Noel Castellanos

CCDA Philly Slideshows

2006-11-02T10:22:00.000-06:00

The following slideshows were produced for CCDA’s Friday and Saturday morning general sessions.

Part 1
Photos from the first two days of CCDA, including Mayor John Street, John Perkins, Tony Campolo, Dr. Wayne Gordon, Dr. Alyn Waller, Noel Castellanos, Rev. Herbert Lusk, II, workshops, candids, and more; music by Fred Hammond, Casting Crowns, and Bethany.

Photos by Jeremy Del Rio.

Part 2
Pictures include John Perkins, Noel Castellanos, Dr. Wayne Gordon, Ms. Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Louis Carlo, Spencer Perkins Fellows, general session presenters, workshops, and candids, with music by Jason Upton, U2, and Isaac Houghton.

Photos by Jeremy Del Rio

Feel free to post the slideshows on your website/blogs, but kindly include appropriate photo credit to www.JeremyDelRio.com and a link back to CCDA.

BARRIO SHALOM

2006-07-12T14:58:00.000-05:00

I have seen amazing changes in the city of Chicago the last 15 years. We are a city that is being gentrified by the day, with the wealthy and upper class returning to the center of the city to take advantage of its amazing assets: a world class skyline, an amazing lake front, out of this world restaurants, great parks and museums, and the World Champion Chicago White Sox!

Especially the barrios of Humboldt Park, La Villita, and Pilsen have gone through unthinkable transformation. 10 years ago, you could buy a city lot in Pilsen for $10,000. Today, that same lot will cost you between $200,000 and $500,000.

Latino churches have overnight found themselves surrounded by new middle-class 'neighbors' right in the barrio, while many of their members have been forced to move away from the communities where they have grown up all of their lives--because the can no longer afford to live there.

The pastors of these churches are dealing with 'White Real Estate Might' instead of 'White Flight' that was experienced 20-30 years ago, which gave their flocks an opportunity to move into these traditional inner city neighborhoods.

Now, in the face of all of these changes, what do we do if we care for the barrio? What do we do if God has called us to love our Latino neighbors and neighborhoods?

BARRIO SHALOM. This is what God has been speaking to my heart as I have been reflecting, studying, and praying about my role in La Villita. Seek the 'Shalom' of my barrio. Seek the wholeness, and vitality, and spiritual revival of my barrio. Seek to invite, encourage, and engage others to enter into a journey of working together for the Shalom of La Villita.

What this will look like is yet unclear, but if it is to be deeply Biblical, it must be rooted in community. It must be rooted in the fullest understanding of what Shalom is:

Peace- Our neighborhood is so violent with gangs and domestic violence
Love- We all desperately need a safe place to let God expand our heart for the Prince of Peace. We all need grace and forgiveness
Justice- A way to deal with the injustices we see in our barrio and in all barrios around our globe, and beyond
Fiesta- Real fiesta will spring forth when a group of broken people who are seeking God find their joy in celebrating the good things that God is doing in our midst, in our barrio, in our world

Our barrio is amazing, in that we have so many positive elements to our community. Thriving businesses; lots of homeowners; many churches; some economic diversity; good leadership on many fronts. But we are a community of need of SHALOM.

Families are afraid to let our children and teens out because of gang violence. Men abuse their wives and girlfriends and children far too often. Fear and violence are clear manifestations of evil in our barrio.

I am convinced that Kingdom people in our barrio can unleash God's love and justice with such a powerful force, that SHALOM can flow like a gushing stream--in the place of violence. This is something worth praying for, working for, and worth living for.

Along the way, let's party...as we give glory to God for what He is doing to bring His Shalom to our needy world.

Reflections

2006-07-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

Psalm 9:18
"The needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed."

Today, there is word from Colorado that the state legislature has passed some very tough laws that prohibit undocumented residents from receiving basic services. (A taste of things to come as our nation continues the debate over our immigration policy)

As a follower of the ultimate 'friend of the lowly, the forgotten, and the poor' I feel compelled to care. I feel moved to pray and do what I can to act in love-filled way towards these individuals who have become such lighting rods of controversy.

I feel deeply saddened and burdened that we are so unable to understand the hopes that these men and women have for a better life, and for many, for economic survival.

Forgetting politics for a moment. I am trusting God that the words of Psalm 9 are indeed going to be fulfilled at some point. That if the Lord has anything to do with it, 'the hopes of the poor will not be crushed forever.'

Proverbs 19:4
"Wealth makes many friends; poverty drives them away."

Do I only welcome others when they make my life better and more prosperous, (or at least have no negative impact on my life), or do I see the value of others for who they are; men and women created in the image of God. In fact, am I open to the possibility that the very presence of Christ might be uniquely found in the poor and forgotten that I easily walk past?

