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Getting organizations in the same room to have a shared learning experience and helping them take time to make connections is exactly what the Faith & Action Project does – and the benefit it provides to its program attendees who are collectively working toward reducing poverty in Marion County. Over the past 10 years since its beginning in 2016, the Faith & Action Project has witnessed how lasting change requires ongoing learning, alignment, and a shared collective vision. 

“We are intentional about who we invite as speakers and guests to our spring and fall conferences,” said Director Lindsey Nell Rabinowitch. “We want to share best practices with the faith, community, business, and government partners in the room and hope they ask, ‘what role can I play?’” 

And the participating partners could not agree more! 

“To be in the room with others was a fantastic experience for us,” said IYG – Empowering Queer Young People Grants and Compliance Manager Anamika Krishnan. “It was really affirming to see so many faith-based, non-faith based, and queer non-profits in the room.”  IYG serves young people (12-24) who identify as LGBTQ+ and their peer allies.  

We Bloom Center for Growth’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Beth Kreitl agreed. “I think the success of the Faith & Action Project speaks to the reputation of CTS in the community. They are very inclusive, trauma-informed, and equity focused in everything they offer.” We Bloom offers a place for people to “encounter love, heal trauma, and connect.”  

Both organizations have received funding through the Faith & Action Project, which invests in initiatives providing holistic pathways out of poverty for families and individuals. Rabinowitch acknowledged that there are many great organizations doing work in the community, but they often work in silos – not even knowing about each other. Connecting these providers not only allows them to amplify their impact but also not duplicate services.  

“I think that so many programs can only focus on the clients they are serving because the needs are so great,” Rabinowitch said. “It’s critical to create spaces for shared learning, collaboration, and referrals. Our goal is to cultivate spaces where learning and relationships intersect—building a more connected ecosystem where organizations coordinate more effectively, strengthen referral pathways, and achieve better outcomes together.” 

We Bloom supported the holistic approach that Faith & Action Project models. “The work we do is collective and there is clear alignment (for us) in addressing systematic barriers. That is how we can all begin to thrive.”  

Both IYG and We Bloom have been particularly engaged in the commitment to mental health services through Faith & Action initiatives. Understanding that trauma is a wound that disrupts safety, identity, and connection allows leaders to more effectively support individuals facing poverty with a trauma informed lens and to help individuals restore dignity, hope, emotional stability, and wholeness. Both these organizations create safe spaces and systems to allow that to happen. 

IYG is headquartered on the south side of Indianapolis but has four satellite locations in Crawfordsville, Columbus, Evansville, and Crown Point. Their strategic goal is to exist in enough locations that queer youth and their allies would have no more than a one-hour drive to receive services. Each location offers a one-stop shop model for users to access the Basic Needs Program and counseling services. The former includes food pantry, hygiene resources, and other concrete supplies. Those in Crawfordsville, Crown Point, and Evansville can also access the counseling services located in Indianapolis and Columbus via telehealth appointments.  

IYG was founded in 1987 and is the oldest continually operating organization serving LGBTQIA+ youth. In 2025, they served over 900 youth in Indianapolis. Natasha Chopra, IYG’s Director of Mental Health Services, said that in addition to seeing over 80 people in counseling last year, the program connects clients with other providers – with housing and employment being at the top of their referral list.  

We Bloom was created to offer an intentional, welcoming space for people in recovery to connect, Kreitl said. While their Recovery Café model serves people 18 and older, they also have a Youth Café program for those between the ages of 12-18. The spaces allow participants to “co-create their own community, which is a space for healing, love, and justice,” she added.  

Kreitl added that in addition to the opportunity to gain experience and collaborate with community partners, she values the data that the Faith & Action Project has been able to provide. “They help give us numbers and words to prove what we know is true.”  

Faith & Action hosted its 2026 Spring Conference in March with keynote speaker Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes talking about how to move from trauma to transformation. Both Krishnan and Kreitl received help from her presentation about traumagenics which is a shared social trauma, not just a personal experience.  

According to Walker-Barnes in her address, we live in a traumagenic environment – a society whose structures, norms, and narratives routinely generate harm, stress, and disconnection, particularly for minoritized communities. Drawing from psychology, public health, and spirituality, she examined the shared experience of everyday trauma.  

“The information during the keynote and breakout sessions caused me to be very introspective,” Krishnan said. “But she also shared many practical suggestions for trauma-informed care.”  

