Building Bigger Tables: Ben McBride on Belonging, Empathy, and Community Healing

In this episode of The Humanity of Homelessness, host John Marshall sits down with internationally recognized peacemaker, faith leader, and activist Ben McBride. As co-founder of the Empower Initiative, Ben has dedicated his life to fostering radical belonging, building bridges across lines of difference, and guiding communities through conflict and polarization. Ben shares stories from his upbringing in San Francisco, his early days in theater and church, and his transformative journey into activism and community organizing—work that has taken him from the streets of Oakland to global peace efforts in South Africa and the Middle East.Ben reflects on what "home" means to him, the power of empathy in healing fractured communities, and his philosophy that true belonging is not about changing others, but about building bigger tables that make room for everyone. He discusses his pivotal role in violence reduction and police-community trust-building, and the lessons learned from leading the Alabama Learning Lab, a powerful immersion into the history and ongoing challenges of belonging in America.Listeners will gain insight into Ben’s approach to leadership, the importance of seeing and humanizing one another, and practical wisdom for anyone seeking to create more inclusive, resilient communities. The conversation is both deeply personal and universally relevant, offering hope and actionable steps for navigating difference without division.