Lord, help me to see the vulnerable as you do, and help me do whatever I can so that your Kingdom will come here on earth as it is in heaven--where the hopes of the poor will not be crushed.

NY Without Immigrants

2006-07-06T17:18:00.000-05:00

"Although they broke the law by illegally crossing our borders ... our city's economy would be a shell of itself had they not, and it would collapse if they were deported, the same holds true for the nation."

- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaking to a Senate committee. Source: CNN

Burro Genius

2006-06-30T18:53:00.000-05:00

If you want to read an amazing account of a young boy's struggle to overcome discrimination, low expectations, and Dyslexia to become a world-class writer, check out this book written by Victor Villaseñor .

Patricia's Story

2006-06-30T17:54:00.000-05:00

Patricia's Strory
Behind every 'undocumented immigrant' or 'illegal alien' is a real human story. This is one of them.by 'Patricia,' as told to Juan Hernandez and Noel Castellanos

On May 1, 2006, as many as 800,000 immigrants flooded into the streets of Dallas and Chicago to demonstrate that their presence in the United States is neither insignificant nor to be taken lightly. Imagine the courage it took for these individuals to risk coming out of the shadows of our nation’s underground and to openly declare their desire to be woven into the tapestry of the country with other immigrant citizens...

Pick up a copy of this month's Sojourners magazine to read the rest of the story.

From Poverty to Opportunity

2006-06-30T17:34:00.000-05:00

This past Monday through Wednesday, I was in Washington, DC with over 600 'progressive' Christians. We were brought together by Jim Wallis and the Call to Renewal / Sojourners movement that is seeking to forge new solutions to end poverty that are neither Republican or Democrate, but committed to justice.

Mary Nelson, Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo a few others and myself, were carrying the banner on a few mile march from the National Church to the lawn at the Capital. It was a great time to take our faith to the streets in a role of advocacy aimed at letting our lawmakers know that Christians care about more that just a few issues, and that we care alot about what God cares about-the poor and the marignalized.

There were many highlights. Seeing lot's of young leaders eager to get engaged. Meeting with our Senators and going to see Congressman Gutierrez of Illinois. Getting a chance to hear Barak Obama...he is a very compelling leader in DC.

Finally, we had the chance to introduce the Covenant for a New America, a documented put together by Sojourners that outlines a list of commitments that Christians who care about poverty and justice are asking our lawmakers to support.

I encourage you to find out more about the Covenant at the link provided above.

New Mestizo Cohort Starts BGU Program

2006-06-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

Twenty-five folks from around the globe began the Bakke Graduate University D Min program with me in Seattle, WA. I will bring you all with me on this journey as I travel around the world with this group.

If Only Finding a Church Was this Easy

2006-06-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

Very early Sunday morning, I set out to find a breakfast spot before starting my day. I found my experience very much like looking for the perfect church.

First of all, it has to be perfect. That is, it has to match the image that I have in my mind of what a 'perfect breakfast' will look and taste like.
It has to serve all the traditional breakfast stuff: eggs, potatoes, and chorizo.
It has to serve great coffee, ala Starbuck's.
The Waite staff has to be cool and attentive (after all, I need to be well taken care of).
Also, the venue has to be artistic, cool, open, non-traditional, and of course, right in the heart of the city.
If it were a unique, one of a kind place, that would be ideal, but I'll settle if I have to.
It has to have great music. New talent; funky; stuff I can enjoy while eating that gets me grooving just a little bit is perfect.
Being walking distance from home is a must!
Finally, it has to be hopping with a diverse crowd.

After an hour of walking around, past, in and out of, numerous places, I was getting so hungry my standards began to plummet downward. I even began to remember restaurants I had seen in other parts of town that served breakfast, and I was tempted to get on a bus and commute to find my perfect place. But, eating breakfast was much too important for me to give up so quickly. I had to press on.

Maybe I should go back to the great doughnut place right be my apartment. No. Too much sugar and not enough substance.
The dining room at the Ramada Inn would probably serve the eggs and bacon I was looking for, but the place is too old and unhip for me to really enjoy my breakfast.
Then there was the very nice hotel joint not far away, but it was a bit to up scale for me. I did not want to spend $20 for eggs and toast!
Then there were the 10 Starbuck's I passed by. (No joke, this is Seattle) Even though they now serve a pretty good breakfast sandwich, I couldn't bring myself to settling for something so familiar and so canned.
Not to mention the numerous storefront places that served other interesting food, but no breakfast.

