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We live in a “sound-bite” society that exalts rugged individualism. Rather than accept this as the only reality, Alexie Torres-Flemming is working with the youth the South Bronx to live as a community and work for social justice, housing reform, and environmental reform. Alexie, creator and director of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, has worked for 15 years helping youth to see their neighborhood as God’s kingdom and to realize that church isn’t just a place you go to learn about getting to another place (heaven). Spencer Burke interviews Alexie, who describes how she grew up in Catholicism and a social teaching tradition. But that young people were often relegated to the choir or dance or basketball teams, and not engaged in important work of social change in their community. The Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice gives youth a place to impact their neighborhood and to integrate their faith with their daily lives-not just entertaining them, or keeping them busy, but engaging them in the issues of their world. By doing so, they experience a connection to each other, a connection to God and a sense of selflessness.

Having grown up in the Bronx, Alexie thought she’d return to that community and “save poor people.” But after 15 years at Youth Ministries, she realizes she can’t do that, and that more often the people she helps “save her.” She has learned the importance of being a witness to other’s stories. Not standing above them, or being in a higher position of “serving” them, but simply standing with them and experiencing their stories and hearing their journeys. By experiencing God’s children in this way, she has gained a greater connection with her community-a connection she hopes to share by example with the youth of the South Bronx.

Personal Reflections:

1. Have you found yourself living in a false dichotomy where your faith is just a stage for getting to a better place (heaven)? How can we live in the “here and now” and be a part of God’s kingdom on earth, as in heaven?
2. How can I see people versus stereotypes, titles or tags–to see much more of their collective story versus sound bites?

Small Group or Staff Questions:

1. How can we be more than the “sex and drugs” police and instead build and engage in social change?
2. Can we move beyond “doing good” (standing above) towards solidarity and being a witness, present with people and hearing their stories without judgment?

Resources:

1. Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice
2. More Video On Alexie

One Response to “Alexie Torres-Flemming – Looking Beyond the Stereotypes”

1. Urban Justice & Youth Ministry: Alexie Torres Fleming « zoecarnate Says:
   September 6th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

   [...] Get the HD quality video & show notes here. [...]

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