reneighboring

Bob Lupton believes strongly that you can't serve a neighborhood out of poverty.  Here's two excerpts from Lupton's new book, Charity Detox:

"Programs don't fix communities; they can't.  They may genuinely help some individuals (often by enabling those individuals to escape the neighborhood), but they don't bring about fundamental community change.  Only neighbors can do that.  Neighbors, after all, are the building blocks of every neighborhood.  When programs empower the best and the brightest neighbors to move out, they unintentionally weaken the community.  'The only way to change a neighborhood,' I told him, 'is through reneighboring.'  It was not the answer he was expecting, but it was the only solution I knew to address the heart of the issue. Without connected, involved, resourced neighbors, no neighborhood can thrive. Without a transfusion of new blood, troubled communities will continue to deteriorate as the capable exit in pursuit of better opportunities.  An infusion of new life, rich with creativity, teeming with fresh ideas and energy, abundant with capacity- this is what invigorates a community.  These nonmonetary riches spawn hope among discouraged residents, giving them a reason to stay. The very presence of vested neighbors committed to ridding their streets of drugs, improving educational opportunities, and restoring homes ignites hope and kindles visions of what the community could become.  Thus a vested citizenship becomes the catalyst for transformation from within."  

"When intelligent minds join with sensitive hearts to devise sound strategies for economically viable community development, foundations for shalom are laid.  And when new, energetic neighbors join in community life with those who have endured long years of hardship, opportunity for the dreamed-of 'beloved community' is within reach."