I was now so hungry, I was really ready to settle for anything, when it happened. I came across a sports bar that was serving breakfast. I walked down into the huge space filled with TV lights and the sounds of the World Cup. It was comfortable and contemporary. The African American greeter (I mean host) was great, and made me feel at home.

I was drawn to the feel, to the sounds (very loud) and to the visuals. And the finals of the French Open were on (showing on 20 huge HDTV plasma screens) with the Mexico versus Iran game coming up next. What could be better?

I ate my breakfast. Nadal won, and Mexico was not losing. To top it off, after the offering (I mean, after paying my bill) they moved me into the cigar bar to watch the game on a couch in absolute comfort.

Too bad I'm only in Seattle for one weekend, because this would be a great regular breakfast place, especially during the World Cup!

If only finding a church home were this easy!

Report Number One from Seattle

2006-06-05T03:48:00.000-05:00

I just arrived in Seattle for my 2 week stint at the Bakke program. My friends Lisa and Hayden picked me up at the airport, brought me a mattress, and helped me find my apartment.

It is an amazing place 1 block from the Space Needle (which I have a full view of from my living room window). The young man who I am renting a room from is named Jaspreet: He works at Microsoft and seems to be a real nice person. (First impessions at midnight)

I start at 8am, and expect to get a wake-up call from my wife Marianne at 6am.

Chitaliano

2006-06-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

My 3 kids are a mestizo blend of Chicano & Italiano (Chitaliano). My oldest son Noel Luis will attend USC in the fall, and he will not be living in the Chicano Studies dorm. I guess he may have to establish the Chitaliano Club himself.

My sister recently bought me t-shirt that says, 'USC- University of Successful Chicanos'. We may need to make a new one that says, 'USC- University of Successful Chitalianos'.

Heading to Seattle

2006-05-27T12:38:00.000-05:00

After a few years of wanting to start my D. Min program at the Bakke Graduate University, I am finally going to start on June 5th. I will be in Seattle for a two week intensive to start the 3 year program. I'm very excited to take another step in my preparation for the Kingdom work God has me to do.

Here are a few reflections I have as I enter this new endeavor:

As oppossed to having to go to school, I get to further my studies
This a family affair, as I could not do this without the support of my wife and kids
With great knowledge comes greater responsibilty
New insights, I believe will lead to more mature ministry initiatives
If I want young Latino leaders to value and pursue education, I must model this commitment myself
I'm grateful to CCDA for helping me to make this a reality by giving me this time away

Check Out Our New Immigration Website

2006-05-23T18:55:00.000-05:00

I invite you to check out a new website I have created with Any Bales, Juan Hernandez, and a few others to help Christians become better informed on the issue of immigration reform.

www.churchandimmigration.info

Sleeping After Seattle

2006-05-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

I just picked up Rudy Carrasco from O'hare airport for our CCDA board meeting here in Chicago. He flew in from a World Vision board meeting in Seattle on a red-eye, and arrived at 5:15am (what was I thinking agreeing to pick him up?).

After picking up a latte at the new urban Starbucks here in Lawndale, we came to my house for a couple hours before our meeting...

Right now, Rudy is dead asleep on my couch!

FYI

Did We Miss the Mark at Azusa?

2006-05-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

In the same month of this past weekend's UYWI, our nation experienced the closest thing to the civil right's marches of the King era with well over a million immigrants, documented and not; Latinos and not; democrates and not...all marching in support of changing our current immigration laws.

And while this revolution-crisis is at the height of national debate, from the halls of Congress to the hallways of school campuses (it effects so many lives of Latino young people--especially in California) we missed an opportunity to engage the 1500 plus urban youth workers in the process. To inform. To connect it to Kingdom justice, which was the theme of this year's conference.

80 - 100 UYWI attendees came to an afternoon workshop on Saturday to find out more about this issue, which I am so thankful for, but we missed an opportunity to connect a national crisis to the very theme of the conference- Biblical justice.

By the time next year's UYWI comes around, only God knows where our nation will stand in regards to dealing with the 12 million undocumented immigrants that reside in our nation (6 million in California alone). Will there be millions more that take to the streets to march and demonstrate? Will there be more boycotts and walkouts and anxious moments as more walls are errected and more troops are deployed?

My gut tells me that 1400 more informed young people broken up by the love and compassion of Christ for the least of these...for of our immigrant neighbors (a good number that were attending the conference) would have made a difference for the Kingdom.

I regret I did not push harder to highlight this issue on a larger scale at UYWI; as a result I believe we missed a historic opportunity to live the Kingdom, NOW.

