“Loving your enemies” was the theme of Diana’s comments. I was overjoyed when Diana Bravo and Laurie Cardenas initiated a peace walk in response to the murders our neighborhood at the end of February. Both girls were elementary age when I recruited them in about 1996 to be tutored by Lake Ave Church members volunteering in the STARS Program, and both girls are now on the STARS’s staff. They have embraced a Gospel that helps us see that forgiveness is part of the healing needed in our community. Laurie’s story of is told in this article.
When I began the STARS program back then, I asked many questions about why there was more violence in NW Pasadena. One of causes of violence in our community is the long held segregated housing patterns as a result of federal housing policies, which I write about in my book, Making Housing Happen. This is why I advocate for mixed income communities. Do you have stories from your communities of how the church is working to end violence? Jill Shook
Tag Archives: mixed income
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7 Mar
Saving Public Housing?
30 JanMy friend Diane Miller, who just finished reading my book, made some nice comments. “I just finished reading MHH and was so encouraged by it. I love all of the tangible examples of what people are doing around the country.” I’m quite impressed with Diane’s efforts to save some public housing in Chicago. See the link below for more information about the work that she is doing.
With changing national policy, many public housing developments have been torn down.This is a good thing, but it has many unintended consequences of displacing residents. The HOPE VI funding is creating wonderful mixed income communities, but many of us feel that there is a need to retain some public housing. What do you think?
Making Housing and Community Happen 