Our every other week check-in meeting is open to anyone interested in supporting compassionate community response to our most vulnerable neighbors. Meetings are held online every other Thursday from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Email LeDayne Polaski for Zoom access code. In addition, if you would like to receive notification when these minutes are posted, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Want to learn more about we do on our calls? Watch this short video clip!
Click Here to Access Zoom Recording:
In this Issue:
Important Dates
6/17 10-11, 2-3: Tower Gardening and fresh produce give-away at Galilee Ministries, 3601 Central Avenue
6/17 CCJC: Souls to the polls
6/23, 11 am: MeckMin Leaders Meeting
6/23-26: In Our Own Backyard Camp
6/24: CCJC Clergy Brunch
6/28: CCJC Candidates Forum
7/14-17: S4TL – Rotary Leadership Camp
7/18: Applications due for National Fund for Sacred Places grant
8/1, 10-1 MeckMIN and Refugee Support Services Back to School party at 3925 Willard Farrow Dr
8/16, 12:15 – 1:15: MeckMIN Food for Thought with James Ford of CREED
8/27: Another Chance House of Refuge 5K run, “Racing Through ReEntry”.
9/11, 1-6pm: Sacred Threads Conference
Opening Reflection
Take a moment of silence and reflect on the many ways in which you and the others on this call are building the community we long for.
1. MeckMIN Updates
IN OUR OWN BACKYARD (IOOBY) | June 23-26 | Applications Open
APPLICATIONS OPEN: JUNE 23-26, 2022
We will once again host our acclaimed interfaith youth camp.
Every year we hold our interfaith summer camp experience for high-school aged youth in Mecklenburg County. The purpose of the camp is to bring youth together from different faiths, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds to learn more about each other’s faith traditions and to serve area residents in need. Participants visit various social agencies, visit different houses of faith for worship services and develop their own interfaith service on the last evening of the program. PLEASE SHARE WITH ANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
Please help us spread the word by sharing the webpage on your social media accounts and within your personal networks
AUGUST 6 YOUTH VOLUNTEER EVENT
Refugee Support Services and MeckMIN join forces to host a Back to School Party from 10 AM -1 PM at 3925 Willard Farrow Dr.
We will distribute School supplies, play games with the kids and families of Refugee Support Services and celebrate in community the end of summer and a new academic year. Please see flyer for details.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: CREED FFT - in person August 16th from 12:15 – 1:15
This month will finally be in person. James Ford of CREED talking about racial equity in schools. Save the date and watch for registration soon.
2. Community Information - Covid and other
MECKLENBURG COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
Autumn B. Watson, MPH, REHS
Sr. Health Manager Community Outreach | COVID-19 Unit
Mecklenburg County Public Health Autumn.watson@mecknc.gov
C: 704-621-5181 www.meckhealth.org
Pronouns: She/ Her/ Hers
Mecklenburg County Health Awareness : Mecklenburg county rolled in the medium category.
Website is updated with nice table. Large amount of community spread. Starting to see strain on emergency services.
3. Non-Profit Updates
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
Lauren Rogers
Volunteer and Outreach Manager
International House | 1817 Central Ave. #215 | Charlotte NC 28205
www.ihclt.org
704-333-8099 ext. 110
Art Competition: Every year IH sponsors a competition called “the Journey” The call for artists extended through June 13th to highlight refugee and immigrant artists here in town. Winning artist gets a significant stipend and their art is in IH info and part of their fundraising event.
Daytime ESL classes are resuming. Please check out their education pages for more information. One-on-one tutoring is on the horizon but no details yet.
UNIVERSAL SACRED HARVEST
Ramona Moore Big Eagle | 704.779.8632 | ramona.bigeagle@gmail.com
All are invited to this event at Galilee Ministries at 3601 Central Avenue. On June 17th, from 10-11 AM and then again from 2-3 PM all are invited to come and learn about food and fellowship using Tower Gardens as the focus of the conversation. Everyone will go home with fresh, free produce and new information on how to grow produce soil and toil free. Sponsored by Welcoming America Foundation.
HOUSING JUSTICE COALITION, HOUSING JUSTICE COALITION CLT - HOME | FACEBOOK
Ismaail Qaiyim iqaiyim@mylac.org,
Jimmy Vasiliou, housingjusticeclt@gmail.com
The Charlotte Housing Justice Coalition advocates and organizes to support housing as a human right. We engage in structural analysis of the political and economic forces that result in the hyper commodification of housing. We have worked with specific communities so far to resist developers. But now we plan to build a citywide coalition around our resolution with multiple policies so we can operate as a unified platform and release our resolution prior to election. We aim to promote alternative models like Land Trusts, community benefit agreements and more and also push for the right to counsel for tenants facing eviction. Please review and join our draft resolution here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15MkfRev9dqIp0pQMoSbTo83_DqmoXKgC/view?usp=drivesdk
CHARLOTTE CLERGY COALITION FOR JUSTICE VOTER TURNOUT WORK
Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, Co-Chair | RevG4MecMin@gmail.com | 980-202-9866
CCCJ has three upcoming events to invite you to:
July 17th: Souls to the polls
June 24: Clergy Brunch
June 28th Candidates Forum
This is the beginning of our work as we also come together in preparation for voter turnout in November. She will share more as they nail down more information.
