Tentative: New Community Center

I was going to email my pastors about this but decided to blog instead: for anyone lurking and living in a city.

Last night two teens I know represented a local YMCA teen center at a meeting about opening a new community center in a building owned by the ME church close to Artisan. The church is doing this in memory of kids that have been recently killed in Rochester, one of whom attended their church. They’re trying to involve the neighborhood, and the greater community, not just their own church. They’re hoping to create a safe place where teens and their adults can do things together. There are community centers around the city but this idea, thought originating in a church seems to be generating support from many sectors and might possibly be a faith-based program - not sure.

Those who are interested in this project seem to be crossing religious, socio-economic and racial lines. One of the many people attending last night was a friend of ours who goes to an Episcopalian church in another part of town. Her daughter went to school with one of the students who was killed. I didn’t find out about this until yesterday late afternoon and didn’t realize the scope until I picked the kids up. They're really excited about helping out!

For all the times urban and suburban churches try to start programs for the city, there are lots of organizations with experienced people "living in the neighborhood" and already running programs that have been operating for years. Many are successful. Getting involved in what other people are doing means your church isn't putting out $ or people resources to start something new, gives you an opportunity to learn from the experts and opens opportunities to cross paths and grow relationships with people you might otherwise never meet. It's a wonderful opportunity to love people! It's time you're not "in church" but remember Jesus in the market place.

Swim lessons in city pools are free in the summer to city residents and some of the classes in some of the pools are small. Southside Little League (started by the St. Boniface Men’s Club) and Eastside Little League (also supported by a lot of Catholic families) always need coaches. I think Southside is back in operation. City schools, Y's, community centers are always looking for volunteers. You might need a background check but that's ok.

When the kids were little we ended up doing more city sponsored or city located activities with our kids and less with our homeschool group or church-sponsored mid-week activities. Leaves your life a little fragmented as far as relationships go, unless you’re doing activities with some of the same people, but you meet so many different people in a supervised situation, as a parent you can hang around and see what's going on, and your family has a positive impact on the city. This is a city of people who respect people who serve, and especially people serving and advocating for children.

This particular situation opening so close to Trinity might be a great place for any one from Artisan who's interested to get involved and it would probably mean all kinds of networking possibilities and potential friendships. I don’t know much about this yet, but if you want to know more as I find out more let me know!