UniteForChange.org Quarterly Community Magazine
January 27, 2018 • Edition 3
P. 10
MAKING POSITIVITY HAPPEN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
P. 15
10
TRAITS EVERY URBAN SERVANT LEADER MUST HAVE
PREPARING FUTURE SERVANT LEADERS
P. 22
CHECK THE LIST
AWAKENED A CITY
Dominic Dorsey
P. 24
A PASTOR GIVES HIS COMMUNITY A VOICE P. 12
How A Movement
Founder D.O.N.T. S.L.E.E.P.. Photo: Cliff Dutterville
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CONTENT
FORWARD
10 MAKING POSITIVITY HAPPEN
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Trees for Sway Media, Indianapolis, IN
Yvette Williams of Trinity House Academy: Empowering Teens to Make Positive Choices
07
A FRESH VIEW ON GIVE AND TAKE
PREPARING FUTURE SERVANT LEADERS
22
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24
10 TRAITS OF URBAN SERVANT LEADERS
POWER FROM THE PEOPLE
GIVING HIS COMMUNITY A VOICE
To be an urban servant leader you need more than basic leadership skills. You need to be fortified with these 10 traits.
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Announcing the new 2018 NWQOL Governance Committee.
Pastor Orlando Jordan makes strides in a challenging community through collaboration and partnerships.
The U.F.C. mission is to assess needs and gaps, provide education and skill enhancement opportunities, build servant leaders, and evaluate solutions for community (resiliency) and sustainability.
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THE TENT CAMPAIGN EXPANDS
PHOTO CREDIT: A.D. Biller
27
#CMBCINDY & UFC 2017 IN REVIEW
12
HOW A MOVEMENT AWAKENED A CITY
PHOTO CREDIT: A.D. Biller
Be a part of FORWARD Magazine! WE NEED: Advertisers Sponsors Writers Photographers Sales Distributors
Email: forpower@me.com
FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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From the Publisher’s Desk
Pastor G
I
A Fresh View on Give and Take
n every community there’s a silent struggle. It’s like a covert tug-of-war. The battle lines may be drawn by the rich or poor, political persuasions, employed versus unemployed or cultural birthright. Whatever
the defining characteristics may be, the struggle is real. Then there are those who are “called” to work in urban communities who must understand the tactics, strategies and motivations of this evolving conflict and do something to shift it. I’ve felt this calling for decades. However, I was never able to articulate why compassionate, ethical, faithful, helpful and law-abiding citizens who want nothing to do with daily hostility were forced to face underground enemies at work, home and in their communities. Then, I heard about psychologist Adam Grant, the author of Give and Take. His research shed light on why urban servant leaders are often mismanaged by the communities that need them the most. He shares that people like urban servant leaders are "givers." We wake up driven by the question, “What can I do for you?” Success to us is making sure that all around us have what they need to thrive. Here’s the problem: lack of trust. Many people’s default is to take what they need at any cost. That goes for people from the top to the bottom of the totem pole. According to Grant’s research “givers" like you and I can succeed and make our communities better when we all consider that true success is about our contribution to others rather than what we accumulate for ourselves. So, to-
JOHN E. GIRTON, JR. Publisher
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Trees
gether let’s change the paradigm and start valuing giving.
From the Editor’s Desk
Mercedez
Exemplifying Servant Leadership
W
hen Pastor G invited me on the FORWARD team, I became a firsthand beneficiary of Matthew 9:37 “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” Accepting the
invitation while juggling my own nonprofit organization, I am among the multitude of servant leaders wearing multiple hats to see the Kingdom flourish on earth as it is in heaven. I pose the question: Where is the heart of God’s people? Why do urban leaders have to be the hand, arm, and leg of the body? I am honored to connect with diverse urban leaders through this journey and amazed by their impact on our city. Dive into FORWARD to meet the unsung heroes of our communities, to learn how they launched successful movements of impact, and to be inspired to take your God-given gifts to the next level. This edition highlights how local leaders have responded to recent events of social injustice. We decided to provide readers with perspectives from each angle of solving the problem. Do not consider this publication as merely celebratory for the efforts of others, rather consider FORWARD a call to action. Get out of your comfort zone, roll up your sleeves, and get down in the trenches today in order to pave the way for tomorrow.
MERCEDEZ MCDOWELL Editor
Youth Engagement
BY: Jennifer Irvin
Making Positivity Happen for the Family as a Whole
Yvette Williams of Trinity House Academy: Empowering Teens to Make Positive Choices
I
f you have the pleasure of meeting Yvette Williams, you’ll find out first-hand the heart she has for youth. As Executive Director and Founder of Trinity House Academy, Yvette has an incredible energy that raves with positivity and excitement. Her ultimate goal is to bring generations together and help them have a discussion with different perspectives.
develop young people and their families. “Youth in Indiana don’t have to be a victim of circumstance, and they certainly don’t have to be a statistic,” said Yvette.
THA provides parenting classes and mentoring programs including Guiding Hearts (GH) for girls, Daniel 3HB for boys, and Remnant for Relationship (R&R), a program that teaches purpose and character developEstablished in 2008, Trinity House Academy (THA) is ment using biblical principles as the a nonprofit organization that assists In the past 3-4 years foundation. Family counseling seryoung women and men with identifying and walking in their God-given we opened our focus vices are also available. In just a few years, THA has grown from serving purpose. It’s a safe haven for young to a holistic approach approximately 10 families to serving women and men who are seeking more than 60 families. to the whole family” better choices and better lives. THA provides programs that physically, ~ Yvette Williams Yvette’s journey to helping at-risk mentally and spiritually enrich and teens and youth was not an easy
“
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“I’ve had to put my own money into this, but God has provided,” assured Yvette. After we grew out of the space at New Life, we had to keep going to different places. People thought we were a New Life Program. We had to be cognizant that some people weren’t bringing their kids because we were associated with New Life. People are funny acting about churches like they are with sororities, and it’s very ungodly.” Not letting go of the vision, Williams’ prayers for a space were finally answered, but not without trials. “Three years ago, God blessed THA with a space. We tried to go to other places and neighborhoods where we thought were more in need of our program. We have a lot of issues being a Bible-based and faith-based program. There are many assumptions. They assume you are going to preach to the kids, that you are going to shun kids with lifestyles that we don’t believe in. Once they sit down with us, they realize we love everybody.” Becoming a disciple with THA
or immediate one. As an only child from Cleveland, Ohio, Yvette grew up in a loving household. However at times, she believed she needed someone with whom she could talk outside of her immediate family. Unfortunately, her direct community lacked programs where she could find support. This experience inspired her decision go to become an Upward Bound Counselor after attending college. Her counseling position enabled her to help students through their everyday situations. Yvette later became a youth minister for teens while still in her early 20s. In fact, some of the children were just a few years younger than her. Still, they looked up to her as an elder, and she carried that responsibility into her passion to excel as their leader.
The process to become a disciple (volunteer) with THA begins by filling out a volunteer application, getting a background check, and meeting the leaders in person. “We want to observe you teaching at least one class, so we can get a feel for your strengths and plug you into the area of your strength.” 2017-2018 Theme: Reconciliation “It’s about being reconciled to Christ, to peers, parents, to self, and to the community. God has provided. We just make sure that we are led by Him, and when we do that, He makes it happen.”
A holistic approach to the whole family What began as a program for young women branched out into an all-inclusive focus. “In the past 3-4 years we opened our focus to a holistic approach to the whole family, so we opened it up to boys as well,” explained Yvette. “Girls don’t get pregnant by themselves. Girls don’t just get bullied by other girls. Young men are in that atmosphere as well. In 2017 we did a family conference instead of dividing the mother-daughter retreat and father-son lunch.” The idea of THA was born while she was still diligently working in ministry and running youth programs at a community center. She went to God for direction on what the program should be about as well as how and when it should be launched. Though the road ahead would be bumpy, she persevered.
Contact THA (317) 550-5125 trinityhouseacademy@gmail.com facebook.com/TrinityHouseAcademy
FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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DOMINIC DORSEY If you haven’t heard of Dominic Dorsey, Founder of Naptown’s “Don’t Sleep”, you might need to wake up. Dorsey is one of the most prominent trailblazers giving Indianapolis and surrounding communities a voice. Founded in 2014, Don’t Sleep seeks to put an end to incidents of social injustice and political indifference that affect us as citizens by: Deconstructing Oppression Now Through Solidarity Liberation Empowerment Equity and Perseverance (D.O.N.T. S.L.E.E.P.). Buckle your seat belts as Dorsey takes us along the journey and vision of Don’t Sleep.
