Arrested standing up for the poor

(John Perkins being arrested in D.C. yesterday)

“U.S. Capitol Police arrested 115 religious activists who were protesting a House Republican budget plan's cuts in social programs when they refused to clear the entrance to a congressional office building Wednesday. "These are political choices being made that are hurting low-income people," said Jim Wallis, the event's organizer and founder of the Christian ministry group Sojourners. "Don't make them the brunt of your deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility."
-From the Washington Post

Yesterday Emily and I were here in Jackson but our hearts and minds were in D.C. where a peaceful prayer protest was taking place. The house was preparing to vote on a bill that would cut spending on the poor to create tax cuts for the rich and Christians who don’t look over the 2000 verses in the bible addressing Gods concern for the poor had to speak out. Hundreds of religious leaders and Christ followers gathered at the Cannon House office Building to kneel and pray. Our country has come to the place where we believe abortion and gay marriage are the only moral issues we face, but is ignoring the needs of our brothers and sisters not a moral issue? 115 of the protesters were arrested including my friend Matt and John Perkins. I had a good talk with Matt last night and I’m so glad he was able to go and be a voice for justice. Our good friends Sarah and Elizabeth from here at JMPF were also arrested.

The Most Segregated Hour

Last night we attended a screening for a film called “ The Most Segregated Hour”. The film followed two churches in Oxford Mississippi, one white Episcopal and the other black Baptist, over a 13 year period as they attempted to come together and practice racial reconciliation. The showing of the film was followed by a discussion with the director as well as a star studded civil rights panel. It was an amazing evening and we were so thrilled to be involved. The film blatantly addresses the fact that 11:00 am on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. Why aren’t Christians, who of all people should know something about reconciliation, paving the way for the racial reconciliation movement?
After last night I have a lot on my mind, but the thing that always gets to me after discussing this issue in depth is the fact that reconciliation is hard. It takes people who are willing to be uncomfortable. It takes people who are willing to understand that even though they may not be a racist they benefit from the fact that others have been oppressed. It was encouraging to see others last night who have committed their lives to reconciliation with the belief that we are called to love our brothers and sisters. Their hope encourages me to believe that another world is possible. I’m starting to believe that we need others to survive. We need other cultures to influence our thoughts and actions.
There is shadow over our land and where I come from it goes unnoticed. We have a broken history in which people were treated not as humans but as animals. Whether we like to admit it or not this stuff takes healing and doesn’t get fixed over night.

We have a group here this week from Seattle Pacific University and they were able to attend the film with us. Some had their eyes opened to a problem they didn’t even know existed.

Another highlight of the night was meeting James Meredith who was in attendance. Meredith was the first black student at Ole Miss University and risked his life to stand up for civil rights. His attendance of Ole Miss sparked mass riots in Mississippi by southern whites trying preserve the white race. He is very old and doesn’t hear to well but it was an honor to meet one of the most influential people is U.S. history. Ed King was also in attendance and on the panel. Ed King was an outspoken white civil rights activist in the movement and worked along side Medger Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

This week the Perkins center is hosting another intimate leadership retreat with John Perkins. The week is full of great teaching on topics of racial reconciliation, community development, oppression, justice, and leadership. A number of people teach through out the week but most is done by J.P. This week we have 5 people attending and they are enjoying some up close and personal time with John. Later today they will go visit the prison with him as he leads his weekly bible study.

Emily has been very busy and working very long days. She now works at the after school program at the school where she tutors and our program is feeling her loss. She is required by Americorps to be involved in the program. I am still enjoying our after school program and the kids who attend. After almost four months I have learned a lot and continue to learn. After Christmas I am planning on making some changes in the format of our time. It is still a struggle to get students to think and I want to find creative, fun ways for them to learn. Right now we basically help them do their homework for the entire time. I want to do some homework with them but then get them involved in reading, art, and learning activities. If anyone has any input drop me line: Johnny.Bertram@gmail.com

Netflix

Hey we got netflix and Im loving the selection. Some movies i recommend if you haven't seen them yet:



"Spellbound"- a documentary about 7 or 8 students who set out to win the National Spelling Bee. Upon watching it for the 3rd time I find it very entertaining and humbling.


"Rivers and Tides' - Another documentary about a natural artist named Andy Goldsworthy who does amazing art with leaves, clay, ice, rocks, and time. Ive rented this movie twice and it is now on my Netflix queue.


"13 conversations about one thing"- a drama about people living in N.Y.C. (If i remember correctly) and how their lives connect. One of the few movies we own.



"Metallica : Some kind of Monster"- Saw most of this in hotel but Im looking forward to seeing the whole thing. An interesting look at how greed and money can make babies out hard core rockers.



"I am trying to break your heart: a film about Wilco" - A documentary that follows Wilco as they record and release their album "Yankee hotel foxtrot". This movie is a good intro to one of my favorite rock groups with alot of their music and a battle with the corporate music industry.



