The Shalom training provided by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries continues to go well. Trinity's team is thus far composed of Meredith Carlson, Bob Carter, Mickey Fishbeck, Sid Hall, Matt Hollon (Neighborhood), Ron Meyer (Lake Travis UMC), Teri Sperry (Neighborhood), and Marci Spivey. In our contact with Ridgetop School, it is clear that we will soon be joined by at least two more members representing the school who are both bi-lingual and Hispanic. We have had 5 training events since November; our last will be in April.
The name we have chosen is the Ridgetop Community of Shalom. We will focus on the needs of the immediate neighborhood. Our Mission and Vision Statements are:
MISSION
The Ridgetop Community of Shalom is an inclusive, evolving
coalition of community groups, businesses, schools, churches, and
individuals committed to working together to identify and actively
address the needs of the neighborhood, particularly those centered
around education, child care, safe and affordable housing, economic
opportunity, and personal empowerment. In doing so, this coalition
will draw on the expertise and resources of public and private
agencies as well as of community leaders, both those already
participating in civic life and those whose leadership skills are
developed through the Communities of Shalom experience. The work of
the coalition is aimed at developing a more vibrant, prosperous, and
cohesive community that values diversity and celebrates life.
VISION
The Ridgetop Community of Shalom will be a place of love and
cooperation, where every individual is respected and valued,
regardless of age, ethnicity, language, race, religion, sexual
orientation, socioeconomic status, or other label. It will be a place
where justice prevails, where relationships of trust are nurtured,
where the natural environment is protected and celebrated, where
creativity and spirituality flourish, and where all community members
work actively toward the common good.
We are currently looking at the possibility of 4 primary objectives, but much still has to be worked out in terms of specifics. These will be collaborative efforts between Ridgetop School, the Ridgetop Neighborhood Association, and Trinity, among other local groups. They are:
An After School Program for Ridgetop Elementary School geared toward 5th and 6th graders (the 6th graders will have to be transported from Lamar Middle School). This program will focus on Literacy, English as a Second Language, Environmental Responsibility, and developing the 40 Assets of Children and Youth designed by the Search Institute in Minneapolis MN. This would likely be housed at the school.
A Child Care Center for children birth through 5 for Ridgetop teachers, other teachers in nearby schools, as well as children from the immediate neighborhood. This would likely be housed at Trinity.
A Low-Income counseling/social service center that provides persons being supervised for certification in counseling/social work as the primary providers of care. This would be done in conjunction with the Creative Resources Center, who provides the supervision of the counselors. The counselors-in-training will be bi-lingual with special emphasis on relation to people who are poor and Hispanic. A room for counseling a couple of days a week will likely be provided by Trinity.
A full-time Social worker to interact with the neighborhood, school, and churches, particularly providing leverage for those who are poor, are unfamiliar with English, and whose needs tend to be overlooked in conventional neighborhood, educational, and ecclesial planning. In this venture, we believe that it is essential to employ a person who is Hispanic, bi-lingual, and who has experience working with children and their families.
As you can see, we are off to a great start. Please hold us in your prayers. The prayerful support of Trinity's members is the key to this being successful.