Thank You for Showing Up
We’re Getting Close
I just want to say thank you—from the bottom of my heart.
Twenty of the forty items on our wishlist to fill our second Zion’s Closet at Liberty Point Elementary School have already been purchased by so many of you.
Your generosity brought me close to tears—not because of the number of items, but because of what it means.
This gives me so much hope in the times we’re living in—because as many of you know, it’s been a hard week for education.1 Many of the students who are unhoused or living with limited resources will be impacted by your generosity in real time.
Over the summer, while children attended summer school, we’ve been working with volunteers to prepare this space for next month (Back-to-School).
Volunteers have been painting walls, building shelving, and helping turn that empty room into a welcoming resource center. And this isn’t just for the first week of school—Zion’s Closet will be an ongoing support hub for students and families throughout the year.
It seems like just a few weeks ago I sat inside a bare room with Principal Lewis and a few people from our team, looking at a classroom that had been given to us to transform. The walls were unpainted, shelves not yet built, but the vision to serve was already alive.
Now, more than ever, I believe this work is urgent.
With the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold mass layoffs at the Department of Education, students across the country could face serious consequences. Here are two critical ways this will have an impact:
Federal programs like Title I—designed to support low-income students—and IDEA, which funds services for students with disabilities, are at risk of being defunded or severely reduced.
These cuts could eliminate nearly $33 billion in essential educational funding, threatening millions of students’ access to learning support and widening existing gaps.2
Even with this news, we still imagined what it would feel like for a child to step inside that space—a student returning to school who might not have what they need, or a parent searching for support—yet finding a room that quietly says:
You belong. You matter. You’re not alone.
Here’s a short video of Principal Lewis explaining the need when we first sat down together—and the challenges she witnesses every single day:
That’s why Zion’s Closet matters.
We’re in the final stretch of retrofitting the space, and as we prepare to launch next month, we’re excited to open one more space that brings hope in a time when it’s needed most.
I wrote this short poem to reflect the hope we’re living out in this moment. It’s called “We Did Something.”
We Did Something
When the doors closed, we picked up paintbrushes and did something.
When the funding was cut, we built shelves and did something.
When parents and students needed support, we did something.
When policies changed, we leaned in with heart and did something.
Because we know—where there’s love, there’s always room when we do something.
And where there’s room, there’s always hope.
If you’d still like to help, volunteer, or spread the word—we’d be honored.
Thank you!
If you’re looking for a way to get involved:
Donate to Zion’s Closet by visiting our wish list. Every item goes straight to students and helps us serve hundreds of children in a single school.
Volunteer by signing up to serve with Love Beyond Walls if you are in Atlanta for July 25th.
Sign up to be one of the 100 early readers of the book, From Dropout to Doctorate—only 19 spots remain to receive a first copy and help spread the word.
Preorder the book and share it with someone who cares about students.
And if nothing else—send prayers and positivity as we continue to do this work.
Book Dr. Lester to Speak [HERE]
Listen to the Imgaine Dignity Podcast [HERE]
Explore my co-authored children’s book, Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness—a story that helps children understand the power of service, empathy, and making a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
If you want to explore homelessness in the U.S., please consider reading “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People.”
Explore my book “When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together” to learn about the impact of community involvement and collective action on social change.
Discover “All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity to gain insight into the significance of understanding the historical narratives that shape people and how you might stand in solidarity with your neighbor.
Or, subscribe to the Love Beyond Walls Newsletter—by visiting the site and signing up.
The Supreme Court has ruled to allow mass firings at the Department of Education to continue.
“How Trump Plans to Dismantle the Department of Education,” Time, July 10, 2024. https://time.com/7302319/trump-dismantles-department-of-education/.
Preordered your book. I am looking forward to reading it.