The Pope’s Take on Stolen Peoples’ Equity

Pope Francis' Message To America

-- "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."  MLK Jr.

By Stephanie A. Stradford and Eric Stradford, USMC Retired

AMWS, September 23, 2015, Washington, DC – #GodBlessAmerica.   Even if you never got a touch or a kiss, the message from the 266^th Pope of the Catholic Church rang out as one of inclusion. One needed not be a Catholic to feel valued.

Pope Francis’ message to America echoed one preached a half century ago by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.    The first pope born in the America’s stood beside the first Black President of the United States to symbolically acknowledge a lineage of dirty little secrets and prayerfully invoke God’s divine blessing on America’s future.

#GodBlessAmerica.  

Almost every U.S. President, regardless of faith, acknowledges a power greater than himself as the political leader of the greatest nation on earth. 

Congress got an earful today, and will likely feel the full court press as the Bishop of Rome holds church in the hallowed halls of One Nation Under God.  The national motto and the imprint “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency will likely serve as an enduring reminder of the Pope’s first visit to the United States of America.

If full faith and credit can serve as a tangible measure, Washington’s effort to balance the nation’s checkbook might very well be a good first step toward forming “a more perfect union.”  The $18 trillion national debt is perhaps the best place to start.  The figure includes your overwhelming college debt, upside down mortgage, low-paying job and inability for 52% of all Americans to rise above a zero net worth.  On an average, each American owes a little over $57,000.   In theory, folks who make $60,000 or more should be in the black.  By faith, many disadvantaged Americans could be debt-free over the next seven years.

But for children of historically disadvantaged America, getting in the Black calls for intentional, prosocial, reinvestment of “Other People’s Money” (O.P.M.).   Who really needs help? How should haves and have nots share the responsibility for economic inclusion?  Who is ready, willing and able to model new strategies for inclusion?

Since 1996, Youth Achievers USA Institute has qualified economic beneficiaries through a circular capacity building program known as THE ANNUAL YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS.

Beginning in 2016, the national 501c3 public charity will engage existing beneficiaries and qualifying candidates in adding value to vision through intentional, prosocial economic opportunities.   The NATIONAL LEARN-2-EARN partnership identifies diverse public charity programs through which YouthUSA beneficiaries demonstrate economic leadership.

A series of blog articles and YouTube videos, produced in cooperation with THE AMERICAN MENTOR WIRE SERVICE of YouthUSA, offer greater insight on the American economy from a “winner’s” point of view.

A “winner,” for the purpose of a program definition, is any American citizen age 7-24 who commits to becoming a community asset where he or she lives, learns, works or worships. A winner who completes requirements of THE ANNUAL YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS capacity building program qualifies an economic beneficiary (Youth Achiever) with all rights and responsibilities.   In 2016, YouthUSA will host a national gathering inviting beneficiaries and caring adult supporters to its 20-year “I’m A Winner Dinner” and gala.  

The gala launches a 10-year economic security demonstration aimed at increasing economic value in children from low income families.  The late Evelyn Walker Armstrong, an advocate for disadvantaged youth, endowed the process with $100,000 to fund The J.D. and Laurena Walker Fund, a development program of YouthUSA.  Elected board members and any caring adult supporter can gain greater understanding of “O.P.M.” through their participation in on-line Task Force discussions.  A $12 monthly subscription to THE CONFERENCE CENTER ensures individual access to proprietary discussions.