Curt Williams
Founder & Executive Director
Since the first week of the stay-at-home order, we have been coming together on Sundays for a time of worship as a community here at Youth-Reach Houston. If the weather is nice, we assemble at the pavilion by the pond, if it is raining, we come together at a staff home on campus. Even though we all miss our church services, this has been a breath of fresh air for us all. It is not as structured, the kids are fidgety, there are occasional distractions, and there may be a dog or two in attendance.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting back and observing the whole array of humanity that calls Youth-Reach home, and I was struck by not only our diversity, but by the unity that we enjoy.
When we come together as we have been doing, there are almost 40 people in attendance including the staff, spouses, staff children and the resident boys of Youth-Reach. We come from all over the country, with a couple having been born in other countries. We come from many different religious or doctrinal backgrounds. We have Black, Caucasian, Asian and Hispanics in our family here. Our staff couples have produced an abundance of beautiful mixed-race children that play barefooted and with carefree abandon all over the campus. We have ages that range from single digits to well into the sixties, so there’s everything from grey hair to toddlers in our midst.
We also have diversity of experience. Few of us can relate to Selene’s experience of being born in El Salvador or Eva’s childhood in Mexico. Troy’s early years were marked by tragedy, while Jarod’s experience was far different. Jimmy lost both parents early, while my 89-year old father is still with us. Xavier grew up a black kid in the area of Texas that gave birth to the Klan; I grew up in south Alabama during the race tensions of the 60’s. Together, he and I hold two valuable perspectives and can gain much from one another. Lauren and Selene, with two vastly different backgrounds, are not just neighbors but they are dear friends sharing life together. Their children run around in both homes without a care in the world.
In the ranks of our residents we have boys who have been adopted, indulged, neglected, spoiled, and abused. They are white, black, Hispanic and eastern European. Yet they are all in the same location receiving the same life-tools from the same group of diverse alpha male staff members. In our diversity we hold value, and this is a value that we exploit positively every day. When a new boy enters Youth-Reach, he can look around and see someone who looks like him.
We are not colorblind. We do not treat race, background or even our traumas as if they are a taboo subject best left alone. We celebrate our differences, utilize each unique life experience, laugh off the ridiculous stereotypes, and find deep friendships with those whom we cannot share a memory, but we can share our lives. We live in a time when many seek points of conflict, quickly dispatch those who do not agree with them, and huddle with only their kind. We have been led by God to join as people who genuinely fit, and as related children of a Father who has knit us together.
I cannot help but suppose that the success we see in the boys who come here to live is partly a result of their observance of such a strange and unlikely assemblage of humans who find such joy in one another’s presence. This unity is not by accident but has been intently and purposely pursued. We are determined to love one another, share burdens together and resolve conflicts quickly, and this has brought the fruit of peace.
All of this would be impossible, especially in this complex season, if not for your financial support that keeps us open and available for the next troubled kid who will benefit from being adopted into such a community. Thank you for your faithful giving to Youth-Reach!