How a Movement
Awakened a City DONT SLEEP seeks to put an end to incidents of social injustice and political indifference that affect us as citizens. By: Mercedez McDowell
D
ominic Dorsey takes FORWARD Magazine all the way back to DONT SLEEP's first awakening a few years ago. "A lot of people don’t know this, but I first proposed the concept to a group of pastors in 2014 during a planning meeting for creating a collaborative effort in the city to build an initiative for change.” The then graduate student Dorsey was conferenced in on a phone call to present the acronym DONT SLEEP: Deconstructive Oppression Now Through Solidarity Equity Empowerment Perseverance. The response was less than supportive, merely fueling Doresey's resilience. “The room got silent, and then everyone at the meeting busted out laughing. One of the pastors was like, ‘That sounds like something a graduate student would come up with.’” Needless to say that group missed out on an opportunity to join these now pioneers for change. As his acronym suggests, Dorsey persevered, gaining the support of his peers and eventually the community at large. Prior to DONT SLEEP becoming an official movement, Dorsey worked alongside other leaders in support of a variety of causes bringing him to a revelation. “I noticed that with RFRA 3,000 people would show up, [and] the LGBT community would come out in mass. But, when we did stuff for Black Lives Matter, we got like 15 people.” The disparity of support brought about the question, “How can we get all of these people from different identity groups and 12
PHOTO
Cliff Duterville Rana Carter Chandra Lynch
Cover Story
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FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
PHOTO CREDIT: Cliff Duterville
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The reason why the social justice movements of the past, like the Civil Rights Movement, were successful is because they didn’t just have black folks out there. It became a moral issue. It became an American issue.” ~Dominic Dorsey 13
Cover Story different communities to come together and support causes that suppress everybody?” The result: DONT SLEEP. “So, the genesis of DONT SLEEP was really interest convergence,” Dorsey explains the overall goal was to gain support for the Black Lives Matter movement, while showing support for the Latino communities, the LGBT communities, and all other peoples who are oppressed. He describes the mission and pillars of Don’t Sleep as ambitious yet expansive because the vision impacts everybody. “Liberation is not a mutually exclusive concept. Everybody is impacted by oppression and everybody takes a role in the oppression of other people. The sooner we can understand that and figure out how to de-construct that, the sooner we’ll all get free.” While strength is found in numbers, oppression within communities and cross-culturally remains prominent. “When a black man is shot, when a black child is shot, we need everyone to come forward. It can’t just be black people,” Dorsey highlights milestones in history to support his stance, “The reason why the social justice movements of the past like the Civil Rights Movement were successful is because they didn’t just have black folks out there. It became a moral issue. It became an American issue.” His ideas have panned out. DONT SLEEP recently hosted a Black Lives Matter rally that filled the Indiana state house lawn with a massive crowd of diverse demographics; a far shot from the 15 people they started with in 2014. Dorsey wrapped our session with the two quotes that govern his work. The first is by The Color Purple author Alice Walker, “Activism is the rent I pay for living on this planet.” The second comes from James Baldwin, “If I love you, then I must make you conscience of that which you do not see.” DONT SLEEP soars beyond the trend of staying woke by infusing a strategy of passing on knowledge once found in order to move closer to freedom. Dorsey illuminated, “If you don’t want everyone to be free, you don’t want liberation, you want privilege.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Chandra Lynch
Presenting Issues Q: What is a major challenge that you’ve observed?
PHOTO CREDIT: Chandra Lynch
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A: Within the black community we have this divide of good and bad black folk. So take somebody like Aaron Bailey. He was recently murdered in the city, but we need him to be snow white pure in order for all the black folk to be behind him. Right? Like a Baptist minister on his way from church. Well Aaron Bailey had a checkered past and it becomes a thing like ‘maybe we need to wait until all the facts come out. Maybe he did something to cause that to happen. All black lives matter. We can’t pick and choose which
ones have value. So within the black community we are trying to figure out who deserves our support. Q: Are you sure it’s a matter of deserved support? A: I’ll give you the example of Corrine Gaines. How many people talk about Corrine Gaines vs. Sandra Bland? You hear people talk about Tamir Rice, but don’t nobody talk about Ayana Stanley Jones or Maya Hall or Shereese Francis. Q: In your opinion, does that type of response correlate with a survival mechanism for the black community to maintain credibility within society? A: I’ll say this: respectability has never saved us. If respectability was our route to freedom we would still be in chains because what they respected was good intention Negroes that did as they were told. So we rebelled, and it became a situation where maybe these black folks are more intelligent than we thought. Now we get in this survival mode where we pick and choose which stories we elevate and it’s not working because they are steady killing us. Q: What do you believe would result from every name being lifted up in these situations? A: I believe we’ll see a change in the tide of justice. We have laws in place. The laws aren’t the problem; it’s the practice. When you commit a crime, you’re supposed to stand trial in front of a jury, you go through due process and have your day in court. Black men and women are being executed on the street. We have a criminal justice system that says everybody is innocent until proven guilty, but you’re murdered before you get your day in court. What does that solve? It just continues the narrative that black people are expendable. If we say collectively that no murder where you’re denied due process is justifiable, then we began to move the conversation.
