Community Corner

Empowerment Sunday: Bed-Stuy Clergy to Preach Message of Fiscal Responsibility

This Sunday is the second-annual "Empowerment Sunday" across Bedford-Stuyvesant

This Sunday, religious institutions across Bed-Stuy will be doing things a little bit different: They will be praising His holy name while raising people out of debt; they will be lifting up His spirit while also lessening people’s financial burdens.

The movement is called “Empowerment Sunday.” It is a day in which 50 participating churches in Bed-Stuy will devote their services to financial empowerment. Clergy across the neighborhood, preachers, reverends and pastors will include in their sermons a message of fiscal responsibility.

The event is put together by – which comprises 25 local nonprofits working together to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood – in collaboration with Bridge Street Development Corporation.

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For many residents in working-class neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy, their biggest asset is their home.

The most recent mortgage crisis resulting from widespread predatory lending practices and loan modification scams had a devastating effect on the neighborhood. The result: Bed-Stuy has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

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“Debt is something a lot of people are hesitant to talk about or seek help for,” said Rhonda Lewis, executive director of Bridge Street Development Corporation, which is also a faith-based organization.

“But people do feel like they can talk to their pastors. So we thought, let’s create a trusted way to get the clergy involved and for the community to protect their assets.”

This year is the second year that CIBS and Bridge Street have held Empowerment Sunday. Last year, the coalition educated more than 1000 parishioners through Empowerment Sunday. The effort brought about 100 people into the network’s financial counseling sites.

Sometimes people just don’t know what’s the first step, so a lot of times, they may not take any steps at all, said Lewis. Through Empowerment Sunday, church members sign a pledge card to improve their fiscal health. They then are encouraged to make an appointment with a counselor for a one-on-one session.

“The counselors do their best to figure out how you can stay in your home, but also they help you decide whether you’re in the right mortgage,” said Lewis.

“We work with you, we advocate with the bank for you, we become your voice to figure out how you can salvage you assets, if at all possible, whether it be one-on-one counseling, calling your bank, getting a modification.”

“Sometimes the individual may have to sell their property. I know it’s emotional and very hard to come to terms with; it’s hard to digest. But we help them understand that, ‘This is what I need to do to make myself more financially healthy.’”

This year’s Empowerment Sunday is more critical than ever, as state budget cuts have threatened to discontinue foreclosure funding into 2012. This means foreclosure programs throughout the state will be closed and homeowners will be left to fend for themselves when speaking to banks.

“Our whole goal in repeating this effort is to not only keep our following, but also get new congregations involved,” said Lewis. “The more people to help us get the word out about financial empowerment and take advantage of the services available to them [in the neighborhood], the better.” 


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