A farewell to a North Texas hero: Poverty-fighter Larry James leaves Dallas’ CitySquare

That’s the stuff he wants us stirred up about — not wasting time making a fuss over his retirement.

“We need to engage, especially as people who look like me, in transformation in the community under the direction of people of color,” he said. Faith was in the answer to questions such as how he would want to be treated if he were homeless or if he were a marginalized minority mom who happened to be single.

In April 2010, singer Jon Bon Jovi visited what was then still Central Dallas Ministries to hear from the staff, including Larry James, right rear, about its housing efforts. Sensing that Central Dallas Ministries was more in line with his core, James took the plunge with little illusion of success. He laughed as he recalled, “Then I got down here and realized how stupid I really was.”

“Larry is the good neighbor, the one who has the eyes to see the pain of others,” John Siburt, CitySquare’s president and CEO, told me. “And when he sees it, he stops and he listens and he helps.”Reminisce with James and he’s more likely to tell you about all the mistakes he’s made — and all the times his longtime CitySquare colleague, Gerald Britt, had to school him on things.

James said that was the beginning of his doing just that. He’s been the one who always asks the tough questions. The one who doesn’t let folks off the hook. The one who challenges the safe status quo.and is now part of the Dallas Leadership Foundation team, told me that Dallas likely will never fully appreciate that James’ efforts changed and saved the lives of so many.

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

These North Texas cities have new mayors after the May 7 electionNorth Texas voters headed to the polls across five counties to elected mayors in several cities; some picked new leaders, while others voted to keep their...
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »

North Texas gas prices hitting near record highs at $4.01 a gallonDFW drivers are paying an average of $4 a gallon for regular unleaded. That is well above one month ago and a few cents shy of the record set in March shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. North Texans are still paying less than the national average, which is back at its record high of $4.33 a gallon. This misleading thumbnail is proof that yoga pants = $ They even make $4 gas look good I see 4.19 gas everywhere here in Fort Worth $4.25 here in the Grove
Source: FOX4 - 🏆 289. / 63 Read more »

North Texas election results: City Council, mayorCumulative vote totals for May 2022 local City Council and mayoral elections in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties.
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »

Dallas unveils new proposed rules for people who plan to promote, profit from large eventsDallas police and city officials on Monday proposed new requirements for people who plan to promote and make a profit from large unpermitted events in an...
Source: dallasnews - 🏆 18. / 71 Read more »

Dallas Stars look to take the lead over Calgary Flames in Game 5The Dallas Stars hope to outshine the Calgary Flames Wednesday night in Game 5 of the NHL playoff series. The series is now tied 2-2.
Source: FOX4 - 🏆 289. / 63 Read more »

I-Team Exclusive: Dallas sons reveal what lead to arrest in murder of their fatherIn the group setting, they all agree that no one had given up hope. And they all believe the man recently arrested is '100%' the killer.
Source: CBS DFW - 🏆 542. / 51 Read more »