New Kid on the Blog

Bright Lights: Far and Near

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:55:00 GMT

Incomprehensible devastation. Incomprehensible sorrow.
Unimaginable suffering. Unimaginable loss.
Haiti, Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

Today, television crews pack up and head home. Today, the next “big” story is now the news. Today, families and children in Haiti still suffer mightily.

Today, don't move on with your normal life. Today, stop and count your blessings. Today, give something to help; give a piece of your heart. Today, act as if failure to help our Haitian brothers and sisters is not an option.

Tomorrow, do it all again!

Wednesday night, January 20th, I took my dog for our usual nightly walk around 9PM. The fog that enveloped St. Louis for about three days lay heavy on the roof tops of all the homes I can usually see so clearly. It was an eerie feeling. As we walked, the street lights glowed through the fog as I imagine lighthouses do on the shoreline for ships seeking safe harbor. This visual of a bright light reminded me of a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review that talked about positive things that occur in seemingly difficult situations and how these bright lights need to be examined, understood and then replicated. I will suggest that the unbelievable spirit of giving and sacrifice that we have seen by those helping in Haiti be examined, understood and replicated in our own communities. Finding people still alive after being buried for three, four, five days in the rubble is clearly a bright light. Providing medical care of all kinds in public parks, streets and other places in Haiti certainly is a bright light. Bringing water- purifying systems to Haiti that can be operated in normal size vans with simple machinery and table salt is clearly a bright light. As strange as it may seem, there are indeed bright lights shining even in Haiti!

Let us not have this moment pass by and not give to help the families and children of Haiti and let us recognize that right here in our own back yards people want for a better life. Beyond Housing runs a family support center in Pagedale that I hope is a bright light for that community. We offer an after school program, summer camp, food pantry, computer lab and programs for seniors – all on a modest scale. It is not designed to be the next “big” idea but simply a place where good things happen and people’s lives are improved. We need not get hung up with always having to find a scalable solution that will serve millions but rather show an idea, concept or program and let others see its success to be replicated. Finally, if we can simply show that, by caring about our neighbors, we help ourselves and set such a wonderful example for our children. Let us create some bright lights out there! If you have some example please share.

Remarks from Champions of Transforming Lives, Building Communities Awards Reception

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:35:00 GMT

As I thought about this past year and how I would describe it to you this evening, two different things came to mind...my English lit class from high school and Confucius. I will say that again, as I thought about this past year and how I would describe it to you this evening two different things came to mind...my English lit class from high school and Confucius. In my English lit class, we read the classic Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities. Now I will be honest and say I have vague recollections about the story. I know it is set in the time of the French Revolution. While I am being honest, it is very likely that I may have purchased the Cliff Notes for the novel as well. What I do clearly remember is how the book begins. The very first sentence is as follows; "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." At the time, I liked the languag; but, I remember thinking to myself how can it be both the best and worst of times simultaneously.

Well, 2009 for us at Beyond Housing certainly can be described as living through the best and worst of times. This year brought us a terrible recession with dramatic job losses and all the damage it creates for families and communities. Our families living in our rental units have struggled to stay employed, pay their rent and care for their children. Families all throughout the region from the City of St. Peters to St. Louis Avenue continue to battle the nightmare of foreclosure on a daily basis. Food pantries throughout the region have seen incredible spikes in the need for their services. Poverty's hold on so many families in the region has gotten stronger and many for the first time feel the unrelenting stress of not having enough to make ends meet. There are more people in the region that need our help, for simply every program we run. Our resources are certainly limited. For many of the families we serve, it truly has been the worst of times.

