“Show Me the Money-Faith In Action” by Cynthia Stewart

As an Executive director of a non-profit organization, I often find myself at the crossroads of how to continue the work of our organization’s mission to help others and having the necessary capital to do it. In today’s ever-changing environment, we often feel that we must choose between what Spirit is directing us to do with our lives and the increasing need to earn money in order to survive, as an organization and individually.

I’d like to introduce a seemingly revolutionary concept built around cooperative economics and how it can be used to solve today’s issue of the “Religion of Capitalism” that has taken over and destroyed our communities. If we continue to live our lives based on the concept of “bigger, better, faster, shinier”, we will certainly run out of things that are appealing to us. As we know, Greed is a concept that only leads to eventual peril of the people and communities in its wake.

Just based on recent headlines like “Judge Sentenced in Kids for Cash”, “CPS School Chief Indicted”, and “Environmental Destruction to Food, Water and Land for Greater Profits”, and my favorite “6 Billion Reasons Why The American Gun Lobby Loves A Good Mass Shooting; it’s no wonder that our communities seems to be headed to hell in a hand basket (as a friend’s grandmother used to say). The idea of a cooperative economic system is the answer to this issue by having People, Place, and Profit at the center of the system, in that order, instead of that greed.

Historically, the church has been the institution in the community to rise up. Early in our country’s history, the church rose against the injustice against slavery. Later the churches in the community again emerged to lead the charge against the oppressions suffered during the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s. Currently, the Community of Faith as a whole must rise against our modern ills of gun violence, the flood of drugs, a failed school system that directly feeds a for-profit prison system, and few to no jobs in the community that leave our people with no hope, no love, and no future. ALL people of faith must step in the gap together to provide the hope and promise of a better future. With a “mustard seed of faith” like Jesus spoke of in Matthew 17:20, this promise is possible.

In a Cooperative Economics System, everyone involved in the efforts will reap the benefits of the profit created. As an example, when a Chicago window factory in Goose Island closed its doors, the employees took a stand and restructured operations to save the factory and their jobs. This kind of insight showed that together, they could all flourish and prosper. Father Greg Boyle founder of Homeboy Industries has proven "Nothing stops a bullet like a job."

Consider this an invitation to a panel discussion of faith leaders, community activists, business people and professionals on the front lines of Social Economic Justice entitled” Show Me the Money-Faith In Action” to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 3pm to 5pm at Christ Universal Temple; 11901 S Ashland Avenue in the Youth Wing. Our guest speaker will be Attorney Mark J. Lane, author of over 30 books including his latest, “Mission-Driven Venture: Business Solutions to the World’s Most Vexing Social Problems”. He offers anyone committed to social innovation a hands-on, actionable guide for leveraging the market-place to solve the world’s most difficult social problems. As an attorney and financial advisor, he is a renowned thought leader and expert on entrepreneurship, social enterprise, impact investing, and entrepreneurial finance.

Other presenters include: Peter A. Creticos, Ph.D Executive Director—Institute for Work and the Economy, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Habitat for Humanity Chicago, South Suburban

“Show Me the Money-Faith In Action” by Cynthia Stewart

Community Development Corp, Churches United, Thrivent Financial (the nations only Not for Profit Fortune 500 company) and others.

This is not a protest meeting, not a finger pointing blame fest; but a roll up your sleeves let's get busy session. Come prepared to head home with an action plan to lead our communities to a brighter and more just economy. All hands are invited on deck as we are reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “If a man doesn’t have a job or an income, he has neither life nor liberty nor the possibility for the pursuit of happiness. He merely exists.”