“The keynote address continues to resonate with me and informs my work,” Kreitl added. “It was very affirming.”  

Organizations who took part in the Spring Faith & Action conference are eligible to submit funding applications for the 2026-2027 Faith & Action Grant Program. Both IYG and We Bloom received funding in the 2025-2026 cycle. Grant awards will be announced in July 2026.  

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Healing Solutions for Children, Families, and Leaders 

With a calm yet dynamic presence, therapist and theologian Chanequa Walker-Barnes, PhD grounded more than 300 faith leaders, practitioners, and community partners gathered for the 2026 Faith & Action Spring Conference to explore how communities can respond to the growing reality of trauma with wisdom, compassion, and collective action. Dr. Walker-Barnes framed the moment clearly: “Trauma is no longer the exception, it is part of our daily existence.” 

Poverty, violence, instability, and chronic stress shape the lives of many individuals and families. Recognizing this reality requires a shift in perspective—from asking what is wrong with people to asking what has happened and what systems continue to cause harm. Trauma-informed responses, presenters noted, begin by restoring agency, dignity, and control. 

What follows are key lessons from the 2026 Spring Conference: 

Understanding Behavior Through a Trauma Lens 

Conference speakers emphasized that behaviors often labeled as resistance—withdrawal, exhaustion, or disengagement—are frequently survival responses to prolonged stress. When viewed through this lens, the challenge becomes less about correcting individuals and more about building systems capable of holding what people are carrying. 

Participants repeatedly returned to a central insight: people are not failing systems. Systems are often failing people. 

Resilience and Accountability 

While individuals possess remarkable resilience and capacity for healing, speakers cautioned against allowing resilience to excuse harmful systems. True progress requires both recognizing people’s strengths and holding institutions accountable for the conditions that produce trauma. 

Restorative justice models were highlighted as one promising example—bringing schools, courts, and service providers together to center on healing rather than punishment. 

Restoring Agency and Partnership 

Across panels and breakout sessions, healing was described as restoring what trauma often takes away: safety, agency, and dignity. This work shifts the focus from fixing people to walking alongside them as they rebuild stability and reclaim choice. 

Solutions grounded in partnership—rather than intervention—allow communities to draw on people’s strengths, culture, and lived experience. 

The Unique Role of Faith Communities 

Faith communities were recognized as uniquely positioned to support healing because they already cultivate relationships, belonging, and shared purpose. Yet conference presenters emphasized that congregations must evolve how they address trauma and mental health. 

Stronger collaboration between faith leaders, clinicians, and community organizations will be essential. These partnerships create the infrastructure needed to respond to trauma with both compassion and evidence-based care. 

Healing Happens in Community 

Speakers returned again and again to the power of connection. Human nervous systems are designed for relationship, and healing often begins when people feel seen, supported, and safe. 

Building community—through shared practices, ritual, and relationships—can restore what trauma disrupts. Leaders were encouraged to cultivate spaces where individuals and families do not face hardship alone. 

Beyond Survival Toward Flourishing 

Finally, the conference challenged participants to rethink how success is measured. Addressing trauma requires more than services or programs—it requires removing the conditions that keep people in survival mode. 

Stable housing, food security, living wages, and strong relationships create the conditions where healing can take root. When communities focus on these foundations, the goal moves beyond crisis management toward human flourishing. 

What’s next: 

SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED: If something from these lessons resonates with you, share what you learned. 

READ THE COMPLETE LIST OF KEY TAKEAWAYS: Lessons Learned

WATCH THE RECORDING: A recording of the Faith & Action Spring Conference will be coming soon and shared on the CTS YouTube page. 

SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendar for the 2026 Faith & Action Fall Event, Restoring Hope Through Relationships: Mentorships that Support Pathways out of Poverty on Oct. 29, 2026.  

QUESTIONS: Contact the Director of the Faith & Action Project, Lindsey Nell Rabinowitch, at lr**********@*ts.edu. 

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“Trauma is not a sign of weakness or failure of faith; it is a human wound that disrupts safety, identity, and connection. Therefore, a trauma-informed model creates safe spaces where family systems, leaders and communities can restore dignity, hope, emotional stability and wholeness.” – Rev. Dr. Dwight Holland 

 Trauma is no longer something faith communities encounter occasionally. It is present in our pews, classrooms, food pantries, and outreach ministries every day—through mental health challenges, housing instability, economic stress, violence, and the chronic inequities shaping the lives of children and families across Greater Indianapolis. 

