The 2022 Florida Legislative Session — Writer and novelist Pearl S. Buck said, “The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible — and achieve it, generation after generation.” That seemed to be the pervading spirit last legislative session when a juvenile expungement bill soared through both the House and…

“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by human beings for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison people because they are different from others.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. One of America’s leading intellectuals during his time — the sage Reinhold Niebuhr — said, “Man’s…

Living for the Ultimate Exchange — There are forces at work in the earth. Small but large in effect. Invisible but tangible. They cannot be seen with the natural eye, but the eyes of our understanding, having been enlightened, make us aware of these things so that we may know what is the hope to which God has called us. These invisible powers are called: Principles. Yes. You heard me right. Principles.

The 2022 Florida Legislative Session — Housing is absolutely essential for the successful reentry of every returning citizen. The truth is, returning citizens who obtain stable housing are two times less likely to reoffend. Not having access to attainable housing reduces access to healthcare services. It makes it even harder to secure a decent job. After…

Re-Writing the Narrative of the Returning Citizen’s Story — I recently had a speaking engagement. The audience was kind, attentive, and supportive of the message of empowerment I sought to communicate with passion and purpose. …

A New Session. A New Season for Change. — Hmmm. I can hear the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, singing in my inner ear…. “Left the house this morning. Bells were ringing and filled the air. I was wearing the cross of my calling. On wheels of fire, I come rolling down here. Come on up for the rising. Come on…

The Ethics and Action Series, pt. 4 — Two men are walking. One is blind from birth and the other has sight. You want a glass of milk?” asks the one who can see. “Well, describe milk for me,” says the one who’s blind. “Milk is a white liquid.” “Great. And what is white?” “Well, for example, a…

The Ethics and Action Series, pt. 3 — Words matter. Every. Single. Word. Each of them has meaning, nuance, and potency. Some words seem more powerful than others, but every word is itself a vehicle by which we communicate. Have you ever considered the word dignity? The meaning of the word itself conjures up thoughts of strength and…

The Ethics and Action Series, pt. 2 — Here’s what I don’t understand. The criminal legal system tells citizens caught in its claws and headed to jails or prisons to rehabilitate, change their lives, and develop their skills while incarcerated. …