Dan Berry • October 14, 2025 My wife, Anne, and I pioneered two churches and pastored for 40 years. During that time, whenever I was confronted with the question Jesus asked, it was easy for me to put it off on others—deflecting any responsibility I might have in answering the question myself. Throughout my ministry life, I found it so easy
Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • October 7, 2025 As I presented, I noticed him shifting in his seat — squirming, dodging, almost as if he were trying to escape the joy and possibility emanating from my words. I didn’t know what was going on with him. Maybe I was talking too long. Maybe he needed a potty break. In my
Lance Phillips • September 30, 2025 I have been trying to come up with something to say about the present moment in time that does not seem completely obvious to most of us. Yes, the levels of bigotry and hatred, divisiveness and blind faith, and cruelty and disregard are toxic, for everyone. Yes, things seem bleak. But, ultimately, to restate
Laura Marti – September 25, 2025 I can’t remember when I first heard the terms “environmental racism” and “environmental justice,” but it was as an adult and within the last decade. Generally, the idea of “environmentalism” makes me think of conservation, climate change, or protecting endangered species. Go back a few decades and I would have associated it with Greenpeace activists.
Dr. Gerardo Marti – September 15, 2025 [Reposted with permission] On Sunday mornings, pulpits across America are filled by pastors of color. Yet in white-majority denominations, their success depends less on theology or personal conviction than on the organizational boundaries of comfort and belonging. Antiracist rhetoric may be loud, diversity initiatives plentiful, but subtle mechanisms still determine whose voices are amplified and
Maveah Griffith – September 09, 2025 I am afraid of how many people are not paying attention to what is happening. I know we all see the statistics that young people no longer watch or read news and instead get the information from social media, but it isn’t just a percentage, it’s actually true. A lot of my peers often call
New Book Describes How Systemic Racism Shapes Catholic Life Dr. Gerardo Marti – September 02, 2025 [Reposted with permission from Gerardo Marti’s Substack, “American Blindspot“] Tia Noelle Pratt’s new book Black and Catholic: Racism, Identity, and Religion is a careful and clarifying intervention into the study of race and religion in the United States. Smoothly written, it moves without strain between scholarly critique
Jameka Haynes • August 26, 2025 Let’s tell the truth: DEI isn’t evil, scary, or negative. But the way it’s being distorted? Whew. Some folks use it to check boxes, push politics, or perform advocacy instead of actually living it. I just wrapped a 6-week Humanizing DEI Group Coaching Experience, and the biggest breakthrough for participants was realizing that good intentions
Dan Berry • August 19, 2025 Lies. Lies. And more lies. How are we going to survive in a world where it’s becoming harder and harder to find the truth? Who can we even believe anymore? I was always taught to trust God’s Word as the absolute truth. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • August 12, 2025 Anyone else still waiting for summer break to begin? 😅 WOW. Summer 2025 was incredibly busy—gratefully, it was overflowing with good stuff. One thing I enjoyed just as much as graduations, celebrations, dance competitions, and vacations with my children was Hues of You Summer Camp with other people’s children! Although camp is
Field-Building, Friendship & Future Work Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • June 24, 2025 I didn’t know how much I needed this experience. Last month, I had the honor of serving as the MC for the 2025 National Convening on Children’s Racial Learning, hosted by EmbraceRace. Over the course of three extraordinary days, I found myself immersed in a space where
Laura Marti – June 17, 2025 Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the way undocumented immigrants are being treated in this country. And honestly, it breaks my heart. The disregard for dignity and the dehumanization is difficult for me to see play out every day. Their treatment implies that they are disposable—tossed aside with no regard for the violence they
Republished with permission: from “How to Celebrate Juneteenth in 2025: What to Do and Why It Matters,” by Candace Tillery June 10, 2025, REDFIN Blog Reading Time: 12 minutes Author’s Note: As a Black woman, I carry a heaviness writing about this. I was well into adulthood before I learned about Juneteenth. My family celebrated by displaying a Juneteenth flag
Maveah Griffith – June 12, 2025 I cannot be the only one who’s noticed the restored animosity towards social movements. Remember 2020? A year that’s only 5 years in the rearview mirror but feels more like a decade out of reach? The summer of 2020 began with unrest and protests following the murder of George Floyd. 2020 was also the year
Lance Phillips • June 03, 2025 I have been writing and publishing poetry for the last thirty years, but lately I have been struggling with whether a body of work, any work, amounts to anything substantial. Maybe because of my age (I am quickly approaching the age at which my father died), maybe because the creation and dissemination of art,
Dan Berry • May 27, 2025 I’m currently reading Dr. Jennifer Harvey’s new book, Anti-Racism as a Daily Practice. In the first chapter, she talks about how people often approach her and ask how she became so passionate about racism. That made me reflect on how I’ve been asked the same question. If you’re involved in anti-racism work, chances are you’ve
Laura Marti – March 20, 2025 Visiting antique stores has become a favorite outing for our family whenever we’re on vacation. Wherever we go, we track down the local antique shops. We look for used books, music albums, VHS movies, comic books, vintage clothing, kitchen items and dinnerware, tea sets, hand-crocheted afghans, and old wood furniture pieces—always hoping to discover a
Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • May 13, 2025 As a kid, I loved summer camps—especially the ones that gave me something different than the traditional classroom experience. I thrived in spaces where learning felt like an adventure—where we explored big ideas with our hands and hearts. That’s why I’m so excited about returning this summer to help lead the HUES
Maveah Griffith – April 29, 2025 Have you ever heard of the invisible string theory? This theory is the idea that the universe or God or whatever higher power you may believe in is waiting for the perfect moment to introduce you to those you’re fated to meet. These people will be somehow connected throughout your entire life, but you won’t