Faith leaders and nonprofits are already responding with compassion and commitment. But many are asking a deeper question: 

Do we have the tools, partnerships, and understanding to respond in ways that truly heal—and don’t unintentionally cause harm?

On March 19, Faith & Action will convene faith and community leaders around that very question. 

From Compassion to Sustained Action 

The Faith & Action Project serves as a catalyst to move people out of poverty by educating, empowering, and supporting Greater Indianapolis’ faith and community leaders. We are building a multi-sector, interfaith collaborative approach—one that implements and scales solutions that enable individuals and families to escape poverty on a sustainable basis. 

Our Spring Conference—From Trauma to Transformation—advances this mission by lifting up proven models, elevating what is already working, and encouraging cross-sector collaboration that leads to lasting impact. 

This gathering moves beyond awareness. It is designed to help congregations move from compassion to sustained, systemic action—grounded in evidence, lived experience, and practical application. 

What Makes This Conference Different 

Faith & Action’s Spring Conference does more than name the problem. It explores concrete, trauma-informed responses rooted in resilience, wisdom, and strengths—especially for children, youth, and families. 

We intentionally use asset-based language, resisting the tendency to define individuals or communities by brokenness or past trauma. Instead, we focus on what helps people heal, stabilize, and thrive. 

Why Faith Communities Should Participate 

Congregations are uniquely positioned at the intersection of trust, relationships, and long-term presence in neighborhoods. When faith communities are equipped with trauma-informed tools and partnerships, they can become powerful catalysts for healing and stability. 

As Rev. Richard A. Reynolds, Senior Pastor of New Revelation Christian Church, shares, “Each year, Faith & Action events demonstrate an attunement to best practices that empower those residing in impoverished communities—both locally and nationally. Whether the focus is unjust systems, housing initiatives, economic development, mental health, or education, I am always enlightened. It is always a great investment of my time.” 

Participants in the Spring Conference will: 

• Gain practical, trauma-informed tools that can be applied across ministries—tutoring, mentoring, pastoral care, food pantries, and outreach 

• Better understand how trauma shows up in everyday interactions and how to respond with compassion and effectiveness 

• Connect with trusted organizations doing proven, impactful work—and explore ways to strengthen them through partnership, volunteering, or investment 

• Build relationships with other faith and community leaders committed to sustainable, long-term solutions 

• Leave equipped and inspired to address mental health and trauma within their own congregations and neighborhoods 

For many, the conference also creates space for reflection—recognizing how trauma and mental health challenges may be present within their own leadership and faith communities. 

As Dr. Preston T. Adams, III, Founding and Senior Pastor, Amazing Grace Christian Church, notes, “A trauma-informed approach is no longer optional—it is essential. When leaders understand trauma, they lead with greater compassion, wisdom, and courage, creating faith communities where healing is possible and transformation can truly take root.” 

Why Trauma—and Why Now 

This year’s focus emerges directly from what we are hearing across our network. Requests for support around mental health, trauma recovery, and holistic family care continue to rise—reflecting the complex realities facing children and families today. 

In a moment when trauma is shaping both personal lives and public systems, faith communities have a unique opportunity to lead with courage, compassion, and wisdom—becoming places where healing is not only possible, but expected. 

Looking Ahead 

Faith communities have always been places of refuge, restoration, and renewal. With the right tools and partnerships, they can also be powerful agents of healing in a traumagenic society. 

We invite you to join us this spring as we continue this journey together—from trauma to transformation. 

Register today and be part of the movement toward healing, stability, and lasting change.  REGISTER NOW. 

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Across Indiana, too many young people are struggling to survive—caught in the crosscurrents of poverty, rejection, food insecurity, and political hostility. For many, the pathway to stability is blocked by barriers they didn’t create: limited access to mental health care, family disconnection, and systems that fail to see their full humanity. 

At Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), we are called to bring God’s love, justice, and liberation to the world and to affirm the dignity of every person. The Faith & Action Project extends that mission into the community—serving as a catalyst for action that moves people out of poverty. One of our Faith & Action grantees, IYG (formerly known as Indiana Youth Group) is living out this mission in powerful ways as they address the growing crisis facing LGBTQ+ young people (ages 12-24) across the state. 

