I agree whole-heartedly. And yet, I wish it was as easy as throwing money at the issue. Building community conscious is harder.
But, community conscious doesn’t take money….so we can’t use that excuse of “if we only had the money…”. What can I do today that makes me more mindful of my community? How can I make my city more aware of being community conscious? What about you?
I dream of a world that is community conscious.

Holy Week

As you walk this journey called Holy Week,
may you welcome Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches
may you travel through all the emotions that the disciples did
may you imagine Jesus washing your feet, passing you the cup, and explaining bread
may you attend to Jesus as he carries a cross on which he then is hung
may you wait, wait, and wait
may you awake to a new understanding of what resurrection truly can mean.

On the Other Side of Oscar

I heard that The Hurt Locker won the Oscars. I haven’t taken the time to read the whole list of winners but I may soon.

I know that a DOOR group arrived to experience Hollywood on Sunday night, and not the Hollywood of Oscars.

Contrasts make up cities, and in my travels around the DOOR network, I am always surprised about how deep those contrasts can go – racial, class differences, political learning, dog walkers or cat lovers, fast food or 5 stars, and single or families. All these contrasts are alive and well in the city.

Yet, knowing all that, didn’t make me any less moved by the contrast of being 5 or so blocks from the Oscars and orienting a group to serve and learn for the next week. I am not sure words can describe that kind of contrast.

I am glad I was where I was.

New National Board Chair

Mari Alarcon is the new DOOR National Board Chair. We are delighted to have her lead us in this way. Mari has been support staff and currently serves in San Antonio as board chair.

Mari is a 5th grade teacher who was recently written up as an example of a great teacher! See the article here.

Thanks for serving your city and DOOR, Mari!

Perspective

My husband and I recently moved things around in our house and now each morning my first glimpse of a new day includes a full view of the highway that is right outside our bedroom. I find myself very aware of the slowed traffic or the lack thereof and it colors my morning conversation. “Oh, I wonder what is going on west of us, it seems to busy for this time.” “Wow, traffic seems lighter than normal.” “We need to leave earlier than usual today.”

I like this about the new arrangement. I think about people in my city basically the minute I open my eyes. If people are late will they get docked in pay? I wonder if the folks have hobbies while waiting in the car? Why do people drive when they can take the CTA?

What if a change of perspective was as easy as moving the furniture? Or maybe shifting one or two things in our life, could move the furniture of our mind and heart just enough to let more understanding in?

another link

Here is another Chicago linked article about homeless youth.

What is it about a neighborhood?

I recently read this article about Roger Park, a neighborhood in Chicago, that was published in The New Times.

This article is focused on why you should travel to Rogers Park. And yet, I wished I could rewrite the article to focus not on restaurants but the interesting markers of a truly unique neighborhood.

I would talk about the worshiping community of Living Water Community Church,

just a walk on near by Devon Ave - seeing the sights and sounds of India and also Jewish America,

what about learning about another religion by visiting the International Society of Krishna Consciousness

How about meeting with my friend Peter for a cup of coffee at The Heartland Cafe?

These things aren't the typical things to see on a tourist list...instead they are what I think of doing when I go to Rogers Park that help me see the people and heart of Rogers Park.

Where would you take people in a neighborhood that you appreciate?

Interesting charity studies

This evening, I came across an interesting, yet a bit dated, study of non-profits.


The study is entitled 2008 Metro Market Study. This study was following the financial practices of non-profits regionally. The short conclusion was:

"Our analysis, completed in May of 2008, demonstrated that the financial behavior of America's largest charities is influenced by the metropolitan market within which the charity operates. For example, Charity Navigator proved that charities in Colorado Springs have the least amount of rainy day funds. This is due to the fact that Colorado Springs has the highest concentration of religious groups, which tend to maintain relatively small amounts of working capital. We also learned that charities in New York City, where the cost of living is higher than just about anywhere else in the country, report the highest level of CEO pay."

I found this study interesting and helpful in a number of levels. First, its important to see regional differences and make non-profits a more stable environment for people to work and support. Second, I found their markers of excellent to stretch my vision for how ministries and non-profits should be judged.

How do you judge non-profits? How do you decide to give money?

A reflection on service

Arloa Sutter, a woman who serves and leads Breakthrough Urban Ministry in East Garfield Park in Chicago, recently wrote the following about service. Thanks Arloa for your service and your reflection.

