Along with a CMS 9^th grade curriculum addressing issues of diversity, bullying and promoting respect, there are now three additional curricula for the “Souls of Our Students” DVD: a business curriculum, an independent school curriculum and a congregational curriculum. “Souls of Our Students” was presented at the “People of Color Independent Schools National Conference” in Denver, CO and is now being utilized throughout Charlotte and in over 33 schools, businesses and congregations across the nation.

 

 

Over 250 people attended the 2009 Awards Breakfast which focused on one of Mecklenburg Ministries’ top issues: quality education for every child. The 2009 Community Leader Award went to Mary Nell McPherson of Seigle Avenue Partners who has initiated quality after school programs, parent education, and nine CDF Freedom schools for students and families living in poverty. The Bridge Builder Award went to Sid Sussman who leads the Comparative Religion Series at Temple Beth El and who has been actively involved in interfaith work for decades.

 

 

 

This year Mecklenburg Ministries’ Youth Council initiated a Summer Service Sleepover, joined in a Cardboard Campout in solidarity with homeless neighbors, participated in the Homeless Awareness Walk, piloted “Teen Dialogues” for the “Changing Places” exhibit at the Levine Museum and helped lead the interfaith Thanksgiving Service. The Council meets monthly to address issues in our city, build interfaith/interracial relationships, and serve the community.

 

 

The 2009 Friday Friends Festival had its most successful year yet with over 700 people throughout the Charlotte community who have attended the Festival and/or partnered as Friday Friends by committing to being lunch partners across differences: African American, Caucasian, Latino, Native American, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i, Unitarian and Christian. The 3rd Annual Friday Friends Festival will be held on June 3, 2010 at the Levine Museum of the New South.

 

 

Community Conversations were held throughout the county to address critical issues facing Charlotte in this challenging economic time. These county-wide dialogues have given voice to hundreds of citizens andserved as a catalyst for more intensive conversations with the County Commission, City Council and Board of Education about a strategy for meeting basic human needs in our city.

 

 

 

Mecklenburg Ministries piloted this program with Charlotte corporate funders with three goals: to help participants understand poverty from the “inside,” to learn the challenges of depending on public transportation, and to explore myths of homelessness and poverty. Participants left their homes at 6am, walked to the nearest bus stop, and transferred uptown to arrive at Crisis Assistance Ministry by 8am. After serving, participants walked 3 miles, observing where our homeless neighbors slept under overpasses and in cardboard boxes beside railroad tracks. They ended up at Urban Ministry to learn from a panel of homeless community members.

 

Mecklenburg Ministries sponsored a second interfaith Clergy Habitat Build with over 100 clergy representing 58 congregations and 11 different faith traditions. These faith leaders were not only building a home, they were creating a better community as they forged relationships across differences.

 

 

 

Mecklenburg Ministries had record attendance at clergy/faith leader lunches to inspire collaboration on issues such as: “Jobs Resources,” “Homelessness to Affordable Housing,” and “Building Trust through Collaboration.” Also, a Liaison Council of lay representatives from Mecklenburg Ministries’ member congregations was established to build deeper relationships and collaborations between congregations.

 

 

“Soul to Soul” continued offering “Souls of White Folks” sessions for both clergy and lay, providing a curriculum for use in congregations. The activities for the year ended with a convocation of participants and a “pitch perfect” key note from Dr. Ron Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith University.

 

 

In its 34^th year, the Thanksgiving Service is one of the premier events in Charlotte promoting interfaith cooperation. Hosted by Temple Israel, over 1,275 people attended this service that included an interfaith Children’s Choir, Mecklenburg Ministries’ Youth Leadership Council and people from 28 different congregations singing in the Interfaith Adult Choir. Canned goods were collected for local food pantries.