We need to reform our laws. Shouldn’t all of our laws focus on each of our NEIGHBORS' Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? The Gospel and Declaration of Independence should not just extend to people who were born into or live within a particular zip code or skin color.

If you really want to help, you must learn about and then correct the systemic impact of:

If you really want to help, get to know all of your neighbors. We will be a better place when we are able to invite all of our neighbors to our cabin.

We need to reform how we enforce our laws. We are a Catholic School. The greatest explanation I have heard regarding the Priest Abuse Scandal is that bishops prioritized the protection of the priests over the mission. There are many more good Priests who live and promote the mission of the Church than the terrible ones that destroy it. 

 

Similarly, the Code of Blue has prioritized the protection of the police officers who harm and destroy over the mission to protect and serve. If you really want to help, we must reorganize how we enforce. How can we ensure that LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS continues for ALL at the conclusion of a police response?

We need to continue to reform how we educate and develop people. Our schools are not designed to support all students. They are efficiently focused on the middle 60%. The top 20% have the resources they need from home. The bottom 20% they don’t worry about. The bottom 20% are perceived as too costly or too difficult to work with. We cannot afford to throw away the opportunity for 20% of our society. We need to move away from ranking and sorting move towards individualized plans for success. If you really want to help, volunteer at Cristo Rey or another school, maybe even one you don’t feel comfortable within because your neighbors look different than you. Learn about the education process. Just applying to college and navigating the necessary systems is difficult at best. We need to continue to challenge how we educate so that all may prosper.

We need to continue to open pathways for all neighbors to have family-sustaining careers. All work has dignity. Work is the foundation of the pursuit of happiness. When it comes down to it, the inequity in our society is based on the value of how we each earn our living. College, housing and security are vastly improved with the employment it affords. If you really want to help, you can volunteer to mentor neighbors into, and sustain employment. Help provide avenues to young people so they are employed early in life to develop those skills necessary to be successful long-term. 

 

I conclude with another story about the student who lost her home in the rioting on Tuesday. This student is a child of undocumented immigrant neighbors who moved here so that she and her siblings could have a better opportunity (Same as my great, great, great grandfather). For the three weeks prior to George Floyd being killed, I personally worked with her as we attempted to get her a bank account. We tried four institutions. All of the bankers were kind, but we were unsuccessful.

 

Did you know that a 17 year old student who works 32 hours a week to pay for her family’s rent and other costs (because her parents lost their jobs) still cannot get a bank account? This means she continues to cash her paycheck at a “money transfer company” and pays them twice; once to cash her check and then to send a check to her landlord. This is unjust. A bank account is a sign of stability, belonging and hope. Without it, so many doors remain closed.

 

Her place of work was looted. Her family home was burned to the ground. Early this morning, she sent me an email asking if I could help get the word out about her classmates who were displaced.  If I could be so fortunate to be as good a person as this student.

 

Join us in working to live the greatest commandment each day to ensure that ALL of our neighbors enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

May God inspire us all to correct these systemic injustices!

 

If you have any questions or solutions, please reach out! There is no place I'd rather be and no group of people I'd rather share this mission with! 

 

In peace,

 

Jeb Myers

President