The Data Reveals Harsh Realities 

The most recent Trevor Project 2025 Climate Report paints a sobering picture of the challenges LGBTQ+ youth face in Indiana: 

• 43% of LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered suicide—rising to 46% among trans youth. 
• 97% say their wellbeing has been negatively impacted by recent political developments. 
• 64% of youth aged 13–17 and 39% of those aged 18–24 have experienced bullying, either in person or online. 
• 53% of those who wanted mental health care could not access it. 

These numbers are more than statistics—they represent young lives in desperate need of hope, belonging, and opportunity.  

A Safe Space for Youth in Crisis 

The scale of this challenge has fueled IYG’s growth in recent years. Eight years ago, IYG operated out of a 1,500-square-foot space with a budget of $800,000 and a staff of seven. Today, the organization serves young people in five locations—Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Columbus, Northwest Indiana, and Evansville—supported by 40 staff members and a $6 million budget. 

The demand for their services continues to rise. In 2024, visits increased by 88 percent, and this year they’re already up another 52 percent. Many of these young people arrive seeking safety, affirmation, and stability in a world that too often denies them all three. 

With support from a Faith & Action Grant and other community partners, three years ago, IYG started a mental health program, with one therapist.  Today they have 6 therapists, expanding its reach to help low-income LGBTQ+ young people navigate systems of care and access essential resources across the state. Many are attempting to rebuild their lives without critical identification or school records—documents sometimes withheld by parents as punishment or rejection. Without them, simple steps like enrolling in school, applying for jobs, or securing housing become nearly impossible, creating a direct line to poverty. 

Lessons in Hope: IYG’s Approach  

Through its Basic Needs Program and their housing program, IYG has developed a holistic, community-centered approach to supporting young LGBTQ+ folks. Their experience offers important lessons for all of us working to reduce poverty and promote dignity: 

• Holistic Support is Essential – Addressing poverty means meeting emotional, psychological, and practical needs. 
• Cultural Relevance Builds Trust – Providing affirming, relevant resources ensures clients feel seen and respected. 
• Flexibility Matters – Responding to changing political and social pressures keeps programs effective and compassionate. 
• Belonging Heals – For young people estranged from families, finding community can be the first step out of poverty. 
• Collaboration Amplifies Impact – By partnering across sectors, organizations like IYG extend their reach and deepen their collective impact. 

How Congregations and Community Can Take Action 

The lessons above show what’s possible when young people are met with dignity and care. Congregations and community members can help extend that hope even further, helping LGBTQ+ individuals not only survive—but thrive. 

• Spread the Word – Share IYG’s mission and success stories through your networks, events, and communications. Amplifying their work helps reach young people who might not otherwise know where to turn for support. 

• Be a Community Partner – Support IYG through community initiatives, events, and advocacy. Standing together helps create an environment where every LGBTQ+ person feels valued, seen, and safe. 

• Commit to Provide a Safe and Affirming Environment – Foster spaces of welcome and belonging within your congregation, where all people experience the unconditional love of God. 

“Every young person deserves to know they are worthy of love and belonging,” says Chris Paulsen, Executive Director of IYG. “It is an urgent need—and a shared calling—to build a future where that truth becomes real.” 

Together, this season and beyond, we can make love and justice tangible for young people who need it most. Because love, when lived out, transforms lives.  

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The 2025 Faith & Action Fall Event brought together hundreds of community members, faith leaders, civic partners, and business leaders to explore how Indianapolis can expand pathways of opportunity for every child. Raj Chetty, a leading expert on economic mobility, shared data and stories that revealed both the challenges we face and the strategies that can drive change. Moderator Carolene Mays guided the conversation with questions that lifted up the human dimension, the power of social capital, and the role each of us—whether civic leader, faith leader, nonprofit professional, business leader, or neighbor—can play in creating opportunity. Dr. Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Executive Director of CHIP (Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention), reminded us that “data is on our minds, and humans are on our hearts,” grounding the dialogue in both evidence and empathy. In a powerful closing charge, Pastor Richard Reynolds, Senior Pastor of New Revelation Christian Church, urged us to “become the hands and feet of the message,” calling for courage and action. Together, their insights offered both clarity and inspiration for the work ahead. 

