The Purpose Gap: Empowering Communities of Color to Find Meaning and Thrive

by Patrick B. Reyes

In The Purpose Gap, Patrick Reyes reflects on a family member's death after a long struggle with incarceration and homelessness. As he asks himself why his cousin's life had turned out so differently from his own, he realizes that it was a matter of conditions. While they both grew up in the same marginalized Chicano community in California, Patrick found himself surrounded by a host of family, friends, and supporters. They created a different narrative for him than the one the rest of the world had succeeded in imposing on his cousin. In short, they created the conditions in which Patrick could not only survive but thrive.

Far too much of the literature on leadership tells the story of heroic individuals creating their success by their own efforts. Such stories fail to recognize the structural obstacles to thriving faced by those in marginalized communities. If young people in these communities are to grow up to lives of purpose, others must help create the conditions to make that happen. Pastors, organizational leaders, educators, family, and friends must all perceive their calling to create new stories and new conditions of thriving for those most marginalized. This book offers both inspiration and practical guidance for how to do that. It offers advice on creating safe space for failure, nurturing networks that support young people of color, and professional guidance for how to implement these strategies in one's congregation, school, or community organization.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Leadership

256 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Dr. Patrick B. Reyes is the author of The Purpose Gap: Empowering Communities of Color to Find Meaning and Thrive, and of the award-winning book Nobody Cries When We Die: God, Community, and Surviving to Adulthood. A Chicano educator, administrator, and institutional strategist, he currently serves as Senior Director of Learning Design at the Forum for Theological Exploration, where his portfolio includes oversight of organizational thought leadership, resource development, and annual grant funding. He is president-elect of the Religious Education Association and serves on several boards in higher education, elementary education, and the non-profit sector supporting the next generation of leaders and educators of color. You can learn more about Patrick at patrickbreyes.com.

Patrick holds a Doctorate and Master of Arts from Claremont School of Theology, a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, and is proud to be a graduate of the California State education system, California State University at Sacramento (Sac State).

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not written for me, but I am grateful for the opportunity to "read over the shoulder" of those for whom it was meant. Reyes has written an insightful and inspiring work that I will return to many times as I think about how I might help to close the purpose gap for my students.

[Yvonne V (Naughty Professora) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A book that not only describes how finding purpose in one's life isn't about self development, but the development of an entire community. Using a mix of theoretical, spiritual, and real world experiences, Reyes seeks to provide the reader with the contrast between purpose, success, and meaning through the collective lens of our communities, and the individualistic definition pushed in modern society.

Much like Baxter Magolda's self authorship, Reyes reframes purpose through cultural capital, redefining power, and the collective support for a community. The fallacy of the "pull yourself up by the bootstrap" narrative is challenged and recognizes that individual success is determined by support through systemic economic, educational, and spiritual systems, and what may be perceived as failure to thrive is not due to individual choice, but through systemic barriers.

I found myself highlighting quotes and passages, and find the reflection questions thoughtful and informative. I cannot wait to integrate this book into my college success class!

[Allison Arsenault · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author writes with an intensity and urgency reflective of the subject. This book not only opened my imagination to the possibilities of building a world in which every young person of color has the opportunity to thrive and realize their purpose, but also provided key practices and tools for engaging communities to work for change. I’d recommend this book to any educator or religious leader who cares about building up future generations.

[Dr. Angelique Carney Howse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for those going into design thinking research. This book puts into perspective the issues affecting persons of color and the barriers to effective research intervention strategies.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is my purpose? What does it take to discern one's purpose? Is there a gap between opportunity and purpose that is often difficult to bridge? Many of us will struggle to discern our purpose, but it may be more difficult for some than for others. That is simply because there are fewer opportunities to discover one's purpose. This is especially true for persons of color who face more barriers than others like me. Identifying those barriers, some of which are internalized, and providing a pathway to discovering one's purpose so that one might thrive is the focus of this book.

The author of the book, Patrick Reyes, is the Senior Director of Learning Design at the Forum for Theological Exploration, an organization that supports persons of color move through Ph.D. programs in theology (and related disciplines. Part of the book is autobiographical because he has lived this as he moved from growing up in Salinas, where working in the fields was the primary vocation for Latinx persons in the area, to the reception of a Ph.D. in theology.

The book is composed of three parts. Part 1 is titled "Why the Purpose Gap?" The four chapters in this opening section address the causes of the purpose gap in the context of a white world and laying out a starting point for moving toward vocational choices that lead to thriving. These chapters are difficult to read since Reyes pulls no punches. The larger white-dominated world does not encourage persons of color, especially those from economically insecure contexts to dream. One of the challenges that is addressed concerns the paucity of Latinx folks in academia, both as professors and as students. Thus, if you make it into the educational system you may be alone. Thus, the need to create communities of support so that one can discern one's purpose.

