A church of a different sort, leading reflections on poverty and faith in Louisville's Portland Neighborhood

Imagine a place where people-of-faith and people-of-no-particular-faith-at-all work together to renew a community; where teachers are learners and learners are teachers; where people with little in common have radical conversations over coffee; where we challenge the systems and change the world. An urban village, where strangers are welcomed and anything is possible. It is Church for a new day, a new world...

Meet our Board of Trustees                        or click here to meet the staff.

	Cliff Ashburner, partner with the law firm of Bardenwerper, Talbott and Roberts. He finds justice in the absence of prejudice, which is a really great, elusive goal. He enjoys outdoor stuff -- sailing, hiking, running. Cliff is a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and lives with his wife, Sarah Stewart, and is proud papa to daughter, Anne, and infant twins Kate and Hobs, who, we are happy to report, are sleeping through the night!
	Khalilah V. Collins is Executive Director of Women In Transition, an organization of and for women personally acquainted with poverty. She says she came to know poverty up close after getting out of the military, and has since fought the economic injustices faced by so many people in our country.  "When I was invited to join Urban Spirit, I could not do anything but accept.  I truly believe in what they are doing and I want to be a part of it."
	Michael DaRif, principal with Mercer Human Resource Consulting Inc, is a member of Christ Church Cathedral, whom others would describe as socially-conscious and dependable. "Justice," he says, "means giving everyone in this country a fair chance." Individuals must act to effect change, else we're stuck with the system we have. Mike is married to Rebecca Norris; they live with a cat. They also are regulars at the local trivia games.
	Lisa Howlett, president of Auburn Leather Company, in Auburn, KY and member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bowling Green, participated in the Poverty Immersion Week in 2007. She says she became very aware of the inequality between our nation's classes. Feeling among the "privileged," Lisa made a commitment to work for change within her own business and community. "Everyone should afford a cup of coffee!" A story goes with that, apparently, but after enduring simulated poverty for a week, she said she will always remember the significance of a simple cup of coffee.
	Dr. Nancy Kern, is a family nurse practitioner with the Family Health Center of Clark County, IN, which serves uninsured folks. A member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Bradford, IN, she uses words like "fair" and "respect" in describing a just world. She lives with Paul, her husband, Captain the Cat, a slew of livestock including Felix, who has been known to frequent the Kentucky state fair. Her down-time involves the 3 "R"s: Red Cross, Rug-hooking, Rodeos. She is fairly demanding, and will no doubt bring a renewed urgency to our work.
	Rev. Benedict "Deke" Rigor is pastor of Shepherdsville Christian Church, near Louisville. He is married to Maria and they have four children: Travis, Shane, Trenton, and Jasmine. His family centers his life, and with them he spends most of his “off” time: walking the golf course, watching a movie, playing card games, or having dinner together. "To me, justice is something that we must continuously do. It is working toward a society where each individual is recognized and treated as equally valuable."
	John Werst is our longest-serving board member. CEO of Plumbers Supply Co in Louisville, he is a wonderful "go to" guy for building issues. And we have a few building issues! John is a fairly quiet guy, but his love of justice speaks boldly of the kind of person he is. We're pleased to have him as a great supporter of this work.