This video features a rich conversation between Matthew Desmond, author of Poverty, by America, and David Brooks, a columnist and founder of the Weave project. They discuss how faith, poverty, and community engagement intersect, weaving together personal stories, structural critiques, and hopeful visions for change.

Desmond explains that his upbringing in a faith-filled but impoverished home shaped his moral view of poverty as injustice. He recounts losing his family’s home and wrestling with the deeper systemic reasons behind economic hardship. His faith informs his belief that Christians are called to care for the poor—not only as an act of charity but as a form of justice. He emphasizes that poverty is not merely about lack of income—it’s a compound crisis involving eviction, debt, food insecurity, and lack of healthcare. Desmond critiques systems that exploit the poor in housing, labor, and finance, arguing that many Americans unknowingly benefit from this exploitation. He calls for rebalancing government benefits, expanding opportunity, and breaking down residential segregation.

Brooks, who came to Christianity later in life, reflects on how Jewish and Christian traditions differ in framing human agency. Judaism emphasizes co-creation with God and justice as a lifelong pursuit. As someone raised in an intellectual home, Brooks describes how faith and community brought emotional and spiritual growth later in life. He identifies a broader spiritual poverty in America—marked by loneliness, distrust, and moral disconnection—which affects both the rich and the poor.

The conversation explores how community-level solutions can address both material and spiritual needs. Brooks shares how the Weave initiative focuses on restoring trust through local relationships. He describes programs like Thread in Baltimore and others in Canada and the UK that center on embedded support systems rather than distant bureaucracies. He argues that real change starts in neighborhoods, where people support one another through trust and proximity.

Both Desmond and Brooks agree that focusing solely on individual choices or only on systemic issues can miss the point. These explanations often absolve us from responsibility. Instead, they suggest that all of us are implicated in systems of inequality—whether through tax breaks, housing markets, or education systems that privilege the wealthy. Desmond urges people, especially those of faith, to recognize how their daily choices—from voting and spending to housing policies—contribute to inequality and to intentionally divest from systems that harm others.

They also discuss the connection between material and spiritual poverty. Desmond warns that profiting from systems that exploit others can spiritually erode one’s humanity. Brooks highlights how many affluent Americans are deeply lonely and emotionally isolated. Despite their comfort, they lack the community bonds often found in lower-income neighborhoods, where mutual care remains more common. Both see this disconnection as a significant moral issue.

In terms of action, Desmond advocates for what he calls poverty abolitionism. This includes:

• Refusing unnecessary tax deductions
• Challenging exclusionary zoning laws
• Supporting local anti-poverty organizations
• Thinking more ethically about consumer and financial choices

Brooks emphasizes the value of supporting local community leaders and building neighborhood networks that foster resilience and mutual care.

The conversation closes with a shared conviction: that faith can inspire hope and action. Whether through systemic advocacy or neighborhood solidarity, people of faith are called to live out values of justice, compassion, and community. Both speakers highlight that while big change may feel daunting, small actions—especially at the local level—can meaningfully transform lives and communities.