Faith and Hard Work in an Era of Upheaval
(part of a series from the “Shipwrecked Project”)There are many definitions of a hard childhood. By any definition Mario had a hard childhood. A childhood shaped by deprivation and struggle. Mario did not have a complete understanding of the reasons his father abandoned his children and his wife. Though his father at one time served […]
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 […]
Uniquely US
Millions of immigrants and refugees all over the world are fleeing oppression, starvation and violence. Today, the United States is the ONLY receiving nation tearing children from the arms of parents. Not the desperately poor countries. Not the horribly dysfunctional governments. Just the U.S. Aren’t you proud? I can’t help but believe that every adult […]
Becoming A Collaborator
As I was flying home a United Airlines flight attendant told me the worst day she’d ever had at work was this past week on a plane with children being flown from Houston to Miami without their parents. It made me think…. Someone had to take children from parents. Had to transport them to prison. Had […]
Crowdsource that Dang Wall
I’ve been thinking about DJT’s ~1,900 mile wall.* I think we should crowdsource it. If you want a wall, grab a brick and haul it down to the Texas** border and put it right down. On the border. A few things to watch out for: Snakes. I’m scared of snakes. They have snakes. Mean ones. […]
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 […]
Lessons Learned
Lessons learned from visiting with people living as refugees in camps: Grief and gratitude go hand in hand. In equal measure. Every step of the way. Extreme hardship does not destroy generosity or eliminate hospitality. People with very little, share readily. The human spirit is not extinguishable by the loss of things or home or even […]
NO. Governor Abbott. NO.
I write this from Germany where I’ve been invited to speak to 1,500 German public, private and NGO leaders and volunteers about best ideas for the long term integration of immigrants and refugees. Germany has welcomed 1.1 million refugees to their country. Every major city here has taken in 100–200K people. Now, leaders are intensely […]
Same Boat
I have spent almost two decades in outspoken support of immigrants and refugees -advocating for immigration reform, for compassionate and generous responses to those that fling themselves on the water in search of a better life. Migration makes us strong and more connected and I believe the future belongs to the most connected countries and […]