Chicago Pastor’s Miracle A Transformation?

Storyline: Chicago faith leader breaks ground on community center after spending 345 nights on a rooftop raising $20 million needs 15 mil more to top miracle. But, will it mean a thing if kids don’t swing back to SCHOOL?

Working my way through college in or about Pastor Corey Brooks Southside neighborhood of Woodlawn, I was emersed in studying inner city woes as well as progressive ideas for solutions, i.e., with the help of some great professors … but, 4 decades later, we’re still waiting for the one thing Pastor Brooks’ main beneficiaries, the kids, need most: A decent education. To escape poverty with a good job. To escape the gangs that terrorize as well as incentivize them to waste their lives on drugs, crime and an early death. To realize the American Dream like millions of other inner-city families who moved the hell away to the surrounding suburbs.

The community center can be a great place for kids and their hurting elders to escape. As Fox News noted, the center, when completed, will provide “support services and resources … and will have classrooms, community rooms, a gym and a swimming pool.” That’s all good and helpful in easing the pain of a life with too little hope. But, will it be “transformative” as Pastor Brooks believes? Dunno, if that new center doesn’t make its key mission to focus on getting the kids back in school, staying there until graduation and moving on to trade school or college, then, on to a life sustaining if not exhilarating job. At least, that’s STILL my prayer …

Davd Soul