Communities First

With budget constraints being what they are, I tried a new approach.  Instead of flying to meet people, I decided to take a long road trip.  I drove from Moreno Valley to Phoenix, spent the weekend with my daughter, then headed northeast to Gallup and met with Mitzie Begay.  Mel and her husband operate a jewelry story in New Mexico.

Dan Friesen a former CRWRC employee worked with her for about 5 year, about 8 years ago.  We had a conversation about CRWRC’s impact in the region.  A friend of mine believes CRWRC had little to no impact in the region.  However, Mitzie disagrees with him.

She appreciates the approach CRWRC took in the region.  She recalls a slow respectful approach that met people where they were at and helped them progress at a pace that sustained the work for the long term.  According to Mitzie, thirty families support themselves in the Jewelry business. Mitzi did not say what that meant but if we use a conservative number of $15,000 per year per family that creates an income of $450,000 per year.

My reason for meeting with Mitzie was to explore potential opportunities for engaging Red Mesa churches in community transformation.  The last time I met with her she could not see how an Asset Based Development approach could work in the Navajo context.  However, on this trip after conversing about how the business is going and how the church is doing, she came to a different conclusion.  Perhaps the Asset Based approach might help church members focus on strengths rather than on conflict.  In addition, she is hopeful that the work of the church might be a better influence on the Navaho community.  I had discovered that Classis Red Mesa had instituted a leadership development work.  She had not heard too much about it but thought that Stanley Jim might have more information.  While I was getting ready to leave, she mentioned a retreat scheduled for August.  I mentioned some of the new CRWRC partners and wondered with her about the possibility of having a team come and present some workshops.

He was proud of the 22 students that enrolled in the leadership program.  When I mentioned the work of CRWRC’s work with community transformation, he was excited to hear more about it.  Then, as if it reminded him of a passion, he started telling me of bringing church to people.  As an example, he shared how he had rediscovered the importance of being a spiritual leader in the Navaho culture on rodeo events.    More men were open to him and willing to share their spiritual struggles.  In addition, they were more open to the gospel.  He shared a story of a man who would not want anything to do with God but has since experienced a dramatic change.

After sharing the story we talked about how his work and my work.  Where might we be able to leverage ministry opportunities?  We did not make firm commitments but agreed to explore having training modules to introduce Asset Based Community Development in the leadership development network. 

My next stop was Albuquerque.  I met with Pastor John Dykhuis  and John Bulten.  The Fellowship CRC congregation where Rev. John Dykhuis is the senior pastor was instrumental the start of East Central Ministries, Albuquerque.  John Bulten and his wife were looking for a ministry opportunity 10 years ago.  They thought the only way to do this was to move in.  Both Pastor John and John credit much of what they are doing now on the many hours they spent with Dan Friesen.  Dan traveled to Albuquerque while doing an executive MBA.  On his travels, he would stay at Pastor John’s house.  In the evenings, they would have long discussions about the way things were and dream about how things ought to be and could be.  John Bulten was working as cabinetmaker with his uncle but felt he was not using all the gifts God gave him. 

As he met with Pastor John and Dan, they all dreamed together.  It was not clear how everything evolved but they launched a new work in the east part of Albuquerque.  Over the last ten years, John and his wife have worked with community members, helped start, and launch new ministry.  Together they have started a community health clinic that provides general medical services to people who do not have insurance.  They have 12 cooperative housing units that residents are buying shares in the housing cooperative.  They have community gardens, a community center and a leadership program called Juntos.  It is an afterschool program for kids.  When they reach Jr. High age, they agree to participate in a High School mentoring program for Jr. High ages students.  Therefore, they come back not to receive but to give back.  Becky the young woman that runs the program was very excited about it and had great hopes that it would be a blessing to the families.  John Bulten and CRWRC relationship ended about 4 years ago.  In our conversation, we did not discuss a relationship but agreed that there might reasons to stay connected.

My next stop was in El Paso.  I first met with Abel Gonzalez and his supervisor Jose Rayas on the left part of the picture.  Abel has completed six months with AmeriCorps.  He has a busy day with families and members in the community so he has asked that I interview him in the evening.  Even though the interview has a list of questions, I just try to reconnect with him.  I only get to see Abel every three to four months.

In our conversation, I discover that he has gone through some tremendous financial difficulty coming close to losing his house.  He does not say how he managed to keep it but he is thankful that he still has it.  He does not spend too much time complaining because he is so excited on the progress he has made since we last spoke.

Socorro United Citizens United for Progress (SCUP) is taking a new direction.   New members from the community with Non-profit management experience have agreed to join the board.  He has been able to connect with people interested in organizing their neighbors to do community clean ups.  He complains that this is a never-ending task because no sooner do people organize a clean and then the winds come and litter the place.  Nonetheless, he is grateful that so many people are working and that now he is working in six different sectors of the city. He is grateful that the city leaders are supportive of SCUP and of his position with AmeriCorps.

Jose his supervisor met with me the following day.  He is excited about so many things but also challenged.  Funding is heavy on his mind.  In spite of the funding concerns, he is grateful.  He shares how he had a narrow escape with the health insurance company.  He has two children with physical handicaps who need medical attention.  In addition, his wife had a condition that the insurance companies considered a high risk.  A donor agreed to find a way to get Jose and his family the health insurance that they needed. Jose was grateful that this donor found a way to get his family the insurance they needed. 

Jose reported progress to the long-range plan that he, Jerry Holloman (Home Missions) and I agreed we would follow.  Results Based Management is a tool that CRWRC has used and one that partners report helps them manage ministry performance.  Jose was grateful for the progress made with the church and is reporting that the start of a new work he is considering a new church start in Montana Vista.  This was after Jose and two AmeriCorps volunteers worked in the rural community of Montana Vista for two years. 

Jose seems happy but tired.  I encourage him to cut his involvement with boards at the church and with SCUP.  Coaching is one of the contributions we make to leaders engaged in community transformation work.  I suggest that he meet with local leaders and together they determine the best time for him to cut back his responsibilities with the groups.  Knowing when to make the transition is not always clear-cut.  Therefore, I suggest that he ensure that he is not aborting or abandoning the work.  However, I also encourage him to allow the leaders to make decisions and make mistakes.  Economic time being what they are, he is underfunded by at least 4,000 unless it can be made up elsewhere.  He has just ended the cycle time for the Home Missions grant.  He has hopes that the partnership with Texas A&M will help but he knows that he will continue in this work.

From there I drive to Sierra Vista Arizona.  John and Alice De Haan are diligently working on Church Initiated Community Transformation.  John was the CRWRC director when I hired in 14 years ago.  He discovered Asset Based Community Development and was so excited at its potential to unleash the church and community to bring about transformation. 

This is my third visit to this small military town.  On this visit, Stan Rowland who works with Urban Life Wind International and is a CRWRC intermediary partner in Arizona is taking a group of members from Pantano Christian Church through the first phase of training.

Leaders at Thunder Mountain community church feel like the training given to them during earlier visits is enough to get them on a work plan.  Therefore, on this visit I am helping them develop an annual plan using an action planning process. 

In working with leaders in the region, I am promoting strengths based methodology with new leaders, facilitating learning opportunities for existing partners and helping develop long-range plans that incorporate Asset Based Community Development with all partners. I am most excited about the progress church leaders are making in this work.