Episode #31 Featuring Terence Lester
SPEAKER, ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, AND THOUGHT LEADER IN THE REALM OF SYSTEMIC POVERTY. Find him online @imTerenceLester (Twitter) and https://linktr.ee/imterencelester.
He’s known for nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to issues surrounding homelessness, poverty, and economic inequality. His awareness campaigns have been featured on MLK50, CNN, Good Morning America, TVONE, Creative Mornings, USA Today, NBC, AJC, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Upworthy, and have been viewed by millions of people worldwide.
In 2013, Terence founded the non-profit Love Beyond Walls and has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty rebuild their lives. In 2019, Terence launched the first museum in the U.S. representing homelessness out of a shipping container called Dignity Museum.
Terence has written six books, and his new book, When We Stand: The Power Of Seeking Justice Together, was released May 18, 2021. We also talk about his other book with IVP, “I See You. How love opens our eyes to invisible people.” He holds four degrees and is working towards his Ph.D. at Union Institute & University in Public Policy & Social Change.
Show Notes
- Intro
- A bit on PhD and public policy
- Challenging narratives on the poor
- Forms of narrative justice (8 mins)
- Hidden power dynamics in public policy making (10 mins)
- Anti-racist public policy making (12 mins); public policy in justice making
- Is public policy a tool unto liberation? (16 mins)
- How to upend power systems (18 mins)
- Motivations for change: life or death (21 mins)
- On insurrections
- Where’s the church in all of this? (23 mins)
- More about Terence, his books, and his work with LoveBeyondWalls (28 mins)
- Hostile architecture (33 mins)
- Ways to stand in solidarity with the community and those without an address (39 mins)
- Intro and Outro courtesy of Jon Corbin. Interlude courtesy of Dru Bex.

Faith in a Fresh Vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram