Saturday was one of the largest Blessing Day Events we have had at Embrace Richmond in the four year history of the event, with more than 100 individuals from all over the city turning out to bless Hillside court.  MCV brought over a dozen health care professionals and students who assessed...

This week I got a small taste of what it must be like to be a politician.  Councilman Samuels is under pressure from his constituents to renovate the oldest park in Richmond which happens to be in the middle of the city.  The park is frequented by VCU students and area residents but is best...

Monroe Park is the oldest park in the city of Richmond.  It is centrally located and utilized by VCU students, downtown residents and has become a hub for the homeless population of our city.  There are plans to renovate the park which would require it’s closing for up to two years.  The...

One of the most popular posts I have ever written is “Has the Light Gone Out?”  In this post, you will find my answer. Thursday’s at Embrace Richmond are like riding an emotional roller coaster because it is our outreach day in both Hillside and Fairfield courts.  Janie Walker leads us...

A friend of mine who had lived many years on the streets prior to entering the shelter once asked me “What is the definition of insanity?”  I was not sure what she was getting at, so she enlightened me saying, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different...

Through the last several posts, I have been sharing insights from “Friendship at the Margins” by Chris Heuertz and Christine Pohl.  One distinction made in the book that I found helpful was that of cause verses community.  Most efforts to address the needs of those trapped in poverty are...

After reading my post, “Handouts Do Not Equal Social Justice,” my friend Billy shared on Facebook that he dislikes my blog because I am often critical toward the church.  This post is dedicated to Billy. I could not sleep on Wednesday night and was up facebooking with Billy about why I am...

As I shared in my post “Handouts Do Not Equal Social Justice,” I believe some people have a really confused notion about what social justice is and is not.  After reflecting on some of the comments I received on the post, I think there are some who think I am trying to make some kind of...

In December, I wrote a post titled “Stop the Insanity” in which I shared a story of how one of our elderly community members was attacked, beaten and robbed and how no one came to her aid.  This week another disturbing encounter took place between another one of our elderly community...

I was blessed to have two amazing women of faith, Joy Heaton and Pat Henfling, accompany me last night to Greenville Correctional facility to participate in the vigil for the execution of Teresa Lewis. All three of us were participating in this vigil primarily in support of Rev. Lynn...

Suzie and Tracy are your typical suburban moms.  They are both college educated working professionals who choose to stay home when their children were born.  When the last of their children went off to school, they began to feel a stirring in their spirit.  They began to wonder, “How can...

As I shared in my last post, over the past several month’s I have met some amazing women who are fighting for justice in our community and our world.  My friend Lynn Litchfield is one of those women.  She served as chaplain at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women from 1997 to 2009. ...