Reflection on Service

Martin Luther King Jr quote

I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.

May we all work to be more relationship oriented!

Why Becky Stayed

Recently, I asked Becky Imig to write about why she stayed in the neighborhood in which she served as a Hollywood Dweller in 2002-03. Here is an excerpt from her answer:

As time moved on I found myself feeling more alive, awake, aware, and also burdened. I was processing so many urban issues that were new to me: immigration, homelessness, poverty, gang violence, teen dropouts, overcrowded urban schools, illiteracy, teen pregnancies, abuse, and much more. This was definitely the other side to Hollywood, the side less visible to the world. There was a daily struggle of so many people just trying to make it. I had never before lived in a neighborhood where my neighbors were: illegal immigrants living in constant fear (of deportation, of being separated from their families, of being taken advantage of at work and not being able to speak out), facing predatory landlords and unjustifiable evictions; families crammed and living together in one bedroom apartments; kids sleeping on couches or on the floor; parents working two to three jobs to pay the rent; parents illiterate in their home language and unable to help their children with their homework; parents that didn’t speak English and needed help translating mail or phone calls left on their answering machines; families separated from their kids with no “papers” to bring their child(ren) across the border; parents sending 1/3 of their paychecks to their relatives living in Central America; immigrants eager to learn English; and parents who feared stepping foot into their child’s school because it was too intimidating and scary. Over time (and tears), I was discovering that living a life of service meant caring about the issues that oppress, objectify, and hurt others. I was learning that living in community meant creating safe places for people to feel themselves, places where people could relax and receive love, places free of judgment, and places of true comfort.

From September to June my Latino neighborhood had become more “normal” and less shocking. My days were spent tutoring elementary kids after school, teaching adults English, practicing Spanish, hosting Community Nights for the neighborhood, and buying fruits and veggies out of a produce truck. But my favorite times were coming together with the neighborhood women to share our lives over coffee and pan dulce (sweet bread). I heard their stories about their countries, their families, their losses, and their dreams. These were women of extreme faith and hope. They had found joy in the midst of their sorrow, hope in the midst of their fear, and peace in the midst of their anxiety. They shared their gifts with me and blessed me with their hospitality. God was at work in my neighborhood and I had come to love it so much. I had discovered that this was the place that I wanted to stay. The thought of saying good-bye to the kids, youth, and families I had gotten to know so well was difficult to think about. I was feeling called to the city and loved that feeling of God expanding my heart. I think I chose to stay because I had discovered that living in community is part of our transformation and God was surely at work in transforming my life.

Happy New Year

Over the last 72 hours, several Dwellers have written about what is happening in this New Year.

Here is Katie’s take who is serving in Atlanta.

"Empty. That is how this new year has begun. So many aspects of my life are currently empty. The gas tank in my car (or rather, the car my parents have been lending me for the past 5 years) is just a few miles from being completely empty. My bank account is a few cents (.97) from being empty. My Marta card has but a couple days left before it will be empty. The pantry shelves that usually hold my food are nearly empty.

Full and overflowing. That is also how this new year has begun. So many aspects of my life are currently full. I am full of excitement about the work I'm doing at the outreach center. My social calendar has been filled with friends visiting me and me visiting friends over the recent holidays. The Y fills me with energy and endorphines from exercising. My housemates, neighbors, and acquaintances are full of thought-provoking questions that are helping me discern more about my life and my relationship with God and with others. Not to mention, my stomach is full of nutritious food, my dresser drawers are full of comfortable clothes, and my house is full of warm air and warm people."
To read the rest of the post, click here.

Some words from Lauren who is serving in San Antonio:

"every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"
For those of you who are not familiar with the Band Semisonic, the title is a quote from their song “Closing time.” Not my favorite band but it does remind me of my younger years and my transistion in San Antonio."

To read the rest of the post, click here.

Also, an account from Connie who is serving in South Africa in Radical Journey, a partner program of DOOR.

"Our holiday started at 10 PM on Thursday the 31st, at church. BCI has a “praying in the new year” service every year, and let me tell you…it was awesome. I think it was my favorite church service ever. We had wonderful praise and worship and got to see lots of “items” - things like songs, poetry, and dance. And after the service, just after midnight, we put off fireworks in the church yard."

To read the rest of the post, click here.