Even through the season of darkness, this winter of despair, thanks to so many of you in this room and many others that are not here tonight we have accomplished some truly amazing things. Our 34 year journey of strengthening neighborhoods, one family at a time continued at a record pace. 2009 was the year we affirmed our vision to alleviate the consequences of poverty in the families and communities we serve. Earlier this week, continuing our long partnership with the St. Louis Equity Fund and our new partner EM Harris Construction, we broke ground on 37 new homes in Hillsdale continuing our strategic push into the Normandy School District geography. This will certainly bring a little light to those three abandoned blocks and make a very bright light shine for those 37 families with 100 children who will live there by the end of 2010. We have never built more homes in one year than this. It kinda feels like the best of times. In the last 90 days we have purchased 25 foreclosed properties in the Normandy School District geography and have begun the rehab on many of them with the end goal to add them to our existing rental portfolio of over 240 existing homes - not including the 37 in Hillsdale. We have never rehabbed that many homes in one year. It does feel a little hopeful. During this time of despair we have also brought hope to over 1,000, that's right I said over 1,000 families who participated in our first time homebuyers program. These families thirst for the knowledge to be successful homeowners in these troubling times. We have never helped this many people in one year and we went to the closing table with almost 200 of these families providing down payment assistance and helped them purchase homes valued at greater than $16 million. Seems like a reason to be hopeful. While the foreclosure problems continues to bring despair to so many families we have counseled over 900 homeowners to help keep them in their homes, again our best year ever. If times were not so tough, I just might say it was the best of times.

Oh, in case you have not heard we just broke ground on a new Save-A-Lot grocery store in the City of Pagedale and officially invite all of you to the grand opening in June 2010. My friends of BSI Constructors are going to grow weary of me driving by the site daily, or maybe hourly.

This exciting project will certainly bring a spring of hope to the people of Pagedale and the surrounding communities. What we have tried to do in these challenging times, this season of despair is tackle all of our work with the spirit of Dr. King's famous words to, "make every valley exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places made straight". We want it to be the best of times for all the families, all the children and all the communities we serve.

Now for Confucius… the saying, "every journey begins with one step" is attributed to our man Confucius. As I thought about this year and our work I envisioned a stretch of a long highway with the horizon line too far in the distance to clearly see. I can see the horizon line -I just can't make out the details just yet. It made me think of my friend Mayor Mary Carter of Pagedale and the journey her city has been on for some time. There may have been some valleys, some mountains to climb, some rough places, some crooked places but Mayor Carter and all the leaders of Pagedale did not waver. They did not stop, they moved forward and their journey continues today. I cannot wait to see the horizon line become clearer for the City of Pagedale.

The journey for Anne M., one of our service-enriched rental housing program participants, has not been easy. She could have said I cannot take one more step for the valley is too low, the mountain too high, the place too rough and crooked. I am so proud to say her journey continues and judging by her enthusiasm the horizon line is going to get here sooner than later. As I enter my 17th year at the great place we call Beyond Housing I am just as excited about my journey as I was on September 20, 1993 when I walked in the door for the first time.

Just as all those families who aspire for their piece of the American dream are on their journey, Beyond Housing continues on its path. Just as all those families hope desperately to not lose their homes to foreclosure are on their journey, Beyond Housing continues on our path. The journey in this life starts with one step but we hope for so many we serve that the steps are a little easier and the path not littered with potholes. And while despair and darkness will indeed happen from time to time it is our hope, my hope, that we can continue to create the best of times for all we serve.

Our journey is poised to take a significant move forward in 2010 and the years beyond. Tonight, as an affirmation of great support from partners like all of you here tonight, and the work of the board and staff, we have three significant grant announcements to make.

An anonymous foundation has made a $275,000 commitment to fund the expansion of our service delivery in our rental housing program, create commercial and residential real estate development capacity in our Normandy School District work and to fund the debt service for three years on one of the loans for the grocery store development.

The Horncrest Foundation gave us a $500,000 endowment to continue our creation of universal design housing.

Lastly, an anonymous foundation has made a five year $2.5 million commitment to fund a new community building division in the organization, to truly carry out our Normandy School District strategy. This commitment will give us the capacity to deliver programs, evaluate the work, raise the needed funds to carry out the work and support the school district’s capacity to partner with us. We will truly be leaders in this field and be part of a systemic change all across the country in how we do this work and alleviate the consequences of poverty!

Let’s raise our glasses and toast this momentous occasion!

