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Rev. Dwight Ford: The Critical Role of Anti-Poverty Work in Rock Island
Reverend Dr. Dwight Ford is widely known as "The People's Pastor" — an innovative leader, author, and public theologian committed to impoverished communities and eliminating the causes of poverty.
Rev. Ford served six years in the United States Marine Corps, including tours in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he was ranked among the top ten percent of enlisted Marines. After his military service, he earned a B.A. in Business Management & Leadership from Western Illinois University, a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Leadership from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a Doctorate in Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Today, Rev. Ford serves as Chief Executive Officer of Project Now in Rock Island, IL, admnistering programs such as utility assistance, Headstart, weatherization, meals for seniors, rental assistance, and homelessness services. He is also the pastor of Grace City Church and travels the country as a preacher, public speaker, and consultant on church and community transformation. His book Never Easy, Always Necessary challenges Christians to reimagine service and justice in times of crisis.
In this episode of Rock Island Line, host Annika O'Melia sits down with Rev. Ford to explore his journey and his decades-long commitment to serving those society often overlooks. Together, they unpack the controversy around Project NOW's Lift Now Shelter, which provided emergency refuge for people experiencing homelessness this past winter but became a flashpoint for local debate. They also discuss the City of Rock Island's proposed Social Services License Ordinance, which would impose new limits and licensing requirements on agencies serving the unhoused.
What does this debate reveal about Rock Island's identity and values? How should a city with a high poverty rate balance compassion, safety, and economic development? And what role can faith and community leadership play in guiding policy?
To learn more about Project Now, head to https://www.projectnow.org/index.php
To learn more about Rock Island Line, head to www.rockislandline.com
🎵 Music Credits Intro/Outro music: "Different Times" by Jett Everill — licensed via Epidemic Sound
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By Annika O'MeliaReverend Dr. Dwight Ford is widely known as "The People's Pastor" — an innovative leader, author, and public theologian committed to impoverished communities and eliminating the causes of poverty.
Rev. Ford served six years in the United States Marine Corps, including tours in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where he was ranked among the top ten percent of enlisted Marines. After his military service, he earned a B.A. in Business Management & Leadership from Western Illinois University, a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Leadership from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a Doctorate in Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Today, Rev. Ford serves as Chief Executive Officer of Project Now in Rock Island, IL, admnistering programs such as utility assistance, Headstart, weatherization, meals for seniors, rental assistance, and homelessness services. He is also the pastor of Grace City Church and travels the country as a preacher, public speaker, and consultant on church and community transformation. His book Never Easy, Always Necessary challenges Christians to reimagine service and justice in times of crisis.
In this episode of Rock Island Line, host Annika O'Melia sits down with Rev. Ford to explore his journey and his decades-long commitment to serving those society often overlooks. Together, they unpack the controversy around Project NOW's Lift Now Shelter, which provided emergency refuge for people experiencing homelessness this past winter but became a flashpoint for local debate. They also discuss the City of Rock Island's proposed Social Services License Ordinance, which would impose new limits and licensing requirements on agencies serving the unhoused.
What does this debate reveal about Rock Island's identity and values? How should a city with a high poverty rate balance compassion, safety, and economic development? And what role can faith and community leadership play in guiding policy?
To learn more about Project Now, head to https://www.projectnow.org/index.php
To learn more about Rock Island Line, head to www.rockislandline.com
🎵 Music Credits Intro/Outro music: "Different Times" by Jett Everill — licensed via Epidemic Sound