A few days ago I was approached by a few people in our community to consider running for Police Commission for District One in Detroit. It took me several days to pray and think about what they were asking. But after much prayer and consultation with residents and friends I said YES!

Why did I say Yes: In the early years of my Christian youth development life, I worked diligently to address gang and crime related issues in the Brightmoor neighborhood surrounding my church Rosedale. I can remember spending many nights going into the projects trying to intervene in gang related activities. We even became the Detroit replication of the Ten Point Coalition and made several trips to Boston and other location to understand both the concept and develop our particular model. Over time, the Student Ministries Department was able to reduce gun violence within our neighborhood track to zero. Yes, I said zero! Our goal was not to reduce crime and drug trafficking, but to stop teh violence and prevent our young people from killing each other over simple matters.

Well this led to several multi-year mentoring grants and a gang reduction grant from the Ford Foundation. Our grant from the Ford Foundation was actually the first time the Ford Foundation had invested in a local church anywhere in the world and the first time their investment in a faith-based organization related to urban youth development and more specifically gang remediation. You see, from the very moment I entered into ministry I believed that Christians could and should have a significant impact on our society based on the premise that wherever Jesus was people and communities changed.

So as I fast forward my process for saying Yes, I realized that over the years, God had placed me in unique settings with unique opportunities to engage, mentor and transform communities from a revolutionary perspective without boasting. Over the years, our urban youth development model was being replicated across the country without fanfare. The Student Ministries Department (SMD) had built a reputation of reaching and transforming the lives of individuals who society would label and marginal and we labeled them as significant. In our eyes, we were just serving and creating a ministry that was open and appealing to urban youth regardless of the spiritual, economic, family background or educational acumen.

In 2008, God made another incredible move by inviting me to participate with two of the worlds leading youth development agencies (Educational Development Consultants, Dare Mighty Things) and two leading mentoring experts Janet Forbush and Roger Jorjoura to form a new partnership The Center for the Advancement of Mentoring (TCAM). TCAM ultimately became a national partner and consultant to the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Drug Prevention serving all fifty states. As a member of the partnership, we were able to advocate for mentoring, compassionate youth development models within the federal and local justice systems, gang remediation and engagement, juvenile sentencing and more. Our partnership developed thousands of articles and hundreds of webinars, hosted national conferences and provided technical assistance to over 3000 non profits and governmental agencies.

So after considering the above and much more I realized that God had uniquely qualified me to represent the residents of District One as their Police Commissioner. Also as one who has always thought outside the box, I knew that I had more than just something to bring to the table related to policing but was more than qualified to give voice to the voiceless and advocate for better youth development strategies as it related to policing in Detroit. Additionally, way back in 1972, I was an active member of Concerned Citizens Council led by Rev. Lonnie Peek it was our sub-committee that advocated for the creation of the Detroit Police Commission and ultimately our Executive Director Susan Peek became one of the first members appointed by the late Mayor Coleman young.

In some since, life travels in full circle ordained by God. So I said YES, because unlike many I have the passion, expertise and desire to serve my city with integrity that is centered around justice and people. Therefore I said YES and I present myself to the people of District One as a write-in candidate for Detroit Police Commission.

Vote for Dennis Talbert for Police Commission in District One Write my name on your ballot. There is no candidate on the ballot.

We are evolving into a pathetic ethnic group when we place our politics above our ethnicity. When we label ourselves as progressives in some respect, we are disconnecting from the everyday people for whom we allege to care for and represent. Ethnicity is foundational and very important!

As so-called progressives you are building the great divide between those in our community who depend on you and have in the past looked up to you. I say looked up to you because you have been afforded opportunities they will never see and have yearned to experience. We could be approaching a day when there will be a war between the “enlightened progressives and those in our community who looked to you to engage and resolve critical social issues and problems that plague them and their children.

Let’s avoid at all cost building iconoclastic society that is an affront to being African American. You will be hard pressed to identify an ethnic group that had or has abandoned its ethnic identity and still exist going all the way back to the beginning of earth. God established and thrives in ethnicity!