 The following are 10 key takeaways from the event: 

Upward Mobility is Stalled—But Change is Possible 

“For children born in the 1980s, it’s essentially a coin flip whether they’ll earn more than their parents,” said Raj Chetty. Indianapolis currently ranks among the lowest in the nation for economic opportunity, but his research shows change can happen within a single decade if cities act with intention. Charlotte, NC, once last in the country, has risen significantly through coordinated efforts—proof that transformation is within reach. 

Social Capital is a Game-Changer 

Who you know often matters as much as what you know. Mentors, neighbors, and cross-class relationships influence everything from education to career success. Chetty emphasized that “social capital—deliberately building networks across divides—is one of the most overlooked but powerful drivers of upward mobility.” 

Building Blocks of Mobility

Through Chetty’s extensive research, high-mobility neighborhoods consistently show four key characteristics:

• Lower poverty rates
• More stable family structures
• Better school quality
• Greater social capital 

By strengthening these conditions—whether through reducing segregation, investing in place-based change, or improving schools—communities can create proven pathways to upward mobility and brighter futures for children and families. Chetty stressed that faith communities and community centers, in particular, play a vital role in building social capital and providing the trusted relationships that help neighborhoods thrive. 

Collaboration is Essential 

Generational poverty cannot be solved by any one sector alone. Chetty’s challenge to Indianapolis: “Clergy, nonprofits, businesses, civic leaders, and everyday neighbors must work together to build an ecosystem of opportunity.” With the right backing, measurement, and collaboration, meaningful change is not only possible—it’s doable. 

Policy Choices Matter

Chetty highlighted three strategies proven to boost upward mobility:
• Reduce segregation by helping families move to high-opportunity neighborhoods
• Invest in place-based improvements where opportunity is scarce
• Strengthen higher education and workforce training to translate into real economic gains 

He also emphasized that policies work best when paired with navigators or counselors who help families make the most of resources like housing vouchers. 

Invest Wisely, Measure Boldly 

The U.S. spends $60 billion annually on housing programs, yet outcomes often depend more on how dollars are delivered than on how much is spent. Chetty urged leaders to connect investments to real results, create incentives that amplify what works, and measure progress over time. 

Hope Backed by Data 

“Behind every chart are real children and families,” said Chetty. He draws hope from both his personal story and his research: opportunity can expand dramatically in just ten years when communities act with courage and focus. His message was clear—progress is possible, but it requires deliberate effort. 

Move From Hearing to Doing 

Pastor Richard Reynolds issued a stirring call to action: 

• “Become the hands and feet of the message.”
• “Have the courage to build the bridge and embrace the people on the other side.”
• “Take the leap, make the investment.” 

His charge reminded us that opportunity grows when compassion turns into concrete action. 

Keep People at the Center of the Data 

As Dr. Chelsea Haring-Cozzi reminded us: “Data is on our minds, but humans are on our hearts.” The numbers reveal where inequities persist, but the heart of this work is about children, families, and neighbors. Lasting solutions must pair evidence with empathy—using research to guide us while never losing sight of the lives behind the charts. 

Investing Early, Reaping Generational Impact  

Chetty reminded attendees that creating pathways for children is not only a matter of justice—it also strengthens the economy. “If women, minorities, and children from low-income families invent at the same rate as high-income white men, the innovation rate in America would quadruple.” By nurturing talent, providing workforce readiness skills, and giving every child a real chance to succeed, communities can unlock enormous human potential. Chetty emphasized that there are many “lost Einsteins” whose gifts can transform our cities if we invest in them early and intentionally. 

What’s Next: 

SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED:

If something from these lessons resonates with you, share what you learned. 

SAVE THE  DATE:  

For the Faith & Action Spring Conference on March 19, 2026 
From Trauma to Transformation: Healing Pathways for Children, Families & Leaders
featuring Chanequa Walker-Barnes, PhD
This spring, join faith and community leaders to confront trauma at the intersection of poverty and imagine collective pathways to healing—for children, families, and the leaders who serve them. 

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A story is worth a thousand numbers.

That twist on the familiar phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words” could be used to sum up many of today’s approaches to talking about poverty. Recognizing how quickly people become numbed by numbers, we have become adept at using a moving story to inspire action, rather than pointing to data.

As effective as this can be, there is a problem: The anecdote-focused approach runs the risk of allowing people to underestimate the prevalence of poverty or to overlook details hidden in the data that could help us address poverty more effectively.

For example, we could share a powerful story about an ALICE household—one that is Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. But unless we also show you that including ALICE households in poverty data means more than 257,000 Marion County households are living in real economic distress, you won’t grasp the full scope of the problem.