"Bob Dylan: Don't look back" - Old footage of Dylan on tour in Europe. Some very funny moments.




"Is wall-mart good for America?"- PBS Frontline documentary explores Wal- mart and its effects on American culture. There is another movie out in Theatres about wal- mart right now but I've not seen it yet. Its called "Wal-Mart the high cost of low prices". Always low wages, always.

Road Trip Post #5 (the end)

We have made it back to Jackson. Last night we rolled in at about 7:00 completing two 700-mile days in a row. We had such a great time out on the road. Thanks so much to everyone involved! We return feeling refreshed and thankful for the friends and family we have. Matt and Jacinda were great hosts and traveling buddies. Matt’s aquatic chemistry book challenged and stretched me on that long drive. Jacob and Amy were also amazing host’s and are great parents. Jacob led us to Harvard Square where there was a Peets Coffee shop and we are forever thankful.
The car is fixed and is running better than ever. The only thing left to go out is the engine and hopefully that has another 175 thousand miles to go.
The drive back was beautiful with stays in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Today Emily is back at work and I am preparing for the after school program which will begin again today.
Peace
JB

States Visited on Road trip
Tennessee
Arkansas
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
West Virginia
Virginia
Georgia
Alabama
Mississippi

Thanksgiving

Lauren out for a Thanksgiving walk
Sam , Lauren, and Johnny

The Bird

The Spread

The Kids

We had a great Thanksgiving here in Boston with our good friends/family Jacob and Amy and their kids Lauren (3) and Samuel (4 months). They live outside of Boston in suburb called Medford. The area they live in is full of Italians and Duncan Donuts. People here think Duncan Donuts is the bomb…but its not. They drink the mediocre coffee like its going out of style. I’ll be honest we have been drinking the D.D. coffee while we’re here and its not horrible but its not something I would be willing to spend 2 bucks on every morning if I lived here.
It’s been so nice for us to get time here and we’ve mostly been relaxing and playing with the kids. Samuel is a little angel. He’s fallen asleep in my arms at least 5 times and makes for a great little lap heater while he sleeps. Lauren is a cute talking little princess. She insists that her name is not Lauren but rather Princess. Yesterday Amy and Emily cooked up the best thanksgiving meal I’ve ever experienced. It was all vegetarian minus the bird and boy did we eat. After word we were proud that we’d pulled off our own Thanksgiving. I played the part of the Football watcher. I hope everyone had a great day and Happy thanksgiving to you all!

Road Trip Post #4

Little Italy





The biggest slice of pizza we've ever seen.


Wall Street

We had a great time exploring New York City. Matt and Jacinda live right near the subway so we got around pretty easily. The city is so big that you really need a least a week (or more) if you want to see everything. We had a day and tried to make the most of it. We went down to Wall Street then walked up into China Town and Little Italy. We rode the subway back up to midtown and walked through Rockefeller plaza where people were ice-skating and the Christmas tree was being decorated. Later in the day we met up with Matt, Andrew and Jacinda and grabbed a drink in Greenwich Village. After a long day of walking through the city everything begins to feel the same. So many people and shops and dogs and buildings. Upon arriving back to Matt and Jacinda’s apartment Emily and I decided to walk over a few blocks to check on the car and sure enough there was a parking ticket. I was a bit bummed but thankful that it wasn’t towed. I’m not stupid enough to park in front of a no parking sign if anyone is wondering. The place I parked had no sign at all which is why I’ll be contesting the ticket.
The next morning we relaxed at the apartment. Matt and Andrew trained me on a music-recording program and Emily went out for breakfast on her own. She ended up at Toms Dinner, which is the café from the hit TV show Seinfeld.
In an attempt to beat the traffic out of the city we left at 2:00pm and headed for Boston. I will forever know the next eight hours as the escape from New York. As we made our way north out of Manhattan I could tell that the car was definitely having some problems. Luckily things went well as we got through the Bronx and made our way up into Connecticut. The traffic was bad in Connecticut and not good on our clutch that was getting worse by the minute. We traveled 40 miles in three hours and finally things cleared up. It was smooth going for a while but as we approached Providence Rhode Island the clutch just completely went out. We steered our way through traffic over to the shoulder and made the call to AAA. About 40 minutes later Dan the tow truck man arrived with a New England accent so thick I could comprehend maybe 50 percent of what he said. He loaded our car up on the flat bed and sped us the rest of the way to Boston. We arrived really late to Jacob and Amy’s place in Boston but they were very nice and accommodating. We we’re able to unload the car at the mechanic’s shop right next to their apartment. Long story short the clutch is out and it’s a lot of work and money to fix on our all wheel drive Subaru. The car should be done today and then we begin the long journey back to Mississippi.