Finding a House to Put My Home In

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:53:00 GMT

I recently read Mitch Albom’s latest book, “Have a Little Faith” and a particular passage has stayed in mind. The book chronicles Albom’s personal journey about his faith through parallel relationships with his long time rabbi and a convict turned preacher in a troubled Detroit neighborhood. The passage that I can’t seem to get way from was an excerpt from a sermon of the rabbi that went as follows;

“A military chaplain told me the following story: A soldier’s little girl, whose father was being move to a distant post, was sitting at the airport amount her family’s belongings. The girl was sleepy. She leaned against the packs and duffel bags. A lady came by, stopped, and patted her on the head. Poor child, she said. You haven’t got a home. The child looked up in surprise. But we do have a home she said. We just don’t have a house to put it in.”

The greatest clarity and grace seems to come from children so often. This passage continues to make me think of the all the homeless children here in St. Louis and all across the country that are simply looking, hoping to find a house to put their home in. What a simple request – I just want a place to call to home. How is it that we have collectively let this simple request go unanswered over and over again? How is it that we allow executives of failed financial institutions walk away with hundreds of millions of dollars but we cannot find the resources to tell that child here is house to put your home in? How is it that we can spend billions of dollars on wars but cannot find the resources to tell that child here is house to put your home in. How is it that we all will give thanks this holiday for what we all have, pray for those who suffer but come next Monday fall back into our normal routines and forget about that child who is looking for a house to put his home into?

The great irony is that we as a community know how to build houses, know how to rehab houses, know how to rent houses, know how to maintain houses – it is not the proverbial brain surgery. What we don’t have is the collective courage to say no longer we will accept homelessness in our country. It is that simple. Once we all say this – guess what – resources appear. When we determine something is important to all of us then great things can happen. Who is against ending homelessness? Who doesn’t want to find the house to put that child’s home in?

For the budget deficit folks – the cost of providing a home which stabilizes a family, positions them for income security, greater personal safety, enhanced social and emotional well-being and improved academic performance is significantly less than the combined cost of the homeless system, the health care system, the justice system and the social service system that we are currently bear by allowing homelessness to continue.

As we all share this Thanksgiving holiday with our family and friends, I ask each of us to take a moment not simply to wish for a better life for the child looking for a house to put their home in. Let us go a step further and determine what am I going to do to make this happen. If we create a groundswell of commitment to end homelessness, we can conquer this national disgrace.

Finding Your Way

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:55:00 GMT

On September 20^th, 1993, I started this job as Executive Director and I am now President/CEO of Beyond Housing. Back then, we were called Ecumenical Housing Production Corporation and, as the name implies, we had strong roots in the faith community. The original notion was to have people of all faiths come together to produce much-needed, affordable housing. I was 31 years old, with a great deal of enthusiasm; but, not much experience. My biggest worry at leading this well-respected organization was to not “drop the ball” that was handed me by the Board of Directors and the retiring founding Executive Director, Lynn Broeder. Lynn was a dynamic and charismatic leader who grew the organization out of, yes, a church basement to its well-respected place. She had cultivated the strong ties to the faith community that we still enjoy today.

One thing that gave me pause back in those early days of my career was the tagline on the bottom of our letterhead. It was a biblical quote from Micah. It read, “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God”. At this stage of my life and career, I just didn’t see the value of the quote professionally or personally. Although I was raised in the Catholic Church through 3^rd or 4^th grade, I stopped attending any formal services and have yet to return. As I started this job, I had so many things on my list of “need to get better at” such as working with a board, managing staff, raising money, public speaking and much, much more. Trying to understand, believe and espouse the notion of this quote was just too much for me at the time. I did not have strong feelings against the quote; but, rather a level of discomfort. This discomfort was driven by my own lack of clarity about my faith and its role in my life.

From that first day in 1993 through today, I have been very motivated to help those families who reach out to us. That aspect of my journey has not changed. What have changed are my own sense of my place in this world and my own sense of my relation to faith and spirituality. I never thought too far into the future one way or the other, i.e., I did not think I would stay at this job two years and then leave nor did I think I will be here forever. In essence, early on, I did not know where my place was and why.

