• I believe true leadership has nothing to do with position.

    A leader is anyone willing to step forward and help.

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Archives of #Houston

2016

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 One of our early Houston founding families supported the creation of settlement houses and community centers, because, as he said, “neighbors should live as friends”. I just recently returned from Germany. A country leading the struggle to welcome newcomers, to make a place for over a million Syrian refugees. German […]
7 months ago

My appeal to Mayor Sylvester Turner and Judge Lina Hidalgo

Dear Mayor Sylvester Turner and Judge Lina Hidalgo: Let me be frank. If you step up and lead — call upon sector leaders to join you in navigating this unthinkable twin disaster — you will win the resources and support needed to have a more effective and orderly recovery. If you don’t do this, you will find […]
9 months ago

Louisiana On My Mind —

I am thinking of some of my most treasured relationships. People in Louisiana. Friends and family. Many Louisiana friends are “storm friends”. We came to know one another in the aftermath of Katrina. We’ve seen horrible stuff. We’ve hugged in a street surrounded by wreckage, when everything was gray dust covered, with the smell of […]
9 months ago

ENOUGH TODAY

I slept badly and woke up with a sense of dread. A few moments during which I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what. And then I remembered. #COVID-19 I am filled with dread because we have been told that it will get much worse before it gets better. Much much worse. Italian […]
10 months ago

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ANGELA BLANCHARD?

AND WHAT HAS SHE BEEN DOING SINCE BAKERRIPLEY? …answering all the questions I am most often asked about what I’m doing… YOU WERE WITH BAKERRIPLEY FOR A VERY LONG TIME. DO YOU MISS IT? I miss the people, not the position. I was ready — like a baked cake — it was time to get […]
12 months ago

ALL OF US. FOR A REALLY LONG TIME

Well, I woke up to a random story about how BakerRipley is a mean old for profit making a huge amount of money from running NRG. Nope. First of all. We’re going to need everyone. Everyone. I’ve never seen a long term recovery commitment work that wasn’t a 3-legged stool. Government Nonprofit and faith community […]
1 year ago

FLOODED AGAIN

So many of my friends homes are flooded. Again. I feel sick with dread. Weeks of misery. Months of mold. You’d think we would grow some sort of thicker skin (scales) to deal with all of this but we haven’t yet. It’s just so heartbreaking to see people trying to continue a way of life […]
1 year ago

Born for Storms: What Makes Long-Term Disaster Recovery Work? 2008

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” — H.E. Luccock Long-term recovery begins after emergency services are depleted or no longer needed. After newly arrived residents are safe, (temporarily) sheltered, fed, and treated for emergency medical needs, the longer term response must kick in. The social, faith-based, and […]
1 year ago

journal excerpt: community development

February 2012 I hold this deep faith and commitment to the promise of this country — this heartfelt hope that we never ever break the contract we have with the world — that if you come here and work hard it will pay off. If you use your gifts and your voice, you will belong. […]
2 years ago

You’re Welcome

Today in Houston, elected, faith, civic and nonprofit leaders, led by Mayor Turner, gathered at Baker Ripley to tell all residents of our city that they are still welcome in Houston. It was necessary. Children are not coming to school. Parents are calling hot lines with questions about “immediate deportations”. People proudly seeking citizenship now […]
4 years ago
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