Why now? Why now?

with Rev. Dr. Reggie Blount, Murray H. Leiffer Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership and Culture

Why is it important for a seminary to engage in a partnership with an organization like the Children’s Defense Fund?

A partnership allows us to make an impact in what might not be fully achieved individually. Mission and alignment are also key. GarrettEvangelical and CDF have a long history of collaboration, including the Garrett-Evanston CDF Freedom School®, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, and the Dale P. Andrews Freedom Seminary. This partnership is another expression of our collective commitments to see human flourishing through the liberation and well-being of children.

How does the Garrett-CDF partnership reflect Garrett-Evangelical’s mission to train courageous leaders for the “thriving of the church and the healing of the world”?

Garrett-Evangelical has taken seriously the training of those called and committed to centering the thriving of children, youth, and young adults since its beginnings. It started with a Methodist laywoman, Lucy Rider Meyer, who founded The Chicago Training School in the late 1800’s to train women, who were eventually recognized as deaconesses, to provide health and social services for the poor, the elderly, and children. That commitment to train those called and committed to centering the thriving of children, youth, and young adults continues. During the course of 25 years, we have had more than 12 dissertations written that centered the thriving of children, youth, and young adults that includes scholars Dr. Evelyn Parker, Dr. Dori Baker, Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, Dr. Denise Janssen, Dr. Tanya Eustace Campen, Dr. Hesung Hwang, and me. This partnership takes us to a new level and expands our historic commitments to the well-being and flourishing of young people in amazing ways.