Tag Archives: Larry James
CitySquare’s Larry James Presents at December 7 FFBS
I am so happy that Larry James, CEO and President of CitySquare, will be our guest presenter at the December 7 First Friday Book Synopsis.
Larry has most graci
ously agreed to substitute for me while I attend the annual communication of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, in my capacity as a member of the Education and Service Committee.
Many of you will remember his stunning presentation of Rudolph Guiliani’s book entitled Leadership several years ago.
This time, he will present Jon Gordon’s best-seller, The Energy Bus. This book was written in 2007, but continues to appear on business best-seller lists. It has had a 12-week run on the Wall Street Journal list. You will enjoy the practical advice that Gordon shares in this book, and perhaps even more, the presentation and spin you will hear from Larry James.
We have an exciting bonus program for you following the synopsis. Randy Mayeux will present a synopsis of a best-seller about poverty, and CitySquare officials, including Larry James, will participate in a discussion with you afterwards. All of the proceeds from this program will go directly to CitySquare. I am so impressed with what they do, and I am thrilled to have them as one of our charities that we support annually.
The organiza
tion’s website touts the fact that it goes after the root cause of hunger, not a quick-fix. It says: “We don’t fight poverty for the poor—we fight poverty with the poor. Our 24-year commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty, both on an individual and systemic level, combined with our unyielding commitment to stewardship (over 92 cents of each dollar goes directly to services for those in need) makes CitySquare a proven leader in our community and beyond.” You can read more about this amazing organization at: http://citysq.org/
I appreciate your attendance and contribution to the bonus program. It will be well worth your time. If you cannot stay, can you contribute? We will take your tax-deductible donations at the registration desk that day.
You can register for this event at: www.firstfridaybooksynopsis.com
These Times Call For “Big Citizenship” – (Insight from the Book by Alan Khazei, Founder of City Year)
As I have written frequently, I live in (more than) a couple of different worlds. I read, and present synopses of business books. But I also speak monthly at the Urban Engagement Book Club for CitySquare. I present synopses of books dealing with social justice, racism, poverty – issues of human need.
Sometimes, I feel a little whiplash…
This month, after lunch today, I will have presented two books for two different Urban Engagement Book Club sessions. On the first Thursday of the month, I presented my synopsis of the book Lifeblood: How to Change the World One Dead Mosquito at a Time by Alex Perry. It had a very real parallel to a section in Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think by David Diamandis (which I presented at the July First Friday Book Synopsis). Abundance profiles some technophilanthropists. And Lifeblood focused a great deal on the work of Ray Chambers. Maybe not a “technophilanthropist,” but certainly a wealthy philanthropist who made/is making a whopping difference. He served as the first ever UN Special Envoy for Malaria. His goal was to get rid of malaria in the poorest countries of Africa. Here’s a quote from the book:
“Perfection is the enemy of good,” he said. “Will we cover every single person with a bed net? Honestly, I doubt it. Will we have a bigger impact than any other campaign ever? Yes, I think we will. You set lofty goals, and if you get 90 percent, that’s a great achievement, and you focus on getting the remaining 10 percent done as quickly as you can.”
Today, I am presenting my synopsis of the book Big Citizenship: How Pragmatic Idealism Can Bring Out the Best in America by Alan Khazei. Mr. Khanzei is the founder of City Year, which ultimately played the pivotal role in the establishment of AmeriCorps. The book is filled with great stories, but it boils down to this:
What is the problem, and how do we tackle solving it?
I will say this today:
In fact: all solutions boil down to Individual, Face-to-face, Compassionate, Competent, Attention.
Here are a couple of key quotes from this book:
Big Citizens are not household names. They are not the elected officials or prominent leaders. They are regular, good hearted people blessed with a loving heart and an open mind. Anyone can be a Big Citizen and join with others in common purpose. You just need to listen to that voice inside that says: “I, too, want to be part of making my neighborhood, my school, my community, my country, my world, a better place for all of us.”
At times of great crisis, we often want to find that one great leader to bring us to a better day, but what we need to recognize is that throughout our history, it has been the willingness of regular people looking in the mirror and committing to causes larger than themselves that has been the key to making progress. At the end of the day, it is up to all of us.
And he includes this famous quote from Robert Kennedy:
“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
In Dallas, Larry James, Gerald Britt, and the full team at CitySquare work with dogged determination to meet human need, to help people establish a more solid foundation; they actually find homes for homeless people… the list of ways they tackle human need is long, and impressive. And Gerald Britt works tirelessly on public policy issues (payday lending is one of his recent targets – payday lending is an absolute drain on people in poverty).
I encourage you to add a social justice/poverty book to your reading stack. There are many good ones. If you ask me where to start, my current “best suggestion” is The Working Poor by David Shipler. But, it almost does not matter – read any book that helps you see, and remember, the very real human needs of others. And then, do something about it! (CtySquare is a pretty good place to start).
And in you are in the DFW area, I invite you to come join us at the Urban Engagement Book Club. We meet twice a month. Check it out.
You Get What You Pay Attention To — Consider Brazil’s Focus on Extreme Poverty
I have written before about this simple concept: you get what you pay attention to. (read this earlier blog post). I am convinced that this is as true a maxim as you can find. What gets attention determines the areas in which progress is made. What is ignored goes downhill… pretty quickly.
