gentrification

The Hebrew word shalom is often translated as welfare, peace, or prosperity. We often think about peace as merely the absence of conflict, but shalom is much more than that. Shalom is about wholeness.

When my family first moved to Park Slope, we were very aware of the blessing and beauty of this neighborhood, but I was sadly ignorant of the history, strife, and divisions that lay just under the surface. Now, 10 years into living in this neighborhood that has become our home, I am learning to see it so differently.

It's a new year, but we're back again this month with our round-up of articles, podcasts, and videos that have us thinking lately—including a talk on the gentrification of Christianity, an interactive city map of student homelessness, and an article on the hurdles to school desegregation.

In a place like West Harlem, we are called to live in such a way that we’re not contributing to the displacement of our neighbors who have been here for decades, but rather uplifting, learning from, and together building.