Cleaning Out His Backpack
May 29, 2026
Sandwiched between Independence Day and the first bell of the new school year is an annual event that leaves JRay Stephens giddy as he scans the hundreds of colorful backpacks
Stories from the inner city
Sandwiched between Independence Day and the first bell of the new school year is an annual event that leaves JRay Stephens giddy as he scans the hundreds of colorful backpacks
JT was walking the cemetery grounds where tombstones listed the names of dozens and dozens of 19th- and 20th-century children, many younger than the high school freshman. When he and
At an age when many young men focus on college or trade schools to prepare for their life’s work, Turner majored in earning street cred, not a degree or certificate.
Sol, reeling from two recent assaults, stood on the fringes, eyeing a group of college students participating in Urban Immersion™, an annual spring break missions outreach. On this day, the
At the beginning of the new year, many of us resolve to use the word no to avoid unwanted commitments, overextending ourselves, or just protecting ourselves from uncomfortable, inconvenient situations.
D.J. sat alone as dozens of other children gathered together by age at nearby tables. It turned out that 8-year-old D.J. was the only one in his age group, and