Similarly, we could tell you a moving story about a child living in poverty in Indianapolis. But without connecting it to data showing that higher employment rates in the child’s community today could improve their future prospects, we aren’t pointing toward real solutions.

That’s why we’re bringing Raj Chetty to Indianapolis on September 25 to share his latest poverty data. Highly regarded as an economist studying economic mobility, Chetty has helped poverty fighters across the nation understand the stories that numbers can tell.

In what has become landmark research, Chetty has highlighted data indicating what children need to rise above poverty. Pointing to things like stable housing, great schools, nourishing food, trusted adults, and meaningful opportunities to grow and succeed, he suggests that efforts to address those factors — and driving even small changes — could improve children’s lives. Thus, he offers guidance to community members, faith leaders, nonprofits, and policymakers seeking to make a difference.

Chetty’s latest work — including a 10-year update to the landmark Land of Opportunity study — reveals how opportunity is shifting across race, class, and geography. These insights offer critical guidance for congregations, organizations, leaders, and the community about how they can take on poverty by acting on findings such as:

• Economic mobility improves when children grow up in communities with more cross-class friendships 
• Social capital is shaped by institutions such as schools, houses of worship, and afterschool programs 
• Segregation and friending bias can be reduced through intentional policy and practice
• Black-white gaps in mobility have narrowed, but disparities remain
• Community-level factors like parental employment rates and social interactions are central to shaping outcomes for children 

Chetty’s research includes a number of similar revelations and offers guideposts to effective poverty mitigation. Think about it: How could your church create spaces where children from different backgrounds learn, play, and grow together? How could your agency help parents secure livable-wage work as a way to improve a child’s long-term prospects? And how could your nonprofit work intentionally to help children build friendships across neighborhood and income lines—friendships that break down barriers and foster meaningful connections across all backgrounds?

Asking and answering questions like these requires hearing the stories but also understanding the data. As Pastor Beau Underwood of Allisonville Christian Church recently said, “Preachers know the power of a good story. We use sermons to teach people faith and to inspire people to take action. Sometimes we struggle with a different kind of story: a story revealed in data. That is why I’m thrilled that CTS is bringing Raj Chetty to Indy for the Faith & Action Fall Event. I’m excited to learn from him, to understand what he is seeing in the data, and to know what we might be able to do about this problem based upon what his findings reveal.”

Join us to learn more at the Faith & Action Fall Event: Stronger Futures Through Economic Mobility  with Raj Chetty on Sept. 25. You’ll walk away with:

• Practical insights grounded in data 
• Tools and inspiration to reimagine ministry for greater impact 
• A clearer vision of how congregations can help shape a more inclusive economy and stronger future for all children 
• Inspiration to reimagine how faith communities can build networks of opportunity
• A deeper understanding of how to act for justice, not just charity 

In 2022, the Rev. William Barber II challenged a Faith & Action audience to emulate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by both having a dream and setting an agenda. Our dreams can be shaped by a desire to rewrite the stories of the children and families living in poverty in our area. Our agenda can be shaped by the data — and stories — Raj Chetty shares with us on Sept. 25.

Reserve your seat today: cts.edu/fall.

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Geography matters. Moving young makes a difference. Policy has real-life implications. Social interactions affect economic opportunity.

With these and other similar observations, Raj Chetty has transformed thinking about economic mobility and claimed a place as a visionary trend-setter among policy makers, civic and community leaders and those working on the frontlines to address poverty across the U.S.

Recently, we wrote about Chetty’s background and his rise to become a national economic thought leader. This month, to further prepare Indy for Chetty’s participation in the Faith & Action Fall Event on Sept. 25, we’re sharing more about his research and ideas.

A Harvard University professor and researcher, Chetty highlights the power of data to illuminate the factors putting and keeping children in poverty and offers insights into the ways communities can leverage data to improve children’s economic prospects and, ultimately, their shot at the American dream.

