Cliff Barber on “spiritual poverty” and the power of faith

The Invisible Men

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Cliff Barber — Chief Strategy Officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a former investment fund manager. Combining knowledge from his impressive corporate background and extensive experience in ministry, Cliff discusses the centrality of faith in shaping his upbringing, and he shares his passion for addressing “spiritual poverty” in vulnerable communities. Cliff’s upbringing in a deeply faithful family and his experience in prison ministry cause him to reflect on how black Americans for generations have leaned on faith to knock through the barriers standing in front of them. Cliff believes this history informs the great potential for faith to be the nexus of revitalization in black communities around the country today.

Later, Cliff shares one pivotal moment in his life: Stepping away from his home in the south side of Chicago to attend a science fair downstate where he was inspired by many high achieving students. This set him down a path of constant self-improvement and dedication. Watch the full episode to discover the advice Cliff has for “Darryl” in 2020.

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