Yesterday I ended my six-week stint as an enumerator with the U.S. Census Bureau, going door-to-door as part of the … More
Tag: poverty
Death-row attorney’s message of hope amid injustice
At one point during Bryan Stevenson’s lecture on injustice and mass incarceration in America, the young man in his 20s … More
‘Thanks for noticing’
I see plenty of unhappiness and misery in downtown Syracuse, but today’s encounter was heartbreaking. With my $7 lunch in … More
A gift for James on his 50th birthday — a home
A few weeks ago I asked my homeless friend James what he thought about his upcoming 50th birthday. “It’s just … More
‘Community Build’ house looking more like a home
The “Community Build” project in Syracuse to house three formerly homeless men is nearing completion. Two months ago, a group … More
Army veteran to bicycle 10,000 miles around America
Brian D’Apice was backpacking half a world away when he dreamed up his next adventure, a 10,000-mile fundraising odyssey he’s calling “Bicycle … More
Is it worth the risk for a business to help the homeless?
An encounter in a restaurant today confirmed a pattern I’ve noticed in the treatment of my city’s homeless and destitute. I’ve come … More
Photo 101, Day 6: The human connection
“Connect” can be represented in many ways, literally and figuratively. I went for a little of both — the item on the table … More
Hidden-camera test of kindness: Good idea, but unfair prank
Yesterday morning I learned of a new video that’s making the rounds on social media, a hidden-camera exercise comparing people’s … More
A 67-year-old man in a wheelchair dies, then gets smeared by internet trolls
The recent passing of Syracuse icon Gertis McDowell is instructive for two very different reasons. One, we can all learn from … More
Jim McKeever 