Lance Phillips • April 15, 2025 Can I get a witness? It’s a question we’ve all heard at some point in our lives. Maybe in a religious service, maybe at a political rally, maybe at a talk when the speaker is looking for some kind of vocal affirmation to what they’ve just said. What is it about “witness,” and asking
Dan Berry • April 08, 2025 The most difficult part of learning is often the unlearning that must take place in order to experience the light of truth. To truly unlearn, we have to be willing to break old habits, question what we believe to be true, and let go of knowledge that has been proven false. I recently turned 70
Lucretia Berry • March 25, 2025 I refuse to be a mere mirror reflecting despair. Instead, I AM a beacon, illuminating the path toward understanding, growth, and justice. I do not amplify the toxic noise. Instead, I move in creativity and consonance, offering clarity and courage where there is confusion and fear. Dear light-bearer, The resistance to treating every human
Laura Marti – March 20, 2025 I recently came across the name Augusta Braxton Baker purely by chance. Have you heard of her? I had not. So I did some digging and I want to share some of what I learned about this amazing woman. In the world of children’s literature, few figures have made as lasting an impact as Augusta
Maveah Griffith – March 13, 2025 Google the term “DEI before:2025“ Please actually go do it before continuing to read this. You’ll see that of the results received are websites detailing exactly what DEI is, and its benefits. DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives whose purpose is fostering a safe and inclusive work environment. What DEI is not, is
Lance Phillips • March 04, 2025 “There’s nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.” Octavia Butler, Parable of the Trickster Last week, I was standing in line at the IT desk at the institution where I teach. The IT desk is located on the second floor of the lovely library on campus. Directly adjacent to the desk
Dr. Kimberly Ortiz-Hartman • March 16, 2025 “What color are you? Where are you from? No, where are you really from? What are you?” If you’re a multiracial or multicultural person, these questions are probably all too familiar. For many, they might seem harmless or even well-meaning—after all, the person is just trying to get to know us, right? But
Dan Berry • February 18, 2025 I’m not sure how many of you have ever been interested in putting puzzles together, but if you have, you know how frustrating it is to reach the end of a puzzle only to find that some pieces are missing. You could have 998 pieces of a 1,000-piece puzzle, but if even a couple are
How to Build Cultural Competence & Racial Literacy with Children Lucretia Berry • February 11, 2025 I recently had the privilege of leading the SEE, PLAY, LOVE workshop as part of the Abilities Network’s Equity Series, where ninety-nine caregivers joined me online to explore a practical approach, a framework, and resources that help foster positive attitudes, reduce biases, and create
Maveah Griffith – February 04, 2025 At the ripe age of 14, students in the United States are thrust into a world where they are placed under the pressure of deciding the rest of their lives. As soon as a teenager enters high school, they are bombarded with adults warning them about college, asking what they want to do with their
Lance Phillips • January 28, 2025 Two pins I gifted myself two lapel pins over the winter holidays. Two pins for two very different purposes. The first pin is a silver and smoky quartz classic lapel pin. It is vintage and delicate and has, as they say, seen some things. When I told my wife that smoky quartz protects against
Dan Berry • January 21, 2025 Many of us learned long ago that life is more like a marathon than a sprint. While most of us may never actually run a 26.2-mile race, we can all relate to the concept of a marathon as a long, grueling challenge. Life is filled with struggles, difficulties, and hardships. To overcome them, we need
Lucretia Berry • January 16, 2025 Tuesday, January 21, 2025, marks the annual observance of the National Day of Racial Healing, a time dedicated to reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and envisioning a future grounded in understanding, justice, and belonging. As someone dedicated to fostering racial literacy and building cultural competency, this day holds profound significance for me. It’s
Maveah Griffith – December 17, 2024 We are all former children, but not all of us can say we were children during 2016 when the shift in political atmosphere took place. We know how adults feel about politics, because they can articulate their thoughts and most of the time will not hesitate to pontificate at any chance they receive. But why
Tracey McKee – December 10, 2024 I came across this poem, “The Work of Christmas,” within the past couple of years and thought it offered the perfect focus and reflection for this month. I do not remember exactly where or when I came across it, but it moved me so much when I read it that I have since kept a
Lance Phillips • December 03, 2024 “There are tears for things.” Engaging with the world only in the way you want it to be is misguided, heartbreaking, and dangerous. I’m going to do my best to weave together three disparate things, all of which speak to acknowledging what is in front of you as a means to plotting a path
Dan Berry • November 26, 2024 I love life. I love living. It beats the alternative, as they say. But life exposes us to all the many ups and downs that go along with it. It can seem like a roller coaster as we feel the surge of vitality and joy and then BAM, life hits us in the face and
Lucretia Berry • November 20, 2024 The hood draped in a Confederate flag, the muscle car served as the driver’s megaphone as he revved his engine at me, locking eyes to make sure I saw him. It was a typical morning drive to drop my children off at preschool and elementary school—a drive I made Monday through Friday. Usually, it was
Tracey McKee – November 04, 2024 Almost five years ago, George Floyd’s death ignited outrage across our nation. A bystander’s video recording his death at the hands of local police not only reached millions of people from one end of our country to the other, it reached across the world. From corporate offices to school classrooms to the halls of government,
Lance Phillips • October 29, 2024 As it happens, a rather famous poet is coming to the college where I teach to read from his work and to address the student body. I was asked to contribute a few ideas about which he could, possibly, speak. In the course of thinking about this request, thinking about the coming presidential election,
Nicole Doyley • October 22, 2024 “Not enough. Too much.“ Those phrases preoccupy most adolescent minds. The feeling of being too tall, too short, too loud, too shy, too bookish, too boring or, conversely, not tall enough, not short enough, not bold enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough haunts most people at some time or another. Particularly when we’re young,