Along the 17 year journey, there was no “aha” moment, no great spiritually epiphany, no transcendent moment or any wondrous revelation. It was a methodical, day-in, day-out march of trying to make a difference. A slow, thoughtful excursion to realizing that I don’t think of what I do at Beyond Housing is a job. I also just thought, “ya know, I don’t think I have ever asked for a raise.”

My voyage has included sitting in the living rooms of those we serve and hearing their stories, their struggles and their successes. I have been in communities walking the streets of Pagedale and knocking on doors in the Normandy School District…seeing, hearing and sensing what is occurring day in and day out. I have heard the sad news of a courageous mother of seven daughters passing away suddenly just as her life was going to turn a positive corner. I have seen what alcohol and drugs can do to families. In turn, I have received hugs from families who just bought their first home, from families who now have a place to live, from families who have gifts for the holiday season and who have started businesses. Very soon, I will celebrate with my friends in Pagedale the ground breaking of a grocery store in their community and all that it means to them.

I have been fortunate to speak to audiences small and large about our mission and those we serve. Being able to stand on the shoulders of others, I have received awards from various organizations. I have also given sermons in a variety of churches to a variety of denominations. I have been asked to do television and radio interviews and have been quoted in national publications. On some levels, it still does not seem real.

At some point in this voyage, I realized that what I do, while it does not unilaterally define me, is a big piece of who I am. 17 years after starting this job, people still ask me today how I have remained so passionate about the work. The question always gives me pause because I never say to myself “OK, be really passionate now”. The answer, I think, is that I have found my place in this job; but, more importantly, in this work of helping of others. I still enjoy coming to work each and every day and hope that continues until the day I decide to stop earning a paycheck.

Now let me close the loop on Micah. Beyond Housing recently engaged Cathy Yost to be a volunteer writer for us. She will assist with writing our newsletters, family stories and other tasks. Cathy has been a long time friend and supporter of Beyond Housing in her former role as Director of Lay Ministry at First Presbyterian of Kirkwood. The church held a retirment ceremony for Cathy at a recent Sunday service and asked me to attend. As I entered the church for the service, who do I see but Lynn Broeder, the founder of Ecumenical Housing and the person whose big shoes I had to fill? We have crossed paths on several occasions over the years; but, nothing regular. We talked for a few moments and she said she had been hearing about all the good work we were doing. That was very gratifying to hear.

When I headed in for the service, the staff at the church wanted me to sit in first pew because I was going to have a small role in the ceremony for Cathy. The service begins and, as they start to describe Cathy and her long time service at the church, whom do they quote? Micah!!! Which quote? “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” While my journey about my faith still moves forward, I am very comfortable with Micah today and hope that I indeed do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. I hope everyone who reads this has already found or will find their way to that place that brings both peace and passion.

Sometimes, It Can Be Just the Little Things.

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:47:00 GMT

So many problems in our world today seem so daunting, so big, so overwhelming that individually we cannot determine what to do. Sometimes, we ask ourselves, “What can I do that will really make a difference?” Sometimes, we become so accustomed to the problem that we simply don’t realize it still exists and that the solution may be right in front of us. I want to share two stories about just trying to make a difference.

The first story about trying to do the little things is about a tenant who lives in one of our single family rental homes. Her name is Gwen. Throughout the year, I go out with staff and see our mission first hand. We visited Gwen at her home. The staff person with me was our case worker who works with our families. She introduced me to Gwen and we began a conversation about a variety of things in Gwen’s life from work, children, the home itself and anything else that was important. Gwen mentioned she was studying, again, to get her GED. She said she had failed it three times before; but, only by a few points in math the last time. She works at a nursing home; but, needs her GED to continue her training to get a certificate to be a licensed practical nurse.

I saw in her both frustration and commitment about the process of getting her GED. I said the fourth time will be it and we will celebrate it when she passes. I tried to be as encouraging as I could. We finished our visit and I told Gwen good luck and stay in touch.

