How to RESTORE Indigenous stories in your city ft. Eunique Yazzie

Thanks for listening to the unsilent church podcast. It’s black history month, and without apology, we’re going to celebrate that, so we’re starting a new season on the podcast titled, “The Souls of Black Folk.” If that sounds familiar, it’s because the name comes from the classic work by W.E.B. DuBois, and similar to the purpose of that book, in this episode, we’re talking about what it means to be Black in this country (United States America).

 For a long time, “being black,” though not exactly the same for everyone, in essence meant something to everyone. For better or for worse, being black was an integral attribute of ones existence in society and played a major role in their experience. 

A lot has changed since then, most of which includes more access to privilege than there ever has been for non-white people groups in this country. It begs the question, what does it mean to be black in America now? And does it still matter? 

 We talk about this among other things, in this episode of the Unsilent Church. Enjoy.

How much does representation still matter today? In a country that’s professed equality for all but has an unfortunate history of bias and preference for specific people groups, must it remain a priority, in an effort to create a more just future, to maintain laws that ensure the equal treatment and representation of all people? Is it even possible for laws to achieve those outcomes considering the complexity of people groups today and the existential varieties we now identify with? In a world like we live in today, did a law like affirmative action still matter? And now that’s it’s been struck down, what’s the best way forward now? That’s the conversation we had with friend, retired attorney and now law professor, Tom Campbell. It was great having Tom because he’s taught constitutional law, so his perspective is thoughtful, insightful and always helpful to understand where every side of an argument may have merit. Affirmative Action was effectively struck down this past summer in landmark cases brought against Harvard and the University of North Carolina. With the kind of historic precedent a ruling like this sets, what steps do we take now to see more just future on earth as it is in heaven? This is the conversation we have today in this episode of the Unsilent Church podcast. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to the Unsilent Church Podcast. This is the last episode in this season around the idea of “serving the city.” With every episode, after listening, our hope is that you walk away with a valuable insight that helps you navigate your life with more awareness, empathy, and compassion. This episode is no different. Our guest is Eunice Yazzie, founder of Indige Design Collab and co-owner of Cahokia PHX. As an indigenous member of our community, Eunique has positioned herself to be a voice that centers the indigenous community, which has been repeatedly pushed to the margins. In this episode, she provides a breadth of insight to show how creativity and compassion go a long way to restore dignity, honor the stories, and recenter marginalized communities. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to the Unsilent Church Podcast. If you’ve been listening this season, you know that we’ve been talking all about serving the city and how the church can play a critical role in the growth, development and health of our cities. But what about art…and creativity?

 What can the church do to help facilitate and make room for creativity and the arts? Even more so, would you ever believe the similarities between the church and street art?

 Today we get to have that conversation with an emerging street artist in our city, Giovannie Dixon, and talk about precisely that. Art can communicate big ideas in ways no other medium can, and churches are positioned better than most others to provide space to artists like Giovannie who can turn empty spaces into beautiful things. Hear about this, his story and more on this episode of the unsilent church. Enjoy.

In this season, we’ve been talking about serving the city, and what it looks like to be a part of communities in a way that benefits the people while demonstrating God’s presence. 

A regular conversation happening in the city centers around the idea of community development? What is it, how do we do it, and how can the church play a role in facilitating the kind of community development that honors the people involved in every part of the process?

 Today we had that conversation with Carla Logan, owner and operator of Carly’s Bistro, located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District and one of the Row’s longest standing restaurants.

When talking about community development, it’s hard to ignore all of the new development in the form of high rise apartments and new businesses. But what about the community itself. The people, often the artists and local restaurants, who made the space attractive to begin with? How do we think in a way to serve and support them? We talk about this and more on today’s episode of the Unsilent Church. Enjoy.

In this episode of the Unsilent Church Podcast, we're talking about serving the city and how our presence, our attention and our connection with one another helps us do that. With us today is owner and operator of The Churchill, in downtown Phoenix, Kel Duncan. He shares the story of how he got started, how the Churchill got its name, and what the city needs to do in order to do the best for its communities. Enjoy!

For reasons beyond our understanding, "social justice" has become a term of derision, often cast away as an unclean things that must be kept separate. However, when we read about the life and behaviors of Jesus—and pay close attention to His words—we quickly realize that those who would attempt to distance justice in the social sphere away from the heart of the gospel, may well be distancing themselves from the heart of God. In this episode of the Unsilent Church, Darryl Williamson drops this bomb along with many many others as it pertains to a Biblical theology of justice. If you've found yourself in a conversation with someone who believes the answer to injustice is to simply "preach the gospel," this is an episode to enlighten us all to a clearer understanding of grace, justice and God's heart for his people to act accordingly.

When you hear the word "gentrification," how does it make you feel? If you've grown up in the hood, or most neighborhoods of lesser means, when you hear the term "gentrification," it probably makes you cringe—and rightfully so. So much of what comes with gentrification and redevelopment deserves that kind a response, if not even resistance. But if gentrification is a tidal wave that's bound to come anyway, is it possible to ride that wave instead of drowning and being swept away by it? In this episode of The Unsilent Church podcast we have the privilege of speaking with John Onwuchekwa—pastor, author, network leader, and entrepreneur—about the relationship between justice and business. How does the church disrupt injustice and cultivate peace? There's a number ways, but at least one way is through just business. Listen as John tells his story about how he and the community are playing a role in the redevelopment of Atlanta's West End, learning how to swim in these waters usually intended to flood 'em out. Enjoy!

As we’ve been in this 3rd season of the podcast, we’ve had the indelible privilege of speaking to people who have been at the center of justice and peace activity, both in their life personally, as an application of biblical instruction, but also in their city…and fort us here, they’ve been active and at the center of justice and peace in our city, making the kind of difference that for our guest today, has spanned generations. Neighborhood Ministries is a pillar in downtown Phoenix. Located just on the other side of the tracks, Neighborhood has been at the forefront, demonstrating God’s heart for the poor, the marginalized…and the immigrant. Established now 40 years ago this year by founder & president, Kit Danley, Neighborhood Ministries, has become a refuge for so many and continues to bring life, justice and peace to an area that was often faced with death, injustice and chaos. In this episode, Kit graciously dialogues with myself, John and Vermon about how to see justice, both in neighborhoods and for local communities here, but also for those abroad who, for many reasons, now find themselves here. We're reminded that God’s heart is for them all, and in prophetic style, Kit has demonstrated that to our city, and explains to us today, just how much.