In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, asks the question — Why? — in the hopes of transforming our perspective. Most recently, he is asking, "Why poverty persists in the United States?" Please take 59 seconds to watch the video and SHARE with others.

Throughout the month of May, the 40th Anniversary of LUM Social Justice Ministry will be celebrated. In 1983, the LUM leadership began to intentionally get engaged in social justice. This decision has made a remarkable impact in advocating for our neighbors in need and lobbying for policy changes that benefit Indiana families. Here are some of the upcoming 40th Anniversary highlights:

Stay tuned as LUM invites you to celebrate and learn more about LUM social justice.

Last week, three LUM staff members attended a talk featuring Matthew Desmond, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, sociology professor at Princeton University and the principal investigator of The Eviction Lab. He spoke about his latest book, Poverty, by America. Desmond stated, "Poverty’s persistence in American life means that millions of families are denied safety and security and dignity in one of the richest nations in the history of the world. Why?” His explanation of the profit of poverty and his plea for all of us to become poverty abolitionists had an impact on the staff members. Thanks to this event and book, LUM leadership and Social Justice Team will continue this conversation, explore ways to advocate for local families — and keep asking, Why?

Last week, LUM hosted the regular meeting of the University Religious Leaders of Purdue. URL is a consortium of religious leaders who serve Purdue students in West Lafayette. After a simple lunch in the LUM Ray Ewry Center, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, gave an overview of the volunteer opportunities with Lafayette Urban Ministry — emphasizing that the students and community members who are served by their churches and temples are encouraged to get engaged. He focused on the volunteer opportunities at LUM through the Emergency Shelter, After School Program, LUM Camp, Westside Food Pantry, and Immigration Clinic. LUM has enjoyed a good partnership with the University Religious Leaders at Purdue — and this was a great opportunity to reinforce that relationship.

If you or your group wishes to volunteer with LUM, go to our website to explore and sign up online—click HERE. There are immediate LUM volunteer needs with the Emergency Shelter, After School Program, and the Food Pantries.

This year, LUM expanded the program to serve more clients with more options to sign up. The result was more tax returns were filed, more refunds claimed, and no one was turned away. Some interesting LUM statistics are as follows:

This LUM assistance program benefits our neighbors by filing their tax returns for FREE and also boosts the local economy, since it is likely that a majority of the $509,755 total refunds generated will be spent locally. LUM is proud of the Tax Assistance team this year for making it possible to expand this vital service. LUM is grateful for the volunteers and the staff members, Dan Gukien, Connie Decker & Josh Prokopy. This year's volunteers were Geneva Baker, Jan Engle, Kathy Hicks, Olena Hillberry, Ai Ai Lau, Cheryl Nettleman, Patti O'Callaghan, Rob Patrick, Ann Pellegrino, Paul Preckel, Bharathi Raghothama, Carol Robicheaux, Andrea Schmidt, Tricia Sembroski, Ron Smith, Stephanie Vanderkar, and Janet Winters. Join us in thanking these talented volunteers. {Pictured are the Wednesday shift volunteers.}

LUM Camp is July 24-28 (Monday-Friday) at Hanging Rock Camp in Warren County. LUM camp counselors and campers alike will enjoy swimming, zip-lining, wall-climbing, eating, horseback-riding and so much more.

Any questions, please email Wes Tillett, lead counselor (wtillett@LUMserve.org). LUM Camp is an absolutely amazing week. Come be part of it! Please SHARE.