Months went by when I got a message from our Office Manager who said Gwen called and said she got her certificate. I honestly had no idea who Gwen was and why she was telling me about a certificate. I did not get a chance to call back that day and she called the next day; but, this time, left her address too and immediately I called her back. I was thrilled for her!!! What could we do to help her celebrate this great event? She very humbly said a gift certificate to Wal-Mart would be helpful. We talked for a few moments and I could hear the pride in her voice. I told her we will get her the gift certificate right away and also asked my staff to get her a plaque honoring her achievement.

The second is about a young woman named Brittany. From time to time over the last 6 months, I have seen Brittany near Washington University holding her cardboard sign with her handwritten note asking for help. As a general rule, I give everyone like Brittany a little out of my pocket. I tell my children, who frequently see me do this, that, if life has forced these folks to suffer the humiliation and pain of having to beg, the least I can do is give them a little money out of my pocket. I know there are arguments as to why this never actually helps; but, if I can ease a bit of suffering, look them in their eyes and offer a sincere ”good luck”, I think that is the right thing to do. So, Brittany usually got a dollar as I passed by...not knowing her name or story. I know that Brittany always had a pained expression on her face. This look was of both physical as well as emotional pain. One day a couple of weeks ago, I saw Brittany at a new location, so I gave her a dollar; but, this time, I gave her my business card as well. I told her we might be able to help and to call me. That night, I told my wife about my day (including giving Brittany my card) and she asked, “Does that ever work?" I had to regrettably say no. Before I could say it ,she said “I know, you have to try." I soon forgot about giving this young woman my business card. A few days later, I get a phone call, “Hello, this is the person you gave your card to, my name is Brittany.” She told me a little of her story including sometimes sleeping in the car of a friend.

I asked how I can get back in touch after I check into what we might be able to do. She gave me her mother’s phone number and I told her to hang in there and we would be back in touch. We called the phone too many times to count and never reached anyone. I was driving by the university again the other day and saw her out there again; but , I was not in the lane where I could stop and talk to her again. I should have tried harder to reach her. I will go there again and try to find her.

It was so very clear that our lives are full, complicated and, at times, challenging. It is also very evident that the problems of poverty and homelessness seem so large that we alone cannot even begin to address them. Sometimes, a little thing can have a great meaning. Sometimes, reaching out to help someone can truly make a difference. Sometimes, we need to slow down our fast-paced world to see the humanity around us. While I am fortunate to have a job that offers more opportunities to have an impact, we all can make a difference if we reach out to the many Brittany’s and Gwen’s in our world.

Sometimes, if we care enough, sometimes, if we stay involved, sometimes, if we try even if the odds are against something positive happening, we can make a difference. Sometimes, just caring to try just might be enough.

Leadership and Courage When it Really Matters

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:44:00 GMT

Leadership and courage are traits that are hard to come by in individuals and even harder in groups. Further, leadership and courage are even more difficult to find when times are hard and these two traits are more in need than ever. The organization I have the privilege of leading from a staff perspective, Beyond Housing, just held our annual strategic planning session on Saturday, September 12^th. Our mission is to strengthen neighborhoods, one family at a time and this already difficult task has gotten that much harder due to the recent economic downturn. More and more families come to us each and everyday asking for our help in finding a place to live, help to prevent them from losing their home due to foreclosure, help to repair their existing home, help to provide support in the daily struggle to live with the weight of poverty on their shoulders. The sad irony of this increased need for our mission delivery comes at time, due to the economic downturn, when we are anticipating a 30% decrease in charitable giving in 2009 from 2008. This 30% equates to around $300,000.

In the context of this challenging time, we held our strategic planning session. In the context of this challenging time, we gathered on a Saturday to discuss our future as an organization and our mission. In the context of this challenging time, our Board of Directors can choose safe and cautious or bold and decisive. I am so proud to report that my bosses, the Board of Directors of Beyond Housing, chose bold and decisive.

Bold and decisive in the simplest language is stating that we refuse to wilt under the challenges of the day because those we serve need us now more than ever. Bold and decisive means that we collectively, board and staff, will be unwavering in our commitment to delivering our mission and running our business in the best way possible. It means, as board chair Rich Ryffel stated, “We just need to do ordinary tasks in support of our mission day in and day out, nothing extraordinary.” It also means, as chair of the planning committee Benjamin Akande stated, “I believe that courage is the most important leadership competency. Those who have it will own the future. I believe we have it.”

We spent five hours of incredibly exciting, challenging and motivating discussion on how we will move our organization forward and create transformational change with all those we serve. We spent five hours reaffirming our collective task of making a difference. We spent five hours looking in each others eyes and seeing the commitment that all of us had for this task. We spent five hours working through a whole host of mission-delivery tasks and ended with a new vision.

Our new vision is to alleviate the consequences of poverty in the communities and families we serve. Having courage and leadership means addressing those issues that are hard (such as poverty) and not being afraid. Having courage and leadership means, as Benjamin Akande stated, “creating an emotionally arresting strategy”. So again, the vision of Beyond Housing is to alleviate the consequences of poverty in the communities and families we serve.

My heartfelt thanks go out the entire Board of Directors of Beyond Housing for their willingness to lead and their true courage to be bold and decisive. As board member Michael Williams said, “let’s act like failure is just not an option”.

Being There for Children

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:55:00 GMT

In small and large ways, being there for children can truly make a difference.

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Reflections of Door County

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:25:00 GMT

I normally use this space to solely talk about the work of Beyond Housing and all the issues the families and communities we serve face each and every day. This time I will do something a little different.

As I write this, I am the only person on a small beach at 5:45 a.m. in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. The beach is in Door County and on a peninsula with Lake Michigan to the east and Green Bay (the bay, not the city) to the west of where I sit. The sun is slowly rising over the water...bright and streaking across the gentle waves toward me. The water rhythmically comes ashore giving me the soundtrack to my morning.

There are several sailboats anchored not too far in the distance. The air is crisp and I am wearing a light weight jacket to keep warm. I am in Peninsula State Park staying at a campground with my family. The beach is in a little cove rimmed with a beautiful green tree line. The park itself, like some in Missouri, is full of forests and trails to enjoy.

Accompanying the water in my soundtrack are the numerous birds starting their day. I forget how beautiful their calls can be if you really listen. The peacefulness of this place, at this time, is simply wonderful. I am truly fortunate to be able to experience it.

Like many, I am driven by my work and lose sight of the beauty of the world we live in. My desire to succeed at what I do so others have a better life sometimes make me forget that there is beauty, jaw dropping, make you speechless beauty.

What this gorgeous place does, however, is remind me that as I take it all in, spend wonderful time with my family and recharge my batteries is that many of the people Beyond Housing serves don’t have this opportunity. The reality of poverty is that it would be nearly impossible to scrape together the funds to rent the campsite, rent the camper, drive ten hours to get here, buy all of the food that you eat to cook at a campsite and all the other costs associated with coming here. I am not naïve enough to think that just sitting here on this beach will magically transport someone out of poverty. I do believe that experiences like this are good for the mind, body and soul are are undernourished for most that live in poverty.

I cannot imagine what the daily grind of struggling of living in poverty can do to you over time. Sure, there are moments of laughter and joy, but I am willing to bet they are followed by the reality of life that is far too difficult. I want our work at Beyond Housing to bring people the peace I feel right here, right now. I want the families we serve to be able to find their way to whatever place brings them the calm I feel right here, right now. I want the families we serve to really know the beauty of our world. What does that bumper sticker say “God bless everyone, I mean everyone”. I want the families we serve to be as blessed as I am.

Community Building and Constructive Impatience

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:10:00 GMT

Any successful work community building is driven by community engagement which is incredibly challenging. Patience is required for this task. How can you be patient and still be driven to make a difference? Constructive impatience.

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Finding Common Ground on our Communities Challenges

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:03:00 GMT

Tackling this region's vexing problems requires an intentionally integrated approach with many people coming to the table for the common good. How do we get this done?

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