Living for the City

For almost three years now I've been working as the founder and Executive Director of Urban Connection Austin.  After 33 years in professional church ministry, my career was abruptly ended and I began looking for a new and more effective way to serve in Austin. And I found it, with the support of a good friend and mentor, Larry James, CEO of Central Dallas Ministries (now City Square). Together with his staff, we embarked on a journey to replicate the values, service, and success of CDM in Austin, just as they had done with Urban Connection - San Antonio ten years earlier.

You might think that launching this blog after only two years in this job seems a bit presumptuous, but the reality is that I've worked in some form of community development for several decades, beginning in Detroit (where I was born and raised), then for 12 years in Chicago, 8 years in San Antonio, and over 10 years in Austin. (As you can see, I'm clearly a "city kid.") During that time I served as the Chair of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission of South Cook County, Vice President of the board of the Family Services and Mental Health Center of the South Suburbs (Chicago), Vice President of the board of San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries, and one of the founding pastors of Micah 6 in Austin.  During that time I've had the privilege of serving with and for some pretty amazing people, but especially these last two years in Austin.

I've called this blog, "Living for the City" after a popular song Stevie Wonder (a fellow Detroit native) wrote about those that struggle to live "just enough for the city." It is as relevant today as it was then.  I have another blog that I started over two years ago ago called Urban Connection Austin which we will continue, posting events and activities on at least a weekly basis.  However, this blog will be more personal, reflecting on the lessons I've learned and continue to learn "living for the city."  Along the way, I hope to share stories of people, created in the image of God, that are struggling, sometimes succeeding and often not, to survive in an economic system that punishes the poor.  And I will share the changes in my own perspective that are often the result of unearthing my prejudices and presumptions about my new neighbors.  Please join me on this journey, learning from my mistakes and, hopefully, being inspired to make a connection with those that are often forgotten or purposely ignored in our society.  I would certainly enjoy your company and appreciate your comments.