The Attack on a Muslim Mosque Mirrors Other Hate Crimes
I’ve been pretty wrecked most of March as I read about the mass shooting in New Zealand. The man arrested for carrying out the mosque attacks in what has…
Voices of Everyday Leaders
Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2019 slate of finalists. This “short list” of nominees honors the year’s outstanding restaurants, chefs, and food-centric journalism, books, and broadcast media. Community…
Underserved communities find no relief as water rates increase
Tia Simpson stood in front of nearly 40 journalists pleading her case for clean and affordable water. The 34-year-old Flint resident endured the aftermath of being exposed to the city’s…
Coming to Terms with Privilege in the Face of White Supremacy
In the wake of Unite the Right II, I have been surprised by the reactions of some media pundits who feign surprised reactions by white nationalists taking to the streets…
In November, everything is on the line
This piece originally published in the Las Vegas Sun. Every election year, the posters and signs go up announcing new candidates vying for political office. Every year, volunteers set out…
Bobby and the Center for Community Change
I still recall the moment that I truly entered the world. It was not the instant when the bullets were fired. It was a few minutes later when I was…
In the baddest of bad weeks, there is hope – but you gotta work for it
I want to believe in the basic goodness of humans. That we love our family. That we choose kindness. That we lead with open minds and brave hearts and stand up to bullies who pick on those smaller or less powerful than them.
The Austin Bomber case shows we are quick to label POCs, but not whites, when they do wrong
Photo credit: Ted Eytan, Flickr Creative Commons The citizens of Austin were terrorized by a series of bombings that left two people dead, and injuring others. The suspect ultimately blew…
Keepers of memory: Remembering Trayvon Martin
This year marks the sixth year since the death of Trayvon Martin, and I do not want us to forget. Six years and we find ourselves living in an America with a president who has been endorsed by white nationalists and a country more divided than ever.
Voting to protect our families is not a privilege; it’s a necessity.
There is a line in the opening scene of Goethe’s play Faust that reads, “A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.” It is a sentiment…