My Visual Journal

The iPhoneography of Joseph Cortese

The Don

Creativity

Or maybe she's just checking emails...

Patience

This mini backhoe waits patiently for Bronxville to wake up so he can get to work on the greens. Starting one minute earlier than the township allows is to be given the death penalty. It is very difficult for these people to enter the kingdom of heaven. I expect this golf course, walking distance from my home, to be the subject of many A.M. photos. It's beautiful. But don't get it twisted. I'm a Bronx boy livin' in Mount Vernon because God gave me a home here. Next stop? SoBro!

God's A.M. Surprise #2

There's a little story behind this one. I've been coveting @manderg's iPhoneography that she passes through PSMobile to get that art look. But I wanted to do it without the app. Not that I don't like post apps. I love them. I have about 48 of them on my iPhone. But I needed fog or morning dew to get the paint brush effect. God heard my prayer. So he gave mist. There's the brush I needed. Take that @manderg! I'm still a copy cat.

God's A.M. Surprises

We had no light cream this morning to go with our coffee. In my house that's like having no oxygen. So I left the house at 6 a.m. to get some. Grocery stores don't open up till 7:30. So I'm driving around trying to find an open bodega. No such luck in Westchester. Grrr (This is why I want to move back to the Bronx). So I make a wrong turn and end up facing this tree. If the store was open, I don't see this sight to behold. Thank you Lord for my steps (and driving) are ordered by you.

Perspective

Mount Vernon trees come down. Look for Mel.

Sent from my iPhone

Ghetto Coat Check

Sent from my iPhone

"Introducing...Gente Latina". A Must Read!

Over the past year, I've had the pleasure of getting to know a great group of teens that gather in Lehman High School as the Gente Latina Club. I first experienced them in concert at their annual Poetry Slam at Harvest Field Community Church. It was incredible as they placed their hearts to pen and paper, communicating who they are and the rich culture that has shaped their person. Here's their mission and purpose: 

"Our goal is to celebrate and share our rich cultural heritage within the school and community. We strive to create a positive environment where students can speak freely about issues that concern them thereby providing assistance and encouragement in their academic and social lives. We further seek to empower, validate and include Latino/a students within the greater student body and community while sharing their valuable cultural heritage to promote understanding and acceptance."

And then I was invited to a Career Day during one of their weekly meetings to share with them what it's like being clergy in an inner city church. This was just another opportunity for me to get close and see the great thing that's happening there under the direction of Jason Mulero. They have their own government and are developing their leadership skills, among many other things. The best part is that they get an opportunity to leave the city and retreat, taking their weekly gathering to the next level:

Mulero says "the Gente Latina Leadership Retreat became an integral part of the club’s experience after our first successful retreat last year.  The primary goal of the retreat is to strengthen the group dynamic and to provide the students with opportunities to build a firm foundation for success through guest speakers and selected workshops.  We work closely with students to increase their leadership and teamwork skills.  The retreat experience is intended to help them as a learning team. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to advance the club’s original vision and mission to create a positive environment in which students can speak freely about issues that concern them."

Would you join me in supporting this retreat through sponsorship of any kind? The value of this experience is immeasurable and the fruit of last year's retreat still speaks into their eThos. The supporting cast of Gente Latina are dear friends of mine so I am fully aware of the kind of care and attention these students are getting while away. The recent recession combined with an almost zero budget allocation for these kind of opportunities are having a negative impact on this event. But with your help and mine, they can overcome this. 

I am very familiar with the impact of taking inner city students away for retreats. I personally was responsible for taking 200+ youth to the Poconos for retreat for 15 years and the rewards continue to speak to us in numerous ways. They need our help and they need it now. Again, support of any amount is greatly appreciated. You can direct all contributions to:

Jason Mulero
1790 Bruckner Boulevard #3G
Bronx, NY 10473
917-523-2097

Let's do this!

Sincerely,
Rev. Joseph Henry Cortese

Greenspan

Sent from my iPhone