CCDA Emerging Leaders at UYWI

2006-05-21T13:53:00.000-05:00

30 emerging CCDA leaders met at Azusa before the UYWI conference this past week to explore how the movement of Christian Community Development, characterized by grass roots, faith-based, incarnational (living among the people we are seeking to impact), development (versus hand outs), and justice (that begins with economic justice) will flow into the future.

In the light of gentrification (Cabrini Green in Chicago is an example of what is going on all over the country- desirable land close to lakes, oceans, rivers, downtown attraction that were once home to public housing and the poor, are now being re-claimed by the 'gentry' (the landowners with capital) who now are seeking to exploit low property values and especially, close proximity to the city center.

What will CCD and 'relocation- living amongs the people look like in this reality? Not only in Chicago, but everywhere throughout our nation!

What kind of relationshops, and networks (geographical and cyber) will it take to connect CCD leaders of this generation to faithfully and effectively transform our changing cities?

Will our statagies move us into old suburbs becoming home for the displaced city poor? Will our churches in the hood become more cross-class (class will be more a more difficult gap to bridge I believe, than race and culture in many places)?

Will the Latinoizing of our nation impact our strategies, our focus on collaboration with other ethnic groups? Will we see a 'poor people's march / movement' in the next decade with Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and others taking to the streets ala the May 1st demonstrations to demand justice in an exptreme rich and an extreme poor society?

The emerging leaders of CCDA will be at the center of finding solutions to these, and other crisis' facing our nation and our church. Thanks to all the leaders who paticipated!

The Both-And Reality of Mestizaje

2006-05-20T11:38:00.000-05:00

I feel both Mexican and North American! That is my reality. Tacos. Venti latte. Menudo. ESPN. Huaraches. Puma (Italian).

The reality, my life is a clash of multiple influences and I refuse to choose just one expression to identify, express, identify, who I am. Soy pocho. Soy rico. Soy pobre. I am rich and poor at the same time! I am educated and illiterate at the same time! I am legalistic and grace motivated at the same time. I am secure and insecure at the same time.

Soy Latino ( Mexican by heritage. Infulenced by my Puerto Rican & Dominican friends, brothers and sister) I am North American (Influenced by Italian, Greek, German, Dutch, Scananavian, and other cultures that still live on in the live of brothers and sister I know).

In a sense, I'm Cuban and Columbian. I'm idigenous. I am part Native American. I am African-American...At least all of these realities are a part of me in a way that feels like I belong.

And yet, at the same time, I don't belong.

Finally, I know I am saved through Christ, and yet I am still being saved, as the Holy Spirit continues to shape my life and character into the likeness of Jesus.

My world is a both - and reality, and I would not have it any other way.

Jewish - Mexican Mestizaje

2006-05-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

One of the perks of being at the UYWI national event at Azusa this week is getting to hang out with amazing urban pioneers like John Perkins and Ray Bakke.

At breakfast this morning, I was talking to Dr. Bakke and he expressed his excitement that I was entering the Bakke Graduate University D. Min program beginning next month. He then began to share some of this church history discoveries in Mexico and Latin America.

An amazing revelation was the Jewish migration with Cortez the Spaniard, to Mexico. To complicate the Spanish/indigenous mestizaje of Mexico, is the Jewish/Spanish reality. Ray mentioned that he learned from Samuel Escobar that Mexican last names ending in 'es', 'ez' and 'za' were all names taken to identify their Jewish heritage.

Could it be that as mestizos, we need to discover their Jewish roots?

The Central Role of Faith

2006-05-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

The New American Pioneers

2006-05-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

There were thousands of American flags demonstrating immigrant's realization that while they love their country of origin, that they also love the USA, and desire an opportunity to come out of the shadows.

It is important to note that thousands of US citizens like myself came out to march and support our undocumented immigrant neighbors.

400,000 at Chicago's 'Day Without An Immigrant' March

2006-05-01T20:35:00.000-05:00

A group of young people from La Villita join Noel at today's May 1st March here in Chicago.

One of the most impacting sign's I saw was one that said, "The giant wasn't sleeping, he was working!"

Well, it seems like thousands of these hard working men and women made their way to today's rally. It was undescribable to see masses of people making the 3 mile walk from Union Park on the Westside to Grant Park downtown.

Men, women, and children draped in Mexican, American, Polish and other flags marched side by side, carrying signs and lifting their voices with chants of, Si, Se Puede (Yes, we can), and USA!

During my hours downtown, I spoke to Juan Hernandez in Dallas, Gil Contreras in Miami, Luis Villareal in Denver, Andy Bales in Los Angeles, and to others who also took to the streets.

The question is, what impact will today's march / demonstrations have on the reform process?

