Dear Colleagues and Fellow Writers from Around the World,
Downsizing from an abode of more than 30 years is a challenge at best, and we’re in the middle of that journey—here’s what we’ve learned so far. It’s also an ideal opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. In Culture Watch, I’ll tell a story that illustrates housing inequality in Phoenix; then What We’re Reading and Why will highlight the books I’ve donated and why; then What Others Are Saying, plus an updated Calendar.
Downsizing from a home of 30-plus years can be a slog. It’s also a time to reflect on the past, as you’ll come across many meaningful things and photos to remember. We involved our children and grandkids in the process, which offered them an opportunity to discuss what they’d like to hold on to, thus avoiding the typical dilemma of children feeling guilty when disposing of things they neither know what they are nor the stories behind them.
After the first month, we’ve already sent 45 boxes of the things we do want to our next home, not to mention 20 or more deliveries of donated materials to St. Vincent de Paul and Goodwill, and a massive bulk trash pickup by the Phoenix waste team.
Downsizing includes getting rid of things you might be attached to and love, which was the case with my collection of fundraising books. I handed over most of them to my AFP bud, Keith Kerber, for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) mentor/mentee program — each of the 15 mentees will get one book. I’ve included my memoir, Different Latitudes, as half of the journeys relate to philanthropy. I promoted this program in 2012 when I was chapter President & Keith was on the board, and he is still a major advocate—promoting the next generation of Executive Fundraisers. I was a certified fundraiser for 35 years (CFRE), a trainer at the Hemispheric Congress of Fundraising held in Mexico City, and I spoke to fundraisers in Spanish on the Day of Philanthropy at the University of Guadalajara, so international philanthropy is in my blood.
Culture Watch: Two Housing Worlds
As I was driving through the “Luxury Corridor” in Paradise Valley with three grandchildren on our way to the Phoenix Zoo, I was surprised by the number of new castles (immense mansions). I had to wonder who would live in the massive buildings and how many rooms they have. How many children do they have? How many bathrooms? Do they have servants and drivers? Why was the Lutheran Church leveled and replaced with exclusive condos? I was probably more sensitive to these giant dwellings as I’d worked overseas for years with families of six people all living in the same room with no windows and not even a chimney for the smoke from the wood fire to escape, with an outhouse in the back—or not.
The Paradise Valley mansions range from 7 to 11,000 square feet on a 1-to 5-acre lot and go for $9-17 million dollars. They have 6-11 bathrooms, and amenities include multiple offices, guest houses, game rooms, gyms, wine rooms, and a 4-6-car garage. To afford this, you’ll need an income in the multi-million-dollar range.
As we continued our drive, I noticed that the Lutheran Church had disappeared. Further, up the road, a gated, high-end housing development had replaced the iconic private international boarding school, Judson. This reflects both land-value pressures and zoning that prioritize high-end homes or condos, leading to a community church being replaced by private, high-value housing.
Paradise Valley is also unique as it doesn’t permit businesses. Local governments often favor luxury, high-tax-base developments, resort development through zoning approvals, and infrastructure investments. These projects promise high property tax yields but provide few affordable housing options, which often face neighborhood opposition.
The workers who support these communities, the landscapers, drivers, nannies, and cooks, must drive long distances back to their homes. On the “other side” of town, thousands are sleeping in parks, alleys, and vehicles, including some of the over 10,000 homeless in Phoenix.
Arizona doesn’t have strong statewide inclusionary zoning mandates. It hasn’t required the developers of these luxury projects to provide or fund affordable units, resulting in a pipeline of high-end supply with little direct connection to low-income production. Today, for every 10 who are housed in the Phoenix area, 19 become homeless, indicating that this problem will only continue to grow.
What We’re Reading and Why
Instead of reviewing books, I’ve been giving them away —five boxes of books and magazines to the Andres House of Hospitality in downtown Phoenix. where I’ve volunteered and gifted books for many years, I met their Director of Advancement & Volunteer Service, Michael Murphy. They feed about 650 people each night and provide other meals, showers, clothes, basic hygiene items, and even laundry service. After 40 years of serving the unhoused, they need to expand their ministry, so I invited Michael for a cold one at Arizona Wilderness Brewery, where we discussed their existing fundraising strategy and growth opportunities. Michael is an AFP member, so after our time together, I connected him with some of my fundraising buds to drill down into the fundraising opportunities. Andre House of Arizona – A House of Hospitality |
What Others are Saying and Why
Steve Kaffen, fellow Returned Peace Corps travel author, about my “The Power of the Pen” workshop, “Your life is the epitome of busy, but when I told you with only two days’ notice I’d be in your area to visit a friend, you didn’t even hesitate to invite me in.”
Cindy Mosca, fellow member of the Peace Corps Writers group, about the Power of the Pen workshop: I also listened to Mark and enjoyed it. It’s a wonderful podcast filled with lots of fantastic stories.
Hal Rifken, my partner in the making of the documentary of Trouble in the Highlands about my Power of the Pen workshop: Mark: Your love of reading and the community that writers inhabit is quite special, especially in this era of short attention spans and too many of the general public’s increasingly questionable objective understanding. Good that you continue to write and review, to broaden awareness of this complicated world! Abrazos, Hal
Click here to see the entire workshop of the Power of Book Reviews: The Million Mile Walker: A Literary Journey with Mark D. Walker.
Calendar
- March 27: BBQ and wine gathering at the Scottsdale Art Expo to see great art and spend time with favorite artists like Jess Davila EXPO and Guadelupe Jess Davila — Arizona Fine Art EXPO
- March 28: The third annual No Kings Day celebration in the Coronado Historic District in Phoenix, with kids and several grandkids (and hopefully 10 million more fellow countrymen/women from around the country)..
- April 24: APW (Arizona Professional Writers) Conference at the Scottsdale Western Spirit Museum. Speakers include Nancy Hicks Marshall, former Director of ACLU Arizona and author of Dry Hate, which I reviewed. (The museum is a must-visit) Exhibitions – Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
You can find my 85 book reviews and 28 articles, as well as several videos and photos, on my website, which also offers a reduced price for my new book if you read it and pass it along to your local library: http://millionmilewalker.com “Follow” me on Blue Sky—at (2) @millionmilewalker.bsky.social — Bluesky, Substack- Mark D Walker| Substack– and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/millionmilewalker/ for the latest international affairs and literature. And please share the sign-up page link with the Dispatch for any friends you think would enjoy it. Million Mile Walker Newsletter – Million Mile Walker.
And, as always, if you’ve read Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road, the Best Travel Book according to the Peace Corps Writers, and, of course, my most recent book, The Guatemala Reader, please review and rate them on Amazon and Goodreads.
Shalom!
Mark D. Walker