“If I love you, then I must make you conscience of that which you do not see.” ~ James Baldwin
Q: What do you believe is the root issue? A: Their [the police] fear is still an irrational fear of black people. Philando Castille was killed in his car, he was a school teacher. Sandra Bland was on her way to a job. The issue isn’t good or bad. The issue is black or white. Q: What is your response to the idea that some police officers just need better training? A: You see the same circumstances happening in the
PHOTO CREDIT: Cliff Duterville
same precinct with the same folks. The cops that shot Aaron Bailey went through the same academy and training as cops that allowed a white gentlemen to get out of his vehicle, take off running, and be apprehended safely despite having a weapon on him. The narrative around shooting black people is always “well I thought they had a weapon.” Aaron Bailey didn’t have a weapon and was killed; white guy has a weapon and he’s alive. We can do all the training in the world, all the cultural competency in the world. None of it does any good if we don’t get rid of the racist. Q: What’s your solution for that? A: When a racist is identified they need to be terminated not transferred. It’s not the policy, it’s the practice. Q: Can we really just start with a clean slate? Do we have the capacity to fire groups of police officers? A: Then you have a question of how effective is policing. The myth is that the police fight or prevent crime. They don’t. They enforce the law, they fill the quota. That’s why you have traffic stops, possession laws, racket laws that disproportionately effect the black community. I think the question is can we afford to have racists patrolling our streets and killing children playing with toy guns at a park. Q: So how does it end? It seems like we’ve been fighting this forever. A: But have we? You look at the Civil Rights Movement as an era. The era ended. All we wanted was to be treated civil. We were asking for equal rights. Why would you ever want to be equal when you can’t be yourself? We’ve never been given autonomy. We haven’t been in a position where we could control and determine our own fate. Making Strides Q: What are the next steps? A: We have to get to a place where we are not complacent with what we have been given. Oppression is a living
FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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breathing organism that just finds ways to reinvent itself. Q: What is the overall vision for the near future of the movement? A: The most revolutionary thing a person can do is to control their own fate. If we had people growing food and vegetables in their own backyards, we wouldn’t have anymore food deserts. If we got into a barter system where if your car broke down, my uncle could come and fix it. Q: How does one perpetuate this type of system?
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A: We need people who are going to listen twice as much as they speak, and who will have integrity and character. I don’t even think I’m teaching folk. I’m listening and if it makes sense I share it. The older generations and new generations both have a lot of wisdom. What we don’t have is cross-pollination. Q: Do you think your initiatives model this vision or is it trial and error? A: Yes, I’m one of two straight men in my organizations. We have women, Muslims, white people in my organization. Nobody has the same identity and everybody has a leadership role. We empower the youth, we host a black owned business block party for black farmers and businesses, we have platforms for people of all walks of life. It’s not necessarily trial and error, it’s stuff we’ve seen that works in the past that we’ve gotten away from. We had this system in the village. We had our own Black Wall Street that was burned down. We had our black communities, but we got away from it. Q: Black Wall Street was practically burned down. What excuse does the black community have? A: I think the problem is waiting on handouts from other people. For instance, you want to go into business and you need a loan. What black folks own banks locally in Indiana? What is stopping black folks from getting together and pooling their money? Then we have to get past the distrust issue. It’s not a lack of interest. Don’t nobody trust each other and black folk are risk adverse. Q: What is the first step for an individual to get involved? A: I think one of the most important things people can do is to read, to educate themselves. We recognize something is wrong, but we want to be spoon fed everything. Google is free. Read “Are Prisons Obsolete” by Angela Davis. Read “The New Jim Crow.” Read just because it edifies your soul. Watch the “13th” Documentary. Feed your soul with stuff that will fortify you with the struggle that we have. Struggle is necessary for progress, but that doesn’t mean you have to go into struggle ignorant. Just being angry with no intelligence as to how to aim it, makes you a liability to us and the movement.
WWW.CMBCINDY.ORG PHONE: (317) 925-4132
Mail donations to: CMBC Indy 1001 Eugene Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Dycus, Dycus Vision
Servant Leadership
BY: Kyle P. Marshall
The Servants Leadership Model Servant Leaders are those who will not only guide and walk with you, but they will also show you the way!
O
ften-times people who think “leadership” rarely understand what true leadership looks like. True leadership is best defined as “servant leadership.” So, if you ever want to be the best leader you can be, you must be a servant leader. The question is what are the principles that servant leaders live by? Servant Leaders lead from a position of love and support. Jesus makes references to the rulers of the Gentiles and their high officials who exercise authority over them and then immediately says, “Not so with you!” In other words, this is NOT the way you lead. Today, we have all seen or
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experienced those who lead solely by their position, power, prestige, and/or prominence. Those ‘leaders’ are often viewed as controlling, domineering or accused of leading like a dictator. While they may get things done, the ones they lead rarely, if ever, feel loved or supported. As I look back at the best leaders I have experienced, they all have one thing in common. They all led out of their love and desire to support their team, not from their position (or title). They all understood that making people feel loved and supported will motivate them and ignite their momentum for them to be their best and do their best.
42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Dycus, Dycus Vision
and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45.)
Doing your best is possible when a person feels loved and supported. Servant leaders understand there are benefits of leading from a position of love and support not only because it is the right thing to do, but because you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar!
Servant leaders truly understand that the purpose is more important than their position. While the promotions, position, and prominence may come; they never want their talent to take them where their character cannot keep them! Servant leaders guide people and show them the way.
