One of the questions I’m asked about living in the inner city is if I feel safe. I don’t like this question. It makes me think of my 90 year old neighbor and if it’s ok if she lives in a place that’s not considered safe. Or of my neighbor that’s a single mom of...Read More

Most mornings, while walking my dog, I would pass by Charlie’s house. He would invite me into his backyard to let me see his pears growing on the tree or a new flower he just planted. He loved his yard and I loved seeing his passion for it. I always thought his backyard was like...Read More

I clearly remember the first time I knew I was using my white privilege. It was summertime and the community garden program just let out. There were usually 50 boys who worked in the morning and got $20 for their efforts, leaving happily across the bridge and around my block. I loved going outside to...Read More

Last night Alex asked me if I would have rather been a web developer for Google or be self employed and live where we live now. I thought about it for a bit and thought about all of the relationships I’ve made with people on my block. I thought of the true beauty of sitting...Read More

I recently found out that my daughter was saying unkind things to one of her friends. I was embarrassed that she didn’t know better but started talking to Mae about the situation. I try to be a good parent and realize that I’m only a good parent when I’m around my kids and present. I...Read More

I had a running injury a few weeks ago so this was the first I started running again. Today I was running in a different are than usual so I couldn’t keep track of my mileage as I usually can. It was a hard run, like really hard and I got done and thought I...Read More

One if the reasons we live in the inner city is because of the trips we led to Jackson, MS. They were the first to show us a way of racial reconciliation that really resonated with Alex and I. We would go down there and gut/revamp houses and learn from community members about living in...Read More

I was in the car this morning with my kids and there was a segment about a person who yelled the N word to a group of black people.  Mae likes to listen to the radio so I thought we should talk about this word.  I didn’t ever say the word aloud but told them...Read More

Last night there was a bunch of boys (ages around 12-14ish) that were hanging out in my neighbors yard.  I hadn’t seen them so I asked what they were up to.  They said nothing and got up and kept walking.  It struck me that they really have nothing to do in the inner city.  It...Read More

I didn’t know what Juneteenth was until I moved into my neighborhood.  I didn’t have any idea that the holiday existed for the first 25 years of my life.  We moved into our home on 8th Street in May and I clearly remember that Juneteenth back in 2006.  There was parade that surrounded our neighborhood...Read More