Are You a Poverty Abolitionist?

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I have spent my life dedicated to ending poverty, and during my lifetime we have made great strides in that effort.

The fraction of the world’s population in extreme poverty dropped from about four in ten in 1990 to one in ten in 2024. The fraction of Americans below the US Census Bureau’s best measure of poverty dropped from three in ten in 1967 to about one in ten in 2024.

These numbers reflect what can happen when governments make good decisions, leaders stay focused, and people organize to push for change.

But that progress has stopped. This is partly because of the Trump administration. In Poverty Abolitionists, I write about ten effective ways we can push back against MAGA and get progress against poverty going again.

I hope you will pre-order the book and join me in this effort. And I’m hoping you or your organization will amplify my promo video (shown above) on social media so that this important message—ending poverty is possible—reaches more people. My hope is that the book’s message will inspire more people to take action and get progress going again. But first they need to hear about it.

You can either share the video I have already posted on my Facebook, LinkedIn, or Bluesky. Or download the video, with captions, on Dropbox.

Good Friday Reflection

“Is not this the fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke? To let the oppressed go free and break all yokes? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor?” Isaiah 58:6-7

My calling in life has been to help people of faith and conscience in our democracy push for changes in government policy that are important to people in poverty. So I’m keenly aware that the repentance of Lent has a political dimension - letting the oppressed go free and feeding the hungry.

In recent decades, we have witnessed great progress against poverty, so we know that we can make further progress. But we are currently headed in a different direction, that includes harsh policies toward people in need in America and worldwide.  

Jesus’ journey toward the cross began when he “set his face for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:16) where he would confront and be executed by the religious and political rulers of Judea. They served Caesar, while Jesus offered a reign of love and justice.  

The forgiving love of God invites us to turn away from our shortcomings and live in the Spirit. Through advocacy, demonstrations, and active participation in elections we can also pull our nation into better alignment with God’s coming kingdom.  

So, we pray: Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

How Nonprofit Leaders Can Help Reduce Poverty

Dr. Rob Harter and David Beckmann (screenshot)

I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Dr. Rob Harter on the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast about how we can reclaim progress against poverty, and especially the role nonprofit leaders can play.

In our conversation, I argue that nonprofit leaders with a vision bigger than their organization can help change the policies that contribute to poverty. When they speak to members of Congress about what they see in their communities, it matters. And when they connect with other leaders, they begin to see how their missions are linked. For example, reducing the impacts of climate change can also reduce poverty.

In my forthcoming book, Poverty Abolitionists, I write about this kind of collaboration. Efforts to reduce war, poverty, environmental destruction, and spiritual problems all help to heal the brokenness of our world. 

I hope you’ll listen to the full conversation. We cover advocacy, charity, elections, and more—issues that matter if we want to get progress against poverty moving again.

I was also grateful that Rob asked about presales of the book (see the clip below). Early orders matter more than most people realize. When a book is preordered, it signals to publishers and retailers that people are paying attention. Those early sales are often counted together in the first week after release, which can help a book reach more readers. It also makes it more likely that booksellers will feature the book, recommend it, and keep it in stock.

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Preorder Poverty Abolitionists: Faith, Activism, and Hope for Difficult Times on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite online bookseller. Sign up for the newsletter here.