I’m reminded of my time associated with and serving the President Nelson Mandela’s wife and daughters while he was incarcerated. There were individuals who did not agree with both the approach and/or the movement. But the ANC leadership worked to bring them in line and ultimately agreement.

Every political representative that we have must be answerable to the people and the people must drive their public agendas while they hold our offices in public trust. They also must look like the people they represent! We owe this to every future generation within the African diaspora.  It is one of our banners of hope that we should display proudly. In the words from the final verse of the Black National Anthem written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 MAY WE BE TRUE TO OUR NATIVE LAND. Ethnicity is very important!  

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land.

I’m just saying… Peace!

Coming in 2021 “The Other Side of the Cross”, pray of a brother.

66 is bitter sweet as I hang up my cleats in the field of Black Urban Christian Youth Development. I walk away knowing that I gave it my all (my time, my resources and my talent)! I understood from the very beginning that my call was both unique and revolutionary from within the Black Christian community. We knew that we would be serving the most challenged urban youth or those who were on the other side of the cross.

Over my thirty plus year career in the field of Black Christian Urban Youth Development, we sought to bring innovation while attempting to influence the field from both a Christian and the Black church perspective. When I entered the field, I had absolutely no models for which I could emulate so I was forced to carve a path that for many was both weird and completely outside the norm for the Black Christian church particularly the evangelical community.

I am thankful for those who were unashamedly willing to walk beside me regardless of the dark moments. I am thankful for the many individuals in the Detroit area, around the United States and particularly in the African diaspora who God has used me to influenced them to serve Christ beyond the traditional models.

Soon I will announce my successors in this work.  I anticipate them to do even greater works and for them to carve new ground. Someone asked me a few days ago, am I pleased with the things that I have accomplished? The answer to that question is NOT!  When I entered this work, I thought we would be able to significantly move the needle for black youth in all our community-based deficits. The Satanic stronghold on urban system is unbelievable. Do not be deceived we wrestle not against individuals but evil systems and principalities (DT). I just saying….

Today I read a newspaper column by a very prominent black newspaper columnist suggesting the hope for improving and building a quality urban education system is in the hands of Detroit’s corporate leaders. Immediately, I thought, once again no one has faith or confidence in the black community and faith leaders, parents or the citizens who ultimate pay the price for this democratic system.

Perhaps the writer has selected short-term memory and needs to be reminded that for a little over 18 years, the district was under the control of state government, corporate leaders and the behind the scenes of undercover prodding philanthropic leaders and individuals. But maybe we should blame their lack of memory on the JOA which fired, laid off and/or destroyed any concept of institutional newspaper memory within the Detroit journalistic community.  It seemed as if after the JOA, it was open season to destroy black leadership of all kind.

Since the early 80’s, there has been a systematic dismantling of Detroit Pubic Schools under the banner of “school reform”. Our “destructors” have used every excuse from governance, capitalistic charter school infusion to Education Achievement Authority EAA and more. They even convinced the electorate (the citizens of Detroit) that the democratic system of government for the people by the people does not work in Detroit. Less not forget the 18 plus years they used the media to bamboozled us almost daily that they had a better way and appointed individuals who were Black but with little to no educational leadership experience either from a pedagogical perspective, school governance or school finances.  Most had stellar corporate or government backgrounds but no personal investment in both the city or its black children. So the DPS took a dive below the point of hell (if that is even possible).

Now we are hearing again, just when we regain public control that the solution for building a quality educational system rest in the hands of government and corporate leaders. That is CRAP! They don’t give a DAMN about black children and it should be obvious by now. They had 18 years which in educational years represents two generations of children attending a failing school system. When will the people we elect understand that the citizens are quite capable of doing an effective job of restructuring our educational system so that all of our children will both thrive and excel if given both the opportunities and resources.

Yes, we will probably need to have a “come to Jesus meeting” with leaders in the faith and neighborhoods. But we are most capable and willing. Yes, we will need to redefine the priorities of government, churches and the social service systems to make urban children and youth number one. But we can and are very prepared to do it if some of you will stop paying our representatives to carry your water, which is not the agenda and policies of the citizens.

