|
CRECIENDO
JUNTOS – GROWING TOGETHER
|
Faith Based Initiatives Work Group
|
Recognizing the importance of the church in Latino culture, and with the hope of facilitating more church involvement in the Latino community and more partnerships between it and other service providers, CJ has been networking since 2007 with area faith based agencies, both those with and without significant Latino members.
We encourage churches and other faith based groups interested in the Latino community to contact us to
speak with you and your members about our local Latino community
explore joining this work group
to help you identify service providers who can provide brief talks about their programs after your weekly service or at another time convenient for your Latino congregation
help assist you to identify services you can provide to the Latino community and, if needed, potential partners to help you or
share ideas about how this work group can help churches and other faith based groups work together or separately in support of our Latino residents.
The group’s coordinator is Daniel Bannister, who can be reached at mdbannister@liberty.edu or (434) 426-4122.
Work Group Development. Through 2009, the CJ Faith Based Initiatives Work Group largely operated through the efforts of one or two CJ members. Its goal for 2010 is to develop the group, increasing its membership and impact through regularly scheduled monthly meetings and other activities.
IMPACT. Each year, this network of churches identifies one or two issues that its membership works collaboratively to address. Its 2010 issue is language access. Some members of the CJ Faith Based Initiatives Work Group are collaborating with this effort.
Networking. The Work Group has and will continue to make first contact and follow up with Latino churches, with churches with Spanish speaking congregations, and with English speaking churches with an interest in the Latino community. Click here for a list of our contacts.
Supporting the Charlottesville Fire Department. The city Fire Department is interested in outreach to the Latino community. One of the ways it does so is through its annual December Posada. The CJ Faith Based Initiatives Work Group has and will continue to support the Fire Department in its efforts to reach out and educate city Latino residents about fire safety. Click here for a summary of 2009 collaborations with the fire department.
WORK GROUP HISTORY, UPDATES & RESOURCES
January 2010, Forum: Faith Based Perspective on Latino Problems. Forty-six persons attended this forum. Its objective was to provide a bridge, between the local faith based community and service providers working with Latinos, to enhance understanding about problems facing the Latino community and generate ideas and opportunities to explore partnerships to respond to them. The forum, facilitated by Daniel Bannister, was organized with the assistance of Linda Hemby, along with Brian Plum and Veronica Vargas of IMPACT. To view an overview of the forum, click here.
Directory of Churches with Latino Congregations. Click here for a list of churches and faith based groups with Latino congregations, and for churches that have expressed an interest in working with Latinos.
Overview 2007 - October 2009: Click here for a summary of contacts, activities and outcomes relating to this group during this period.
Overview 2005 - October 2008: Click here for a summary of faith based initiatives conducted by former CJ Executive Committee member Rhonda Miska, who, among her many current activities, is working with IMPACT on its 2009 language access issue. Rhonda can be contacted at rhondacville@gmail.com
|