CFA Summer 2011 Newsletter
August 17, 2011 Leave a comment
CFA Newsletter - Summer 2011
Download the Summer 2011 CFA Newsletter here:
CFA Newsletter – Summer 2011
Keith
August 3, 2011 Leave a comment
Jim Schepers – The Other Way Ministries
A young man needing to do some community service gets an experience beyond what he came for.
One of the main outcomes wanted when placing an Americorps community worker in a neighborhood to do asset based community development is the development of an increasing number of volunteers who care enough about the community to spend their time making it better for everyone. Of course, we are most interested in investing in local neighborhood residents, the assets of our neighborhood. However, sometimes, the assets we find don’t always fit our pre-determined model.
To identify and engage neighborhood ‘assets’, we train Americorps members to listen carefully for opportunity and to make connections, giving volunteers the chance to do some simple good works in the neighborhood. What we cannot teach is the thoughtful follow-up, invitation and encouragement it takes to help change a person from a disconnected resident to a volunteer engaged and invested in developing community. Karl, our Westown Americorps Member tells one story of how he makes that happen. His story is about Keith. Keith came to us simply to fill a school required community service project. He left having gotten much more than he needed.
Grandma’s Hands
August 2, 2011 Leave a comment
Tronn Moller – Faith and Community Development Institute
Meeting at their weekly Bible study to pray, share potluck suppers, Chat and Chew discussions and ideas about how to better their grandchildren’s lives was a regular event for many of the grandmothers residing at The Estates, formerly known as the Desire Housing Development in New Orleans. According to Marcia Peterson, director of Desire Street Ministries who leads the weekly study, it began after Hurricane Katrina and the main focus of the ladies was to help provide activities and services for their own live-in grandchildren . “A lot of them are single women raising their grandchildren for various reasons,” said Peterson.
Bethany Housing Resident Models “Good Neighbor”
August 1, 2011 Leave a comment
Kimi Zimmerman – Community enCompass
Theresa’s story is exciting to me because it accomplishes exactly what I think ABCD is all about. It opens the door for all neighbors to give what they have been given to make a difference in a community…one life at a time. What a story of hope! and doing life together! and love for our neighbor. Theresa was given hope when a community believed in her and worked with her and made room for her to become more of who God intended her to be and in turn we are watching her do the same in the lives of the children around her.
Theresa Higdon is an everyday hero who understands the value of neighbors working together to achieve great things. Even while she strives to move forward with her life, she works hard to accomplish great things in our community. Theresa became a member of the McLaughlin community when she entered our Bethany Transitional Housing Program after a number of homeless episodes. She progressed to the point of becoming part of our Home Ownership Program and is currently leasing with the option to purchase her home while she continues to work on repairing her credit.
