An Important Eye Opener

Dang, this one is a game-changer. It was a quick read and definitely makes one reevaluate all the "nice" things we've done in the past and how a day (or week) of "service" can be completely counterproductive to the ultimate goal. Mr. Lupton sums things up nicely (sorry to spoil, but I don't think it's ruining anything) when he notes that "relief" takes months, "rehabilitation" takes years, and "development" takes decades. I would like to hear more from him about gentrification and the negative effect that has on renters in low income neighborhoods. This is an important read, not only for re-thinking how charity should happen, but also for reminding us all that the folks in need are people, not projects. Handing them something probably makes us feel far better than it does them.