If Part 1 speaks to the causes of the purpose gap, the three chapters in Part 2 address the question of how the purpose gap is closed. Here the focus is on creating community. He addresses the tendency of educational systems to pull out the stars from their communities, which often does little for the community left behind. It is also not healthy for the one pulled out. So, he speaks of the need to build constellations/communities. That is, the need to create networks, like the Forum for Theological Exploration. The how question must be addressed in the context of community rather than on individualism. One of the challenges faced in this movement to filling the purpose gap is home, the places that form us. So, the question here is what is home? What happens when we find ourselves displaced and dispossessed? What must be unlearned if one is to succeed?

Having invited the reader to contemplate on the how of filling the purpose gap, he takes up in the third and final section the question of What is My Purpose? The first chapter in the section is a transitional one as it continues to focus on the how of filling the purpose gap. He uses the story of the four men who carry the paralytic to Jesus. Drawing from the story he titles the chapter "Carry Your Corner." According to Reyes, the purpose of the chapter is to explore "the importance of all the gifts of the community coming together to move individuals and the community toward healing, justice, and accomplishing the impossible." (p. 143). Again he focuses on the importance of community, of working together, to discern one's purpose. This includes the persons who have guided us and helped us along the way. With the how addressed, in the final chapter, he invites the reader to consider what thriving looks like. For Reyes, "thriving is the feeling you have when you see the next generation running, playing, and laughing without care. . . . Thriving, for those on the brink of survival, is celebrating those moments when love overcomes the threat of oppression and freedom of the mind and body take hold for even just a moment" (p. 182).

While Reyes writes from the context of moving through theological education, which tends to take place in white-dominated arenas, his message is not only focused on those entering theological education. He has a vision for his own home community, desiring to see the folks back in Salinas and places like that find their purpose and thrive --- whatever their vocation. It is a challenging book. I found myself wanting to push back, but I also realized that as a white man, he didn't write this book for me. Nevertheless, while addressing those who face the greatest barriers the process of discerning purpose does apply to all.

[J.L. Neyhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Purpose Gap, Patrick B. Reyes reflects on a family member’s death after a long struggle with incarceration and homelessness. Reyes asks himself why his cousin’s life had turned out so differently from his own, and he realizes that it was a matter of conditions. The book is a guide that moves from why the purpose gap exists, how to overcome it, and what the world looks like when we work to close the gap.

Reyes writes about the purpose gap, which is the combination of conditions that create a gap between those who can achieve their dreams and find lives of meaning and purpose, and those who must overcome great adversity just to imagine a better life. He wrote this book for those who want to eradicate this gap and build new worlds where our children can thrive.

The book is a love letter to the dispossessed, marginalized, ignored, the Chicano and broader Latinx/e/o/a community, Black, Indigenous, and people of color. It is also for those whose lives of meaning and purpose have been cut short through violence and incarceration, and for those whose imagination about the meaning and purpose of their lives is limited by the personal and systemic pains of hunger, poverty, and abuse.

Reyes provides studies, stories, and visions that provide insights about how to create conditions for people to thrive in your community. He draws on spiritual and intellectual wellsprings to close the purpose gap.

The book is a valuable resource for anyone who is seeking to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty. It is also a powerful reminder of the importance of solidarity and compassion in a world that often devalues and dehumanizes people based on their race, class, gender, or religion.

[fc7reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I work in higher ed and my institution has had a NetVUE grant focusing on vocation for the past few years. I read this book as part of the ongoing participation in the grant. In this book, Reyes examines the concept of finding ones calling -- and he does it very boldly and unapologetically from the perspective of marginalized populations. He breaks down the ways several popular books from this genre speak from and to only (or primarily) cis, white, middle-class readers. Mostly, though, his focus is on what it means to address calling among marginalized populations and how important it is to address the systemic sources of oppression that create gaps in the first place. I think people from marginalized populations will find this book hopeful, but readers from the dominant mainstream may find this book difficult because of the ways it challenges the status quo.

[Mark M · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The enunciation of purpose for many people of color is the day they are born.”

This sentence grabbed me. For someone who loves exploring vocational calling and living a life of purpose, this concept that our purpose can be limited based on our background and identity alone is unacceptable.

I enjoyed this book’s helpful suggestions of how to close the purpose gap that exists for young people and to develop better futures ahead.

Work in education? Care about our community design? This book is a good one for you.

[Julian Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent contribution to vocational wisdom literature. Centering on communities of color, it exposes the inequality regnant in conventional language about helping yourself and your community. It also does a great job speaking to the need for faith to be at the center of this endeavor. I am thankful to have these deep reflection questions running through my head.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book for my job. While it’s not one I would normally pick up I did find some takeaways that will be beneficial in my career. We had a group discussion about it to that was insightful. So many cool stories told throughout to. Listened on audio book and that’s the only reason I think I liked it.

[Geoffrey Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important contribution to vocation studies, further challenging individualistic understandings of discerning one's purpose in life. It center the identities, communities, experiences, values, and perspectives of minoritized students of color in significant ways.

[Sherell Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is just what I needed to help me process a death in my family! Sometimes self and community reflection is all we need.