The subaru breaks down outside of Providence

Road Trip Post #3

Evening session at CCDA conference



We’ve arrived in the big apple. The conference went really well. We were challenged and encouraged to go back to our community and to love others. Yesterday we drove for about 12 hours and traveled about 700 miles from Indianapolis to New York City. We’ve been enjoying Matt and Jacinda’s apartment and hospitality. Last night we had a delicious home cooked Indonesian meal and took a walk (constitutional as Matt would say) around the campus of Columbia University where matt is attending graduate school. We’ve also been reunited with Andrew from Seattle who is passing through N.Y.C. on his way back from Ukraine.
I was a little nervous about driving and parking in the city but with Matt as navigator everything has gone really smooth. Our car is having some problems accelerating. I really hope the clutch is not going out because we still have a lot of driving ahead of us.
Today Emily and I will head out into the city to explore. Our tentative plan is to see Wall Street, Chinatown, and possibly the village. Conan O’Brian called and wanted to lunch but I had to cancel, I don’t eat at Irish restaurants like McDonalds.
It has been refreshing for Emily and I to be away from Mississippi for a while.
The restaurant from Seinfeld is on the corner of matt and Jacindas street.
Peace
JB

Road Trip Post #2

Emily and Sarah walk the cold streets of INDY

Working the John Perkins Foundation booth


Matt and I get serious about Old Spaghetti Factory
Dixie and Emily

Things are rocking here in Indianapolis. The last few days have been packed with seminars, workshops, and networking. Its been encouraging to be around others who are working in urban neighborhoods doing similar work. Last night we had the priviledge of hearing Juan Hernandez (U.S. and mexico ambassador) speak and tonight we will hear from Jim Wallis of Sojourners.

Road Trip day # 1

Greetings from Arkansas! The road trip has begun. We escaped Mississippi and its tornado warnings last night and made it safely to the roadside town that is Osceola, AR. I may have forgot to mention that we are driving 2 cars for the first leg of trip. Our friends Lowell and Dixie asked that we drive their car to Urbana Illinois where they will be giving it to some friends. I should have never doubted Emily’s driving skills. She steered that Subaru like a champ through hard, driving rain and massive lightning strikes that lit up everything like a strobe light.
This morning finds me at the Huddle House restaurant in front of our hotel drinking weak coffee and picking up a wireless internet connection from another near by hotel. The view from my window booth is of a field with the interstate traffic racing by on the horizon. I could be anywhere in the country today. My first thought upon leaving the hotel room and entering into the cold, sunny morning was of Idaho. The flat farmland all around and the feeling of winter flooded me with memories of my home state.
Today we drop the car off in Urbana and then head east to Indianapolis for the first day of the conference. Gotta hit the road!
I will be attempting to update the blog daily over the span of our road trip adventure so stay tuned.

quick update

After Emily gets off work tomorrow we will embark on a road trip of epic proportions, well not really, but it should be fun. We will be heading north to the annual CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) conference in Indianapolis. We will be attending the conference as well as working the John Perkins foundation book selling both. The conference is a large meeting of people from all over the country who are living and working in poor communities. John Perkins founded the association many years ago and is still co- president. This will be our third year at the conference and we feel we have more to learn than ever before. Each day is filled with workshops and discussions on all sorts of things related to urban community development. I’m hoping to attend a workshop on running an after school program. We hope to be encouraged as we interact with others during the 4-day conference.
After the conference we will drive to New York City with our friends Matt and Jacinda to hang in the big apple for a few days. They moved to Manhattan in August so Matt could attend graduate school at Columbia.
Then we will head further North to spend Thanksgiving in Boston with the Robinson family. Jacob and Amy moved from Portland to Boston a few years ago and it will be our first time visiting them in their new city. We are also excited to meet the newest Robinson in the family, Samuel.
After that it will be a long haul down through the Eastern U.S. back to Mississippi.
I’m considering a daily road journal for the blog during our travels so check back for updates and photo journals.
Hope everyone is well.
Johnny

I just got back from having lunch with one of our after school students named Mario at his school. Mario happens to be in Emily's 3rd grade class so after lunch I went back to their classroom and sat in on their "best Halloween costume contest". It was nice to get a glimpse into Emily's daily surroundings and I think Mario was glad to see me.
We are enjoying the cooler weather now after a long hot summer. Our after school program has been going well. We have about 15 regular students now which is about all 3 or 4 tutors can handle. On Thursdays I am leading the Boys club. Boys club is basically a group of boys from the after school program and around the neighborhood who meet each week and do activities. Once a month we will do a community service project in our area. We will also take a field trip to do something fun each month. So far we have been reading a book together about growing up with out a dad and playing a lot of football.
I may have forgot to mention on here that Emily’s mean principle got fired about a month ago so things have been looking up for her at work lately.

Last weekend we were given some tickets to the Jackson State homecoming football game. It was a great experience despite JSU getting whooped.


Mrs. Bertram's class