‘09 TJL@Park Initiatve list

Below are the initiatives that have been created by the members of the Park Community and have begun to see some traction from our collective efforts to respond to God’s call for love and justice from his people:

For more information email: contact@thejustlife.org

Community building in Cabrini through addressing the education gap in the city:

• The C2A tutoring program has been pivotal success and needs more support for the summer and fall.
• Several opportunities with the local school (Jenner) are being developed.  Specifically, energy is beginning to focus behind a “Real Men Read” program supported by Park small groups.
• The energy behind an adult education outreach program is still high – matching professional acumen with community needs (computer skills, credit counseling, health care, etc.).  We are looking for a key leader to bring this idea to life.
• A related and important initiative in the works is a “community presence ministry” designed to reduce after school violence simply by being visible and present in the community along side our neighbors and ideally with the kids being mentored by Park members through GRIP, C2A, etc.
• The dream of setting up scholarships for local youths who are being built into by members of our community is still alive and will hopefully grow as our relationships with the community grow.

Christian Community Development in Cabrini Green/Parkside:

• A community development initiative has begun to provide intentional collaborative projects (beyond education) for our community on both “sides” of the street.  The ideas currently in focus are neighborhood bible studies, supporting a community day-care, and catalyzing a new community center/gym.  To learn about the Christian Community Development movement visit the CCDA’s website: www.ccda.org

Stewarding professional social capital through social entrepreneurialism and micro enterprise:

• We are moving forward with our vision to create community development opportunities through social entrepreneurialism. The most promising idea so far comes from an advertising venture called “sign spinning.” You can learn more about what this is all about here: http://thejustlife.org/home/2009/06/23/social-enterprise-launch-arrow-ads/
• Several other great ideas are being discussed and we hope to be able to announce additional projects soon.

Combating the gross injustice of human trafficking head on as a community of action:

• The anti-human trafficking initiative rapidly exploded into the budding organization Traffick Free. That team will continue to be the backbone of anti-human trafficking efforts within the Park community while it grows to include much more diverse local, national, and global support networks.
• We also continue to coordinate with Not For Sale and International Justice Mission to support their efforts in every possible way.

Addressing extreme poverty by supporting effective organizations through creative partnerships and fund-raising:

• Ideas are in the works to raise funds for our friends at Blood:Water Mission and others. Also, several microfinance ideas are being discussed.

Global community development:

• Achieved through combining new ESL education, our refugee ministry program, and Park’s global missions vision.

Understanding and Breaking destructive cycles:

• Beginning with a new prison ministry in cooperation with Prison Fellowship.

Social Capital Mapping:

• Listening to and learning from our neighborhood. Being proactive about discovering and making connections and building/developing community – door by door, family by family, name by name.

Professional Fellowships:

• A Medical Professional Fellowship has been going very well.  A first of its kind (for Park) medical missions trip has been planned for this summer.
• A Legal Professional Fellowship has just begun.
• A Trader Professional Fellowship is set to start in the near future.

In addition to the education and conversation from within the existing initiatives, a couple of “emerging conversations” have begun to develop that are essential justice issues:

• Israel/Palestine conflict
• Immigration Issues

There is no limit to the initiatives and conversations we can start.  Please feel free to suggest/begin something new.

Filed Under: TJL Meet-Ups

Tags: Park Community Church, Social Justice Group