DIFFERENCES START CONVERSATIONS
With equality for all a goal, Chris Lassiter gets people talking
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about Americans who are doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com.
What does it mean to be an American?
I think the first thing I think about as an American is privileged. I’ve been to parts of the world that don’t have running water. Not only do I have running water, I control the temperature of the water. I love the melting pot aspect of America, and my neighborhood is a prime example.
As an African American, I’m well aware of the many painful chapters in America’s history, too. We appreciate what we have in America, and my friends and I work where we see areas that need justice and reconciliation.
What moment motivated you to become part of this effort?
In 2005, I got to meet the legendary John Perkins of the Christian Community Development Association in Los Angeles. His strategy of living in the neighborhood where you want to make a difference shaped the trajectory for my wife, Emily, and me. I’ve met so many people I’d consider true heroes at Urban Youth Workers Institute and the Legacy Conference in Chicago who have inspired me.
Outside of that, I’ve always just wanted to be part of the solution, and I know I got that from both my parents.
What gives you hope?
The Apostle Paul tells the church in Colossae that the meta-narrative of the Bible concludes with the creator reconciling all things. Right now our world is both beautiful and broken. The promise is that one day it will only be beautiful, and so we work toward healing the brokenness and restoring the beauty in our own small way here.
What concerns you?
It’s hard not to look at the most recent school shooting or similar events and not feel a great deal of concern for the world we are passing on to my five kids.
What do you hope to accomplish through your efforts?
I guess I hope to accomplish two things. The first is to create an environment where people can again be friends with people with opposing views, or at the very least agree to disagree as we work together to see our society flourish.
The second is to a create a template for others that is the opposite of shouting past one another on social media. It’s too easy to shout at people we don’t know well enough, but it takes time, humility, empathy and kindness to invite someone with opposing views out to lunch or into your home.