Servant leaders seek growth while also growing others. Jesus makes a clear statement that whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. This presupposes that the person is not already great; in other words, there is room for improvement. Most people who feel like they are already great will not make the effort to grow since they believe they have already arrived!
“They all understood that making people feel loved and supported will motivate them and ignite their momentum...”
As I look at the best leaders I know, they all have a sincere desire to be the best which requires them to grow! What differentiates them is that they are just as committed to growing others as they are in growing themselves. They also understand sowing facilitates growing. How does a servant leader sow? They sow their time, talent and treasure. They literally pay it forward by helping others grow by sowing into them. They also are nurturing and encouraging which facilitates an environment for others to grow. In other words, they teal the soil so that when seeds are planted the environment is ready to cultivate the seeds sown. Seeds then produce after its own kind. This is the multiplication effect - leaders will produce leaders who have grown in character and compassion for others!
Jesus says, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” One would think that Jesus should have been served, but he says he came to serve! This example is the epitome of Servant Leadership. Jesus shows us the way – He shows us how it is to be done!
In an article titled, “Please, No More Travel Agents,” Eric Geiger tells of the difference between a Travel Agent and Tour Guide. A travel agent will share information with you, give you brochures, and even make some suggestions of what you should enjoy on your trip. The travel agents role ends there. A tour guide is different. Unlike the travel agent who hands you a brochure, she goes with you on your journey. The best tour guides are great because of their love for the journey and they have already been where they are taking you! Much like this example, leaders are generally more like travel agents because they give you information and tell you where to go. Moreover, servant leaders will not only guide you and walk with you, but they will also show you the way! Finally, in order for each of us to embody servant leadership, we must lead by serving and serve by leading!
FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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THE TENT EXPANDS...
PHOTO CREDIT: Pastor G
More than 71 volunteers supported Pastor G of CMBCIndy and UniteForChange as he camped out in a tent on the corner of 30th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets for 30 days, spending time in prayer and offering resources to the community.
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f your next-door neighbor’s house caught on fire, would you be concerned? Pastor John Girton of Christ Missionary Baptist Church teaches community members how to weaken the “flames” destroying our city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, including violence, unstable family situations, health inequality and unemployment. “Where I live, everyone’s house might include people from different cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities, but if a house catches on fire, that is everybody’s issue, no matter how many fences you put up separating one house from the next,” said Girton. The pastor founded Unite For Change in 2015 with the goal of equipping leaders from urban communities with the platform, skills and resources needed to turn their neighborhoods around. Earlier this month, with the help of more than 71 volunteers, Girton camped out in a tent on the corner of 30th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Streets for 30 days, spending time in prayer and offering resources to the community, such as health and fitness workshops, job readiness training, movie nights, a memorial for lives lost and an awards ceremony to recognize individuals committed to making Indianapolis a better community for all. Though the tent campaign is over, Unite for Change’s 20
By: KESHIA MCENTIRE @Keshiamc12 Originally published in the Indianapolis Recorder Jul 27, 2017 Photo: Matt Trees
goal of strengthening the city is still going strong. Girton is currently planning his bi-annual Urban Servant Leadership Un-Conference, an event designed to inspire and empower current and future leadership in urban centers around the world, and taking part in the Indianapolis Eastside Community Conversations at the East 38th Street Library. A city divided Girton grew up on the far-east side of Indianapolis and witnessed the issues he now tackles first-hand. The difficulties he experienced in his own life made him want to be an agent for change in the community. “My own personal journey led me to unemployment, contemplation of suicide, rejection from my family, rejection from the religious community, and it took all of that to get me to where I am now,” said Girton. “Unite for Change is about rejecting the idea that we are going to experience positive change without people taking on their own roles and responsibilities in what that change needs to look like. There is no other way to achieve progress without being on the same page.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Pastor G
However, Girton says getting Indianapolis on the “same page” has proven difficult. He describes Indianapolis as a city divided, one part reflective of the polished images he views on advertisements, and the other full of vacant and boarded up homes, crime, unemployment and people without hope. He says it is difficult to find resources for the people he aims to serve. “There is a climate in the city that’s not interested in the people we are attempting to help. I feel that way because of the level of support we receive from the institutions. When two little (white) girls in Delphi, Indiana, are murdered and we can raise over a quarter million dollars for them, but four little (Black) girls died in a fire less than an hour away, and we can’t raise $10,000, it says we don’t want to help those people,” said Girton. “The problem we are having is that there are people who are going to stand on the sidelines because I am a Black Baptist pastor. They think that means my end goal will not impact a white United Methodist pastor. When we do that, we diminish our impact.”
“...it is difficult to find resources for the people he aims to serve.”
