Lifting Labels and People
by Rev. Dr. K. A. Slayton
A few years ago, I worked as the Executive Director for the Baltimore City Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly. During that time, as in most legislative sessions, there were constant visits to the office of bill drafting to secure newly introduced legislation. That year I was surprised to see serving with long term familiar face James Martin a long-time clergy colleague Reverend Chester France. Rev. France I knew as a result of us both having served in past years on the ministerial staff of the Douglas Memorial Community Church.
Often Chester and I would be breaking for lunch and in each of our times of sharing he was talking this idea he was working on to provide clergy robes. He would later introduce me to different persons interested in his idea and ultimately, he picked my brain about approaches to reaching clergy in the faith community. Time passed and I assumed that maybe he had just moved on. And then I received a call from Chester sharing with me the website and additional information about his new nonprofit organization Lifting Labels.
Lifting Labels was the evolution of his dream to serve and give back to two very distinctly different communities. Chester had worked over 15 years as a prison chaplain and as a result grew a fondness and better understanding of that population. He also understood the needs of clergy when it came to proper attire. 
Lifting Labels provides job opportunities to formerly incarcerated persons who have a skill in sewing. Today, this nonprofit is able to offer a $15 minimum wage job to these amazing individuals who have paid their debts to society and are now preparing to become contributing members of society. And as a bonus, clergy are able to benefit by purchasing affordable and appropriate clergy attire.
Needless to say, I ordered a robe from Lifting Labels just 3 weeks ago for myself. I’d often told Chester about a robe I saw being worn by Rev. Marshal Mitchell in Philadelphia. We were at the pastoral installation of Rev. James Buck and the robe game was at a very high level. But hands down everyone agreed the velvet sleeved robe worn by Mitchell was something special. It also had detailed velvet panels down the front and they were embroidered with two-inch frogs in place of buttons. I wanted that robe or something close.
Fortunately, I was able to share my ideas with Lifting Labels and I worked closely with Sandy Spence, the Director of the organization on the details of my design. When I awoke and check my inbox today the finished product was more than impressive. I thought I would share with you and encourage you to visit their website www.liftinglabels.org .
Here are some pictures I compiled to show the progress of the robe. I also wanted you to see the level of quality that goes into making these garments. Chester did not pay me to say good things about his program, but the quality of work demands that I do so. I encourage all my clergy friends to reach out and get you a special made robe today. It’s for a good cause at both ends of the transaction. 