Chetty first drew broad national attention with his 2014 study, “Where is the Land of Opportunity?” Drawing from massive data resources, Chetty used his research not simply to point out problems but, rather, to identify issues that contribute to economic mobility. The implications from that report can be grouped under six themes:

• Geography matters … a lot. The data made it clear that certain cities do a better job of offering a child opportunities for upward economic mobility, while growing up in other cities could leave a child locked into the economic status into which they were born.
• Five key factors affect the chances for upward mobility. Chetty and his colleagues identified five characteristics of places associated with better upward mobility:
  • Less residential segregation, by race and income
  • Lower levels of income inequality
  • Better K-12 schools
  • More two-parent households
  • Greater social capital, such as civic engagement and religious participation
• Moving early helps. Children who move from a low-mobility area before age 13 are more likely to have higher earnings, better education and lower rates of teen parenthood. The earlier the move occurs, the better.
• Neighborhood effects are real and cumulative. It’s not just cities that can decide a child’s economic mobility. Neighborhoods within cities can play a role, and the effect compounds over time.
• Race plays a role. Black children, especially boys, face worse economic outcomes than whites, even when they grow up in similar environments. The culprit? Systemic barriers.
• Policy has an impact. Governments cannot sit back and expect the community to affect change. The federal Moving to Opportunity housing voucher program, for example, showed long-term benefits when introduced early in a child’s life.

Chetty’s recent studies have focused more on race and economic mobility, revealing that the black-white gap in upward mobility shrank significantly in the past 15 years but did not completely disappear. He also saw some changes in geographic trends, with the coasts no longer outpacing other areas in terms of pathways to economic mobility and noted that parental employment contributes to gaps between races and classes. One consistent point: social interactions and networks continue to play a big role in economic mobility.

As Chetty brings his insights and perspectives to Indianapolis, those working to mitigate poverty will have an opportunity to hear how his findings translate into meaningful action, what sorts of initiatives are having the greatest impact and what we should build, shift or reimagine in order to make a difference in Central Indiana. In this way, Chetty builds on the progress we’ve sought from the beginning of the Faith & Action Project, from our first spring conference that focused on the impact of toxic charity to our ongoing focus on what works and why.

With his focus on using data to identify effective efforts to fuel better economic mobility for children, Chetty is a logical next step in this progression, one that we hope will serve as a catalyst for change, especially for faith communities that care deeply about children, families, an inclusive economy and long-term impact. It can also inspire us to constantly examine our work, challenging ourselves to ask if we’re making a meaningful difference, having a positive impact in our communities and creating a lasting improvement for children and families.

Learn for yourself how Chetty’s work could help Indianapolis children and families improve their prospects and the role your faith community or organization can play in helping children grow up surrounded by networks of opportunity by attending the Faith & Action Fall Event on September 25 at 4:30 pm at the Schrott Center for the Arts. Admission is free.

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What I Lost When I Spoke for a Detained Colleague — and Why I’d Do It Again

Editorial by Elizabeth Diop (MDiv ’15)

The Detention

I held it in during our emergency meeting at work. Bit my cheek. Pursed my lips to stop the quivering of my chin. Inhaled a little deeper to soothe the hitch in my breath.

Ayman Soliman. My beloved colleague. Faith leader. Chaplain. A man of compassion and moral courage. An asylum seeker. Imam. Chaplain.

Detained. Incarcerated.

Because he had the audacity to come to the United States, believing that here, he would be safe.

At the press conference that afternoon, it was hard to hear from behind the leaders speaking. But I caught that Ayman had been interrogated for hours. I hadn’t known that.

I let the tears fall. Wiped them with the collar of my shirt.

His work authorization was abruptly taken from him. A hearing pushed back.

His lawyers had expected that day’s immigration check-in to be routine.

They were wrong.

For the past four years, Ayman has been part of our spiritual care team, serving children and families with integrity, humility, and love. His presence has been a gift to our hospital and community.

He faithfully accompanied families through their most painful moments. He lifted prayers of celebration as parents prepared to bring their children home. He stood beside them as they held their child for the last time.

Word’s can’t fully express the comfort and hope Ayman’s presence brought in those agonizing moments.

And now he can’t. Because we have an immigration system that punishes the vulnerable and preys on the innocent.

My favorite memory with him? Two Muslim teenagers in our residential program wanted to visit the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. He helped coordinate a supervised outing, found mosque-appropriate clothing for them, and welcomed them at the door like royalty. He led prayers, involved them in worship, and sat with them at a reserved table for Iftar supper.

I wish you could have seen the joy and pride on their faces. They’ll never forget that night.

And now? He’s in a cell.

The Open Letter

After the press conference, we clergy leaders gathered to plan next steps. I agreed to draft an open letter for clergy to sign in support of him. I didn’t know how to write an open letter. I didn’t know what to put in it.