Bridging the gap Local couple Jim and Nancy Cotterill would likely agree with the notion that our city’s potential for improvement is being demolished because of division. The couple aims to address one of the biggest walls that divide individuals: money. They founded a nonprofit by the name of Unite Indy with the goal of mobilizing funding and volunteers
THE 2017 TENT CAMPAIGN INCREASED EFFORTS TO MEET NEEDS
Our Work Unite for Change hasn’t stood on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity to get involved in healing our urban community. We’ve rolled up our sleeves and committed to working alongside any partner willing to join us in our fragile community. Here’s what we’ve found over the past six months.
Our Statistics
137
480
82%
Intakes
Lives touched
Unemployed
81%
23%
17%
21%
24%
Food
Transportation
Shelter
Detox/Mental Health
Utilities assistance
71
Volunteers
2,255
Volunteer hours
FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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POWER from the PEOPLE
Traits of an Urban Servant Leader Where We Work
I
When servants work in urban communities we know it, we feel it and we can see it. Others,
learned a long time ago that peo-
well, they somehow don’t recognize what’s
ple naturally resist change. They’re
obvious to us. Hurting, traumatized and over-
more likely to comply when involved
whelmed residents trying to make life make
in the decisions that impact them.
sense in fragile communities can’t find the
Whether working with a family or a com-
words to express their exasperation. They’re not hopeless. They’re strong, resilient, survi-
Rachel Lewis
Community Builder
vors of social disenfranchisement. Pushed to the back, sidestepped and swept under our
My role is to facilitate this process.
As a resident, it’s important that, with any kind of develop-
city’s rug, urban servant leaders refuse to ne-
ment, we begin with those things that are good and already
glect them. We don’t blame them, or judge
working and build from there. Each person has value. When
them. We see and advocate for them.
recognized and infused into the grand scheme of things, we
How We Work
discover that everything we need is already here.
After spending two months literally walking
The Northwest Quality of Life Plan was developed by resi-
the streets, over three years loving on people
dents and stakeholders in 2014. Today, it continues to ad-
and nearly twenty years grinding as an advo-
dress concerns identified by the community. As the current
cate, here’s what I’ve learned: in order to be
Community Builder I’m pleased to announce the new 2018
an urban servant leader you need more than
NWQOL Governance Committee comprised of new resident
basic leadership skills. You need to be forti-
leadership in partnership with stakeholders including New-
fied with these skills as well:
fields, Marian University and Flanner House. PHOTO CREDIT: Andrea Smith, STUDIO 57
1. A Calling 2. Vision 3. Passion 4. Patience 5. Empathy 6. Wisdom & Discernment 7. Presence 8. Morals & Values 9. Inquisition 10. Commitment
munity, individuals must own the plan.
We will address Community Safety & Peace-building, Economic Development, Education, Food Access, Housing and Arts, Parks & Public Spaces. We will offer opportunities to grow a culture of health and well-being, through strengthening relationships, providing guidance and support for home ownership, launching entrepreneurs, improved access to education and occasions to celebrate the great things that are happening in our community. (317) 925.4231 ext. 254
Pastor G
Founder UniteForChange.org
rlewis@flannerhouse.org www.flannerhouse.org
from across Indianapolis to support the ministries and organizations working in urban areas. They were inspired to launch Unite Indy after Jim had an eye-opening conversation with a pastor of a small urban church. “Jim was part of a group that got together to pray for the city. He was talking to a pastor from one of the difficult areas of the city who said, ‘Jim, you can sit up there and pray all day long, but we have houses on fire down here.’ And he was talking about people who need help. You can’t always wait till things are perfect to help them. So Jim said, ‘This has to happen now,’ and we decided this is what we are going to devote ourselves to,” said Nancy Cotterill. Cotterill says urban ministries are often underfunded because organizations that fund non-profits, such as the United Way, are hesitant to donate to faith-based institutions. “We have ministries doing fabulous work with people in our city, feeding people, clothing people, helping them with money for housing, but they die on the vine. They have no support, and to do anything it takes some money,” said Cotterill. In addition to providing funding and volunteers for urban ministry initiatives, Unite Indy is seeking to engage our city in critical conversations about the things that keep it divided. They recently hosted a panel at Crossroads Bible College titled “Building Race Relationships.” At the event, a former gang member, a Black businessman and a panel of other Indianapolis residents discussed how race has impacted their lives. “I think people see race as a dividing line. In many cities, the areas of highest poverty are not necessarily Black. In Indianapolis though, it’s generally a situation where there are Black people living in those areas,” said Cotterill. “There are all types of things that happen in situations of poverty. You can talk about homelessness, the fact that more Blacks are incarcerated than whites, then they can’t get a job. When a man goes to jail, the whole family who did nothing is affected. A lot of the time they are in a food desert and cannot easily get to a grocery store, and if you don’t have a car, it’s hard.” “People are wounded. When you know who you are, you are not what the world says you are, you are what God says you are, and he says you are a victor and not a victim, you are a survivor, you are an overcomer,” said Cotterill. For more information on Unite for Change, visit uniteforchange.org. To learn more about Unite Indy, visit uniteindy.org. Full text of article can be found at: http://bit.ly/2vMHKPE FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Dycus, Dycus Vision
In the Community
Giving His Community a Voice Meet Pastor Orlando Jordan
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Meet Pastor Orlando Jordan! He’s a 28-year old community activist who believes in joining forces to make the greatest impact. BY: Jennifer Irvin and Mercedez McDowell
Creating a trustworthy relationship between police and the public has always been high on Pastor Jordan’s list of priorities. His work with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is of particular importance. As Community Resource Committee Chair for the North District, he works with IMPD five days per week, giving the community a voice through his efforts.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Dycus, Dycus Vision
P
astor Orlando Jordan targets his efforts toward the Avondale Meadows, commonly known as “The Meadows” and home to his church, Resurrection Community Church. While The Meadows has earned a challenging reputation, Pastor Jordan continuously strives to enhance the future outlook and quality of life within the neighborhood. He leads the community by tackling real-world issues such as homelessness, food shortages, utility/rental assistance, healthcare disparities, and education. The efforts of Pastor Jordan in conjunction with various community partners help to empower the public with the knowledge and resources to nourish and flourish within their community.
