and covered in metal gates to prevent break-ins. Inspired
by North Shore’s success reaching out to community
stakeholders, Rev. Ward has expanded the scope of his
congregation’s fundraising efforts. In addition to reaching
out to community partners – including the local school and
social service agencies – Wayman has approached Target,
which just opened a new store two blocks from the church, to
support the congregation’s efforts to build community – and
peace – in the neighborhood.
Inspired by their New Dollars classmates, the Reverend
Cleophus Lee and the congregation of Original Providence
Baptist Church have leveraged one of their building’s
physical assets – a gymnasium – to be a force for nonviolence in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s west side.
The congregation has developed an afterschool program
that provides free access to the gym to help keep youth off
the streets. The gym, however, is only available to students
after they have worked with volunteer tutors and mentors to
complete their homework.
Rev. Lee’s success developing an innovative education
ministry has, in turn, inspired the Reverend Dr. Barbara
Wilson of Coppin Memorial AME Church to leverage
her community connections to launch a program for the
Washington Park community on Chicago’s south side. In
the summer of 2013, Coppin partnered with the Children’s
Defense Fund to serve as a partner site for a Freedom School
– a free summer and after-school program for children and
families that teaches a multicultural curriculum promoting
literacy, civic engagement, social action, intergenerational
partnership, nutrition, and health. The program required
Coppin to raise $50,000 in matching funds. “Immediately, I
knew we needed to reach out to our community partners for
support. I don’t know that I would have thought to do that
– or even if I would I have had many of those community
partners – if it were not for our participation in the
training.”
Lake Street is recruiting Northwestern interns to support
its latest project: a capital campaign to renovate its kitchen
and dining facilities to serve as a community kitchen and
resource for local food entrepreneurs and food-justice,