Between the pandemic, and the election cycle, and the general exhaustion level of…everyone…there were classes this semester that felt long and complex. Like every semester, I wanted to end this one with integrity, and to give something for students to think about as they leave (or “leave the meeting”). For one course in particular, thisContinue reading ““We who believe in freedom cannot rest”: That’s what I’m professing”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
“Putting my hope in Nevada” and other student reflections on election
This semester I teach a policy class on Tues/Thurs. I have a few “in person” students but mostly they are on Zoom, and so I have been challenged all semester with how to find ways for people to participate that doesn’t depend on a camera or their willingness to unmute themselves. I knew that todayContinue reading ““Putting my hope in Nevada” and other student reflections on election”
Dorothy Day, and some early thoughts for post election intentional living
Prior to this year, the last time I dressed up for Halloween I was Dorothy Day. My Facebook memory post for that day reminds me that I had at least 15 conversations with people about DD that day, I passed out at least 50 copies of my newspaper, and only had one person ask meContinue reading “Dorothy Day, and some early thoughts for post election intentional living”
We shall overcome
A few years ago I was looking for just the perfect short video to illustrate something in one of my classes. (The amount of time in my life I have spent looking for “just the perfect short video” on any given topic is, to quote a former student, redonkulous. Anyway, I digress…) I don’t rememberContinue reading “We shall overcome”
Overlooked
Today, by the time my class started, students were already aware of the decision handed down from the grand jury in Lousiville as related to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. One of my students, who is a young woman of color, said she was in a despair pit. She said she wasn’t sure thatContinue reading “Overlooked”
RBG and the Voting Rights Act, and renewing our resolve in the next 45 days
Like many people I know, when I heard of Justice Ginsberg’s passing on Friday, I was grieved. She has been such a leader on the Supreme Court, such a voice for justice, and I was hoping she would just hang on for awhile longer. Reverend Dr. William Barber, in his post on the Repairers ofContinue reading “RBG and the Voting Rights Act, and renewing our resolve in the next 45 days”
Birmingham Sunday
This is the closest Sunday to the date of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1963. Members of a local KKK group bombed the building on Sunday, September 15th, 1963, which had been designated by the congregation as Youth Sunday. The explosion at the church killed 4 young girls andContinue reading “Birmingham Sunday”
Towards Collective Liberation
I have been teaching in a higher education setting full time for a little over 15 years and have on occasion (on frequent occasion) struggled with getting students to do their assigned reading and speak up/dialogue about what they read. There are two exceptions to this struggle that I have found. This book, Towards CollectiveContinue reading “Towards Collective Liberation”
This land is your land
Though I have always loved and appreciated American folk songs, I have listened to them even more on repeat during the pandemic. One of my favorites is Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land”. As a young girl I knew the first couple of verses but it wasn’t until aContinue reading “This land is your land”
Placemaking toward the beloved community
I first heard the term “placemaking” at a professional conference a few years ago. I started with learning about the relationship between community attachment and positive economic impact and also about one of the core principles of placemaking, which is putting the voices of people in the community front and center in any discussion aboutContinue reading “Placemaking toward the beloved community”
Teaching (toward) the Beloved Community 