The Community Resource Committee of the IMPD aims to build and maintain active police-to-community partnerships, while assisting citizens in identifying and solving problems that arise. The committee also develops relationships on both sides to help people feel comfortable going to the police when there is a problem. Working closely with Commander Josh Barker, Pastor Jordan actively seeks information about cases affecting the North District neighborhoods in order to dispense accurate information to the community. “This basically removes rumors so people don’t have to guess. Being informed and knowing what’s going on in your neighborhood allows residents to feel safer,” explains Pastor Jordan. “There are residents who take ownership in their community who say we don’t want drugs in our community or we don’t want violence. We as community leaders and stakeholders can put our hands to the plow and say we can fix this. When community organizations have meetings, they can dispense valuable information so the community knows what to look for. This knowledge empowers people to make better decisions.” The question at hand: have the efforts of the IMPD and community partners actually improved the Avondale Meadows community? “I believe our community has gotten better just looking at certain statistics,” said Pastor Jordan. “Overall for the year, we have seen double digit drops in major crimes like shootings and murders. I believe that is a result of IMPD partnering with the community so we can work collectively. It’s not just about what the IMPD should do, but we can take FORWARD #UniteForChange • 2018 Community Magazine
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ownership for ourselves and decide what we should do as well.” The Resurrection Community Church paves the way in taking ownership by providing a number of resources and events to The Meadows community including the Community Cutz Outreach event in February and a weekly food pantry that’s been up and running for more than 30 years. Hot meals are provided to the homeless four-times per week and periodically nurses provide services to those in need. “We are just a small piece of the puzzle. But when you bring everyone together, you see this one big tapestry of people willing to change the lives of people.” Pastor Jordan carries a list of nearly 30 community partners, each of which serves a distinct yet unified purpose in progressing The Meadows. Pastor Jordan explains his secret to maintaining so many community partnerships, “Through mutual respect and understanding that it’s not about me personally – it’s about the community. What we bring to the table individually makes an impact on the community collectively.” Every other month, he attends the Clergy and IMPD meeting at the YMCA. Every 3rd Tuesday, he sits on the board of Community Resurrection Partnership consisting of various community stakeholders. Additionally, he is involved with the Quality of Life Team Meetings, where leaders come together and share ideas. Emerging leaders and organizations are also encouraged to get involved. Through collaboration, current leaders can work with new leaders to keep the efforts going. “All of our meetings are open. The community is receptive to genuinel help, especially any leader with a nonprofit. We are really open in our neighborhood for people who want to change and grow the community.” Pastor Jordan’s work strongly focuses on empowering the youth. “We’ll try to invite youth. For example, if there’s an AV class at one of our schools, we’ll reach out to the school and ask for a student to come and take pics or videos for us. It helps them gain experience, and it helps us by providing someone who is knowledgeable to do professional work.” The teamwork of diverse community leaders and organizations has been at the forefront of Pastor Jordan’s support. In order to truly make strides in a challenging community, it takes collaboration. Pastor Jordan has seen major improvements first-hand in the Avondale Meadows. For someone trying to implement a similar system of partnerships, a clearly next step would be to take Pastor Jordan up on his offer to attend some planning meetings, get involved, and learn the ropes. 26
Year in Review
2017 in review
CMBCIndy and UniteForChange continue to make positive impact in our community
Mayor Hogsett shares updates with CMBCIndy
A
pproaching the close of another year, I seem to be creating a new routine. I want to get some much needed rest, go to bed early for a change and then get a couple of extra hours of sleep. But I can’t. At the end of the past two years it has become a new ritual. Along with various tributes and “best of” lists, the end of the year offers a new found opportunity to look back at what we’ve accomplished, and failed to accomplish, throughout 2017.
