Microfinance: Good News?
Madondo used to earn a living in the ritzy hotels of South African tourist areas by selling snack foods and cigarettes to hotel employees. “The trick to that kind of business,” he says, “is knowing when everybody gets paid. You sell on credit when nobody can pay, then you find them first thing on the day they get paid. You …
Read MoreGrowing Power, Inc.
Growing Power (www.growingpower.org) is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community …
Read MoreUrban Renewer
Farmer Robert Pierce takes produce to the people Original here: http://www.madisonmagazine.com/Madison-Magazine/October-2009/Urban-Renewer/ Urban farmer Robert Pierce has clear eyes that for decades have carefully watched crops grow, large hands that keep Wisconsin soil under his fingernails and the slight stoop that comes from working long hours in fields. As a local urban farmer, he grows fresh vegetables, fruits and meat products …
Read MoreThe God of Chaos or Order
Sometimes, I get a little sick of the “Jesus fixed my life” testimonies. Don’t get me wrong–I love it when people come to Christ for the first time or are healed of lifelong addictions. But when everything is so resolved and wrapped up with a nice, pretty bow, I tend to question the story’s validity. Because, let’s be honest: life, …
Read MoreWhy I Don’t Care About Darfur
OK, that title is a bit of an overstatement. Of course, I care about Darfur. After all, how can anyone who professes a Christian faith overlook 400,000 people brutally victimized over the past five years and more than 2 million more displaced? Read full original post.
Read MoreAmos Yong on theology and disability
Dr. Amos Yong of Regent university, was recently honored by being appointed to the J. Rodman Williams chair. In the speech he provided upon receiving the honor, he spoke about issues of church and disability. He spoke about the centrality of people with disabilities to the church. I found his presentation really remarkable, and would encourage anyone who follows this …
Read MoreCCDA E-Restorer Archives
Restorer June 2009 Restorer April 2009 Restorer March 2009 Restorer Summer 2008 Restorer Spring 2008 Restorer Fall 2007 Restorer Summer 2007 Restorer Summer 2006 Restorer Winter/Spring 2006 Restorer Conference 2004 Restorer February 2003 Restorer October 2002 Restorer Fall 2002 http://www.ccda.org/erestorer
Read MoreDonald
When we talk about homelessness as a policy issue, we often distinguish between treating the symptoms versus addressing the root causes. This is the sames lens through which Donald views his own situation. Donald is living without a home in New York City. He says it’s easy to find food and places to stay, but finding help in treating his …
Read MoreJoni
At first glance I did not know Joni was homeless. Little did I know, she spent the previous night sleeping on a bench in Times Square. This is where I noticed her trying to steal a cup of coffee; she was caught, and my heart broke for her. Many people think that homeless people just want money for drugs. But …
Read MoreRashid
For 23 years, Rashid worked in New York City as a construction worker. On 9/11, he arrived at the World Trade Center at 9:28 in the morning and – for the next four years – worked to clean up the horrific destruction at Ground Zero. Today, as a result of his service, he suffers chronic heart failure and other health …
Read MoreGuy
Times Square is unlike any other place in the United States. Lights, traffic, noise, masses of people. But in the midst of all this commotion, I spotted a man pushing a buggy. That’s when I met Guy. Guy says homelessness is hard to explain. One day he was doing fine. The next, tragedy struck and he was on the streets. …
Read MoreHarold
Harold is one of over 12,000 individuals living in our nation’s capital without a home. I met him in Lafayette Square, a park located directly across the street from Obama’s government subsidized cushy home, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. When Harold was released from prison, he moved in with his grandmother. She passed away and he had no place to go. He …
Read MoreCotton
“Brutal and senseless.” This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I’ve heard in a long time. Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that’s not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years. This raw and unedited story makes …
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