But if they’d asked me to do the chicken dance in a bikini on Saturday Night Live and I thought it would help my friend? I’d do it.

Because the kids and families at the hospital need him. Our team needs him. And most importantly, he deserves to make it home safely.

I wrote the letter, and it was signed by hundreds of clergy across Greater Cincinnati. A reminder to Ayman that he’s not alone. A reminder to decision-makers that we are all watching the choices they make.

On Sunday morning, I was able to visit Ayman at the detention center, through video. He told me he felt God’s presence. He was touched by the compassion of others detained with him. He said he was sustained by the support pouring in from the community.

The Rally

We had a rally outside the hospital four days after Ayman was detained. By the second hour, we were all hot and tired. I pulled my kids back from the street for the third time. My eleven-year-old daughter, Anta, glared at me. I tapped my ear and pointed at the person speaking on the other side of the road. Listen, I mouthed.

We stood with a crowd along a busy street, holding signs of support for Ayman. My eight-year-old held hers up proudly, declaring, “Ayman Soliman—We love you so much!”

The next morning, a reporter reached out. She wanted to interview me about my visit with Ayman. I took a half day of PTO and met her near the hospital. The interview went well. It aired that evening and helped elevate Ayman’s story. All he’d asked was that we talk about him and how unfair this situation was, and I had honored that request.

The Consequences

But the next morning, my director stopped me, her mouth in a tight line.

“You’re facing disciplinary action,” she said.

“Could I be fired?”

“Leadership said, ‘Up to and including potential termination.’”

Because I spoke.

Because I supposedly violated a media policy I didn’t fully understand.

A policy so “tricky” even HR admitted it was confusing. One that restricts any unsanctioned media interaction that could be interpreted as speaking on behalf of the hospital—even if you’re off-campus, on PTO, and out of uniform.

I spoke about a visit in detention with my friend and former coworker. Off the clock. As a private citizen. But the story identified me as a Children’s Hospital employee. And they showed the hospital in the background. I couldn’t help but wonder if a donor had been offended. Or if leadership feared retaliation from the current administration.

Ten years of service. Hundreds of children and families I’d walked with through trauma, grief, and healing. Over.

Another colleague, Adam Allen, was also fired less than an hour before me. He was told his social media went against the values of the institution. Every post I saw was focused on Ayman—telling his story, raising awareness, and trying to save his life.

When I told my kids what happened, my eleven-year-old daughter expressed worries about back-to-school supplies. My twelve-year-old son was afraid we might lose our house. My teenager offered to get a job at a factory to help support the family. And me? I couldn’t process it all. But I could continue to speak for Ayman. To local news organizations. To Salon. To Rolling Stone. To The Guardian. To anyone who would listen.

I don’t regret speaking. I regret that the institution Ayman and I had served for years—which could have spoken with us—chose instead to stay quiet and to silence our voices. We tried to save the life of our beloved friend. And for that, we were ripped away from the work we loved and stripped of the stability our families need.

The Loss

A few days after my termination, I turned in my keys. Met my manager outside the office that had been like a home to me. Handed him my badge. Returned to my van.

The pain is overwhelming. I loved my work. I loved those kids. I even loved the impossible moments—coaching a grandmother through telling her grandson his mom had died, sitting with staff shattered by a patient’s death, kneeling on a quiet room floor to help a child breathe before they exploded.

Losing it all has shattered me. But I still believe in the words I prayed so often with our patients:

Creator God,
Thank you for the gift of these children.
For their resilience. For their courage. For their incredible potential.
Please heal their wounds and give them hope.
Amen.

The Call

That prayer? I pray it for Ayman, too. And for us. You and me.

I want to tell my Christian Theological Seminary community this:

We were trained to be truth tellers and faith leaders, to carry the light into dark places, to hold fast to our values, even when it’s costly. Ayman has done this, in every way possible. Adam and I have tried to do it as well. It’s messy. It’s terrifying. And it’s worth it.

Ayman Soliman is worth it.

And so is every other person detained with him and at overcrowded facilities across the country.

So I leave you with the same call I keep giving myself:

When the moment comes, may each of us prioritize God’s call. May we write legislators. Support immigration justice groups. Stand beside neighbors whose status makes them vulnerable.

May we refuse to stay silent. May we engage in the costly work of pursuing justice.

No matter what else we may lose, may we keep our souls.

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