My friend, Larry James, is a genuine expert on poverty issues. The CEO of CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries), Larry has a terrific blog. (Larry James Urban Daily: read it here). In a recent post, he excerpted an article about the fight against poverty in Brazil. Here’s a key portion:
Today, however, Brazil’s level of economic inequality is dropping at a faster rate than that of almost any other country. Between 2003 and 2009, the income of poor Brazilians has grown seven times as much as the income of rich Brazilians. Poverty has fallen during that time from 22 percent of the population to 7 percent.
Contrast this with the United States, where from 1980 to 2005, more than four-fifths of the increase in Americans’ income went to the top 1 percent of earners.
Dilma Vana Rousseff, a Brazilian politician of Bulgarian origin, has formally been inaugurated as Brazil's 36 President.
Why is Brazil making such progress in its struggle against poverty? Because… this is what they are paying attention to. The people at the top pay attention to this problem – with serious focus.
Consider this portion of the inaugural address from the new President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, delivered Saturday, January 1, 2011. (find the full text here:
)
My Dear Brazilians,
My government’s most determined fight will be to eradicate extreme poverty and create opportunities for all.
We have seen significant social mobility during President Lula’s two terms. But poverty still exists to shame our country and prevent us from affirming ourselves fully as a developed people.
I will not rest while there are Brazilians who have no food on their tables, while there are desperate families on the streets, while there are poor children abandoned to their own devices. Family unity lies in food, peace and happiness. This is the dream I will pursue!
This is not the isolated task of one government, but a commitment to be embraced by all society. For this, I humbly ask for the support of public and private institutions, of all the parties, business entities and workers, the universities, our young people, the press and all those who wish others well.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at her inauguration
What do you pay attention to? Whatever it is, it is likely that that is the area where you will make the most progress.
The Post Office Was Out of Stamps – Can you Believe It?!
Sold Out!
This one is simply beyond me. My friend Larry James went to the Post Office to buy stamps – and they.were.out.of.stamps! Twice! (read about it here).
Peter Drucker famously counseled all businesses to answer these three questions:
What is your business?
Who is your customer?
What does your customer consider value?
When a business fails at its core business (Larry wrote about this), then you’ve got real trouble for that business.
This one is simply beyond me.
Listen to Larry James, CEO of CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries), interviewed by Krys Boyd on Think (90.1, KERA)
Larry James, CEO, CitySquare
I have written often about the event I speak at for CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries), the Urban Engagement Book Club. Today, at the noon hour, Krys Boyd interviewed the CEO of CitySquare, Larry James. Larry is a walking encyclopedia about many aspects of unmet and under-met human need, and through his leadership, CitySquare is truly making a difference, in Dallas, and in an ever-growing circle outward.
Go here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
{North Texas in Need
[2010-12-08 12:00:00] North Texas may be weathering the current economy better than many U.S. cities, but what’s the climate like for those who help the needy in our community? We’ll talk this hour with Larry James, President and CEO of City Square, which recently changed its name from Central Dallas Ministries.
Download MP3 File}
By the way, Public Radio has a true all-star line-up of world class interviewers. They are able to let a guest speak clearly, giving us real insight into the message and the concerns of each guest. We are familiar with the nationally known names: Terry Gross, Diane Rehm. Locally, Krys Boyd is a key part of that all-star line-up, and her interview with Larry was terrific.
Rosanne Haggerty & Larry James – Two Nonprofit Leaders with much to teach us all
Larry James stands in CityWalk@Akard in downtown Dallas, a work in progress
Larry James is the CEO of Central Dallas Ministries. He is a great leader because he keeps moving forward, and he gets things done. He has taken the Central Dallas Food Pantry from a modest store-front beginning to a multi-location full service dream and life-restoration factory. And by accumulating an army of fellow world changers, he has brought affordable permanent supportive housing solutions to homeless people in Dallas.
This morning, Central Dallas Ministries hosted its 15th annual Prayer Breakfast. The main speaker was Rosanne Haggerty, President of Common Ground in New York City. A MacArthur Fellow, she has helped turn formerly derelict buildings into livable solutions for the formerly homeless in New York. Her presentation was filled with rich, substantive content, some really practical advice, and unquestionable logic.
Larry James visited her work five years ago, and came back ready to get it done here. With the Help of John Greenan of the Central Dallas Community Development Corporation, they have now opened their first facility, CityWalk@Akard ( at 511 North Akard in downtown Dallas), which includes 50 units for the formerly homeless.
Rosanne Haggerty: click to enlarge image
Here are two quotes from Rosanne Haggerty this morning. Speaking of Larry James and his team:
“This is a group that knows how to get things done.”
And then to all, she said,
I’m here to challenge you to keep going.”
There are some great leaders in the nonprofit sector. Rosanne Haggerty and Larry James are two of the best. And one reason they are so very good at what they do is that they simply do not quit.
Here is one final quote from Ms. Haggerty:
“What are the specific blockages you face?’
And then she challenged us all to find the solutions, and get (back) to work.
——
Note: I speak monthly for Central Dallas Ministries, providing synopses of books that deal with poverty and social justice issues, at the Urban Engagement Book Club. Larry James writes a blog that is definitely worth reading, Larry James Urban Daily. Check it out here.