Resurrection Sunday Speeches by our Youth
Although I dislike the process of digging through photos and calendars, I find looking back extremely satisfying once complete. I want to share this satisfaction with our readers. Over the next few pages you will have the opportunity to slow down, think, smile and remember what we did and even what you may have missed. Between the tent campaign, worship services, Zumba workouts, infant mortality workshops, mental health seminars, leadership Young WOW & Missions Prepare Homeless Donations retreats, breast cancer awareness events, and much more, you can relive the many gems we experienced in 2017. We learned together, sacrificed together, laughed together and even cried together this year. And, I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey. So, as we prepare for an awesome new year, sit back and let your mind rewind as we look back through 2017. Together let’s revisit, remember, and fill your holiday downtime with joys from the past.
Dr. David Boyle Shares Infant Mortality and Safe Sleep Info at EpiCenter
Mayor Hogsett Visits The Mayor of Indianapolis visited CMBCIndy and the UFC Tent Campaign to give his support. Several initiatives will continue into 2018 with the support of the Mayors office. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Dr. David Boyle and his team programmed infant mortality workshops during the 2017 UFC tent campaign. Community residents from
WOW 1st Annual Lots of Love & Laughter Comedy Show
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around the neighborhood were able to learn valuable information to maintain healthy pregnancies and keeping babies and new mothers safe after birth. Women of Worth 1st Annual Lots of Love and Laughter Our first annual comedy fellowship was designed to bring women from the community together in fellowship, love and laughter. This event brought women, young and old, a fresh and joyful outlook on life.
Women’s Day Celebration with Family, Friends and Visitors
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Street Cleaning CMBCIndy again partnered with ForIndy to help keep our neighborhood beautiful. Along with ForIndy, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Mu Omega Chapter joined in the effort. Christmas Dinner at Riley Hospital For Children Members of CMBCIndy and Unite For Change joined Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in providing meals to families dealing with illness during the Christmas holiday.
KIB Clean Up with Our Neighbors
Eye Screenings at the EpiCenter Dr. Forniss Optometric brought much needed eye screenings to the UFC EpiCenter during the 2017 Tent Campaign. 2017 WOW Woman of the Year Our Woman of Worth for 2017 was named during CMBC Women’s Day. Sis. Ella Mae Jackson was named WOW Woman of the Year for her unwavering dedication to the body of Christ. First New Members Fellowship We celebrated our new members during our new members fellowship dinner at Buca di Beppo restaurant. Vacation Bible School CMBCIndy completed a successful VBS in Au28
Serving Families at Riley Hospital for Children
Dr. Kim Forniss Provided Vision Checks at Epicenter
Indianapolis 500 Race for Kids Pace Car Fun Day Pink Bingo with the Nurses
Volunteers Help Serve those in Need
CMBC New Members Fellowship at Buca di Beppo
3rd Saturday Baptist Men Breakfast Fellowship CMBC Members “Make Ready” for 2017 Tent Campaign
gust. Children, youth, and adults participated in multiple days of relevant classes for the entire family. Let the Clean out Begin Our team of clean out specialists hit the mall laundromat with a commitment to get it cleaned out. We filled two dumpsters and prepared the mall for renovations. Youth Sunday 2017 CMBCIndy welcomed Pastor Jeffrey Johnson, II of Eastern Star Church as our Lit Sunday morning youth speaker. 2017 Youth Day Speaker Rev. Jeffrey Johnson, II
2017 VBS Young Men Presentation
We Will Miss You Sis. Georgia Boone Our “favorite” member Sis. Georgia Boone left all of us wanting more when she relocated to another state. We will miss her dedication as one of our seasoned saints.
Pink Sunday Was a Hit Jacky Gaines shared her testimony during this year’s Pink Sunday Breast Cancer Awareness observance. The purpose of Pink Sunday is to educate and promote breast health awareness, early detection and address health disparities among faith-based organizations in our local communities. The R.E.D. Alliance exist to address the disparity in breast cancer mortality between African American women in Indianapolis through a collaborative approach, faith-based community outreach, and providing Pastor G & Lady G Celebrate Mrs. Boone access to healthcare and resources. (Reaching to End Disparities) R.E.D. Alliance.
Rose and LeRoy with UFC Tent Visitors
Pink Sunday Reception with One of Our Living Testimonies
Jordan training aspiring Podcaster
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UFC, American Red Cross, Raising Queens Youth Service Project CMBC Annual Family Picnic at the Park
“Souled Out” 98th Church Anniversary Service 2017 Urban Servant Leadership Un-Conference
UFC Urban Servant Awards
UFC Emergency Food Assistance at the EpiCenter
Remembering Bro. John H. Bush, Sr.
Our Youngest UFC Tent Campaign Volunteers On the Job Dea. Jerry Williams receives 2017 John L. Webb Award
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