Someone would ask don’t you want the Detroit financial tycoons to be successful and to that question we say yes. But not off the backs of the struggling residents and not without making room for others to enjoy the pleasure of capitalistic success in Detroit. We want policies that are inclusive of more than crumbs of the table and positions beyond Vice Presidents of Diversity and Inclusion or Vice President of Public Affairs. Don’t get me wrong, we are thankful for each of those individuals but the people want and demand more.

One final quick thought, it’s time to stop the bait and switch strategic moves.  We see though the destruction of our neighborhoods costing us billions in exchange for the few millions in gifts, donations and philanthropy. So enjoy the Policy Conference at a Pure Michigan site, enjoy the weather and the drinks and food, but don’t think for one minute that these policies represent the dreams and aspirations of the people of Detroit. I’m just saying. Enjoy!

(30)

Isaiah 11:6D (“and the little ones shall lead them“)… Congratulations to the courageous high school students from Florida and around the world who organized millions to make their voices heard on the issue of violence invading our society and particularly our schools. We are thankful for the parents and adult allies who encouraged, empowered and supported this next generation of leaders. May they remain fearless. 

However as encouraged as I am with this weekends activities it is still reactionary. Yes I said reactionary! Americans are more prone to react to crisis rather than strategically address the root problem that we created and continue to perpetuate. Violence in America is an adult based creation and that includes our fantasy with weapons of all calibers (which I will address in another blog).

Violence is a public health crisis in America! We can neither march, enforce, legislate or negotiate our way out of this problem.  If you didn’t know it we love violence! The news editors would say if it doesn’t bleed it won’t lead. And leading it does, driving the Nielsen ratings higher and higher creating an audience competition for viewers.  Here is an interesting thought for some of my readers, violence wasn’t an issue in America until it came to the front door of suburban schools. We’ve been screaming for years stop the violence. In the urban culture our music, entertainment, news and schools have promoted violence in such a manner that it is now just a way of life.

As a former urban youth pastor, I noticed years ago the difference between the prayers of suburban and urban students. I can honestly say that in over twenty-five years, I probably have never heard an urban student not pray for protection and safety for themselves and their families as they move in and around the cities. While the suburban kids were praying for favor, wisdom in relationship and career direction and ability to pass an exam. Urban kids were traumatized “will I live tomorrow” and will I make it home safe”. I will never forget my first encounter with young man whose name was David who did not believe he would live to see the age of 18. During that period of time I noticed a trend that we are seeing twenty-five plus years later, students who do not believe they will live to reach the age of 21. The trauma of violence is real and it is a public health crisis. 

In 2009 we launched a student led health initiative in collaboration with a few local youth development agencies, the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work, Henry Ford Health Systems and the State of Michigan’s then Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom. The program was entitled T.E.A.C.H. (Teens, Educating and Advocating for Community Health) for IMPACT. Over time our students sought to address youth health disparities in youth friendly language and cultural relevant methods. After one year, the students realize and recommended to us that violence be added as a health disparity and we would address it as a public health crisis. (https://youtu.be/mLWyELxsNqw)

At the time I was actively serving students residents in the Brightmoor community. So we developed a concept paper that would provide for every student K-12 and their parents receiving Conflict Resolution Training. We sought to build a collaboration with experts in the Martin Luther King, Jr Non Violence Training.  Outside of Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom who encouraged the students to take our ideas to the highest levels, these kids were laughed at and dehumanized by funders and members of the Detroit City Council.

The idea was in my opinion simple and cost effective but the community impact had the potential of transforming the lives of thousands of students, decrease the number of juvenile offenders from Brightmoor and create a national model. Here’s the Readers Digest version (old folks language):  The first week of school in the fall would be completely devoted to addressing violence in every school and in every classroom. We would secure volunteers college students from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University who would receive facilitation training from the King Center in Atlanta. Students would develop a plethora of activities in addition to the classroom lessons that highlight best methods for resolving conflicts in school, home and community.  The activities would include everything from student school-based poster campaigns to in-school hip-hop concerts and the implementation of the T.E.A.C.H.for IMPACT clubs in every school empowering students to be spokespersons and continue the campaign long after the first week of school.