Finally, there we numerous Christian and church groups out marching, which was encouraging, although I did not see many Chicago pastors in the crowd.

More to come...

DREAM ACT Reintroduced in Congress

2005-11-23T09:06:00.000-06:00

Great news! On Friday, November 18th, a bipartisan group of Senators officially introduced S. 2075, the DREAM Act of 2005, giving new life to legislation that has been in a holding pattern since the beginning of the year.The sponsors of the DREAM Act of 2005 are Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).

The other original cosponsors are Norm Coleman (R-MN), Larry Craig (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), John McCain (R-AZ), and Barack Obama (D-IL).

It will become law if passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President before the end of 2006.These Senators will now be targeted for their courage by the anti-immigrant lobby and their vocal supporters. It is essential to balance the abuse with expressions of appreciation from those who care about the great young people who the DREAM Act will help.* Please act now to thank the DREAM Act sponsors.Cutting and pasting the following address into your browser will allow you to send a message of thanks to Senators Hagel and Durbin. The message will also go to your own cosponsoring Senator(s) if you live in one of their states. The address is:http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/NILC/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1551&t=DREAM blank.dwt

Important: Please forward this message to anyone you know in any of the states the cosponsoring Senators represent to make sure they hear from their constituents.

Background: If enacted, the DREAM Act would transform the lives of persons who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented children and who have stayed in school and out of trouble since their arrival. Currently these individuals have no pathway to legalize their immigration status and get on with their lives.

The DREAM Act would correct this flaw by providing that upon high school graduation, these individuals who have grown up in the United States would be able to apply for six years of conditional legal immigration status which would be made permanent if they continue on to college or to serve in the military.Among those helped would be Marie Gonzalez who grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri. A Latina Magazine Mujer of the year, she became a symbol for others like her when she was able to stave off deportation earlier this year with the help of thousands of supporters. Now she is quietly attending college, but her reprieve only lasts until July of 2006, at which time she could again face deportation if the DREAM Act is not enacted.The features of the DREAM Act of 2005 are nearly identical to the version that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last year by a 16-3 vote. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), formerly the Chair of that Committee, was then the sponsor of the DREAM Act. He has assured constituents that his failure to introduce it again this year does not mean that he is any less supportive than he was in the past.Introduction of the DREAM Act comes at a time when the broader immigration debate is becoming more and more politicized and contentious.

DREAM Act supporters argue that it deserves to be considered on its own merits, regardless of one's position on other immigration issues. It will have a far bigger impact on education, fairness to children, and American competitiveness than on immigration to this country.Supporters argue that young people facing high school graduation and major decisions about college or work should not be asked to wait until Congress resolves all of the other vexing immigration issues. Rather, Congress should act now and take these young people off of the field of battle of the immigration wars.Additional information about the DREAM Act is available here (http://nilc.org/immlawpolicy/index.htm#DREAM)

Amazing Time at CCDA 2006

2005-11-21T11:31:00.000-06:00

I wish you all could have been at our CCDA conference this past week. It was an amazing time of inspiration, instruction, and interconnection with men and women of faith who are working with the poor. There were 2000 of us...and it was amazing. Here are a few of the highlights:

Over 150 people started the conference taking a 7 hour CCDA Institute class to equip themselves for ministry back home
We got reports from our CCDA ministries in New Orleans
We had fantastic worship
Dr. Juan Hernandez challenged us to take up the cause of 13 million undocumented immigrants
Dr. Jim Wallis gave us a fresh understanding of the alter call, as a call to sign up to confront the social ills of our nation
Richard Townsell from Lawndale ministries gave a powerful admonition of how we have to deal with our poor communities
Dr. Ray Bakke gave an amazing talk called, 'The Gospel from Iran and Iraq". He proceeded to show us how Abraham, Daniel, and Jonah are Biblical figures who come to us from these present day nations
We had over 100 workshops
Over 200 people attended RELOAD, which we held in connection to our CCDA event
Kit Danley and Skip Long were elected new CCDA Board members
We had a group of Native American leaders present at CCDA and we began a fruitful process of responding to our brothers and sisters who have not been present in CCDA
We brought together 25 young leaders to express to them that CCDA needs their input, leadership, and experience

As I write this, I am listening to Dr. John Perkins' Thursday morning Bible Study. It is amazing, and I encourage you to get your copy at our CCDA website. I'll post some photos in the next few days.

Peace.

Join Me in Miami in January 2006

2005-11-12T08:49:00.000-06:00

A Large Contingency of Latino Leaders will Attend CCDA

2005-11-11T23:20:00.000-06:00

Look for a larger representation of Latinos at the 2005 CCDA conference in Indianapolis this year.