As I sit and think about the ideas of Nick, Veronica, Kendall, Darius, Stormy, Chris, Angelo, Brandon, Kelly, Alexis, Cassie, Carman, Taylor, Chelsey, Raymond, Napolean and others I am still in awe. (1 Timothy 4:12). But wait a minute, TEACH for IMPACT is still going and the concept paper can be resurrected now the question is who is willing (Isaiah 6:8).

Brothers and sisters we don’t have to be reactionaries. We are smart enough to strategize and create transformational change in our schools and community. I’m just saying… If you’re interested in being a revolutionary let me know at bemoorradio@gmail.com because 2018 is the year of transformation. I’m just saying…. (Philippians 4:13)

Blogging has been on my drawing board for years. But a couple of weeks ago, Pastor Haman Cross, Jr  said to me “you should blog” and suddenly a fire began to re-bubble in my spirit and finally I said YES. Special thanks to the soon to be Dr. James Holly, Jr for laying the ground work for the blog site.

I Just Saying – some may asked, what will you be blogging about? I’ll take a stab at sharing my thoughts within the context of my values as a Christian in the middle of a world culture that rejects and/or clashes with my prescribed values. But for some my Christian narrative/viewpoint may conflict with many particularly those who identify with the evangelical community a group with whom I have been affiliated since 1985 through my church Rosedale Park Baptist Church. Why the conflict? Because for me growing in Christ has been more than just memorization and doctrine like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) I explored the scriptures daily in search of both truth and understanding with an expected outcome of an informed theology that would ultimately be transformative personally, professionally and globally through my work.

As a blogger, my task will be to create a theological pathway for Christian critical thinkers that would ultimate lead to community change. I am thankful for the many men and women who crossed my path. Some of these individuals do not share my theological journey, but who allowed me a first hand view and the opportunity even as a child to participate in their spiritual journeys and afforded me the honor and privilege to THINK without condemnation (Romans 8:1) and create my own spiritual path to following Jesus Christ.  Regularly this blog will honor men and women who are or have been critical thinkers to my chosen blogging topic. But I must start by honoring those men and women who were and are extremely critical along my spiritual pathway. They are: the late Mr. John Wesley Talbert (my father), Pastor Phillip Nelson (my youth pastor), the late William Carleton Audrey, the late Dr. Isaiah Scipio, Pastor Haman Cross, Jr. and Pastor Gregory Alexander. There were also phenomenal women (Romans 16) who were beneficial to my growth Mrs. Edna Hillard, Ms. Lovett, Mrs. Fannie Norman and finally Mrs. Queen Ann Lamar and my loving and devoted mother Mrs. Nettie Talbert all of whom are in the presence in Jesus.  Their love is an living epistle of one of my ministry verses (Galatians 4:19 NIV).  Thank you!

I’m Just Saying will cover a wide variety of topics including economics, violence, public health, culture, theology, reconcilation, education and politics to name a few through the lens of urban youth development. And don’t think I’m Just Saying won’t have a lot to say about the black church. As a professional urban youth development specialist and former youth pastor I have maintained for years that “we don’t love urban children”. Every issue urban children and youth face sit at the feet of the adult population (Matthew 27:28). Now the real question that faces us is have we allowed this problem to mushroom so big that we can not reverse and change. It’s like asking a second amendment person this question; if we could save American’s children, would you be willing to give up your gun? Or asking the bible believing church going member; what’s more important Sunday morning worship or the Great Commission in the eyes of God?

I invite you to take this ride with me and invite your friends not to just engage in conversations, but I hope we together will produce critical thinking that will ultimately lead to transformational change in urban communities around the world.  Pastor Cross might regret the day he reignited the desire to blog but I won’t. It might even be therapeutic for me and you but for now I’m Just Saying….