In REACH: BIKES AND SCOOTERS NEEDED
Keiba Young, MPA, Resource Director, First In Families of Mecklenburg County, a project of InReach | kyoung@inreachnc.org | 704.536.6661 x 437. They have 1 bike and 2 scooters right now
I am on a quest to acquire new bikes for individuals (kids and adults) with an intellectual/developmental disability (i.e., Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or Traumatic Brain Injury) as we team up with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office – Community Engagement Division for their annual bike giveaway.
Summer is near and we need our kids and their parents to get moving and to get active to help improve their health. First In Families of Mecklenburg County, a project of InReach, IS the primary non-profit organization in Charlotte, who allocate funds to kids with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or a Traumatic Brain Injury and their family members to help them remain independent and on their own. Support can be in the form of vehicle repairs, computers, beds, home modifications/repairs, and other basic needs requests.
Goal: 50 bikes and 50 scooters
LONELINESS AWARENESS WEEK
Connie Bonebrake CBonebrake@humana.com
Population social lead. Coordinate the needs for the population at large.
Next week thanks to Rusty Rushing — June 14th from 8-11 Little Church on the Lane is hosting film “All The Lonely People” produced by the Clouder Group. Chronicles 11 people who overcame social isolation and loneliness.
Followed by a conversation. Includes breakfast if you register in advance from community culinary school of charlotte. You are welcome even if you don’t pre-register but breakfast requires registration.
CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY SUMMER RESOURCE FAIR
Natalie Marles (she/her/hers) Health Insurance Navigator / Outreach Specialist / Paralegal Advocate Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Mailing Address: PO Box 25558 Charlotte, North Carolina 28229
We moved our new office is located at 5535 Albemarle Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28212
phone 980-202-7339 fax 704 376 8627 email nataliem@charlottelegaladvocacy.org web charlottelegaladvocacy.org
The event is designed for the whole family and community in a safe space where everyone is welcome regardless of nationality, race, sexual orientation, or language. The idea is to bring all the services/agencies and resources to one place. There will be kid's activities, information, health screening, vaccinations, and more.
When: July 16th
Time: 10 AM – 2 PM [setup time starts 8:30]
Where: CCLA Parking lot [5535 Albemarle Rd Charlotte, NC 28212]
Here is the link to register as a vendor. Looking for vendors.
LATEST UPDATES FROM LOAVES & FISHES / FRIENDSHIP TRAYS
Pantries are being depleted because of inflation and increasing need. Please help.
Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays needs home delivery drivers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10 and 1 to deliver groceries.
Friendship Trays needs home delivery drivers Monday through Fridays between 10 and 12 to deliver prepared meals to those who cannot get out and/or prepare meals.
We also need food drives and donations of nonperishable, nonglass items and diapers.
Check out our website at loavesandfishes.org for more information. You can also contact volunteer coordinator Lindsey Houser for more information: lindsey@loavesandfishes.org.
Also, here are details for First Annual Hunger Partner Summit on Thursday, June 23 from 1-4 PM at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 2701 Park Road, 28209:
1:00-2:30pm Presentation at Holy Comforter (parish Hall), 2701 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
2:30-3:00pm Pantry Tour/Networking (Optional) at Holy Comforter, 2701 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
3:15-4:00pm Warehouse Tour/Refreshments (Optional) at LFFT, 648 Griffith Rd, Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28217
HABITAT
Habitat for Humanity welcomes eligible families to apply for affordable homeownership! We build homes across the Charlotte Region, from Pineville to Statesville. Families who purchase a home through Habitat will receive a mortgage that is affordable for their income.
Interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner? There are two chances this week to join us in person or virtually to learn about our Homeownership program and what you need for the upcoming townhome-specific application cycle that will open on June 22. Register for a session below:
Thursday, June 9 from 6-7:30pm: https://bit.ly/3Q3C9gZ (today!)
Saturday, June 11 from 12-1:30pm: https://bit.ly/3NZBfk6
Our next quarterly application cycle runs June 22-24, and is for families interested in purchasing a townhome exclusively. To see our program requirements and to request alerts, please visit https://www.habitatcltregion.org/services/homeownership/before-you-apply/
FREE COPIER/SCANNER
Free Copier/Scanner – contact From Lucy Crain at lucy.crain@covenantpresby.org
BCDI-Charlotte
Celebrating national black child development week all week.
Join us on Friday, June 10 for a conversation with the elders at 6 pm at 4001A Yancey rd. See you there!
DIAPER BANK OF THE CAROLINAS
Ncdiaperbank.org
In need of period products, adult continence products and diapers from newborn to size 6
ANOTHER CHANCE HOME FOR WOMEN
Shakieta Maloye | info@anotherchanceclt.org | 704.562.7500
Opened new transitional home
Looking for runners for our 5K event
Another Chance House of Refuge 5K run, “Racing Through ReEntry”.
FREEDOM SCHOOL BOOK DRIVE
Great Day of D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read) is one of our FAVORITE days each summer. Scholars at all of our sites join together on one day (July 20 in 2022) to read the same text. This year the book is I AM ONE: A Book of Action by Susan Verde and we need YOUR help.
We are partnering with Shelves Bookstore for this book drive with a goal of collecting 550 books for our scholars.
Will you join us in impacting our scholars this summer? To purchase, click HERE.
POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN
June18th march on Washington. Still have bus seats available from Galilee. Early morning departure and return late that evening. If someone wants a seat and cannot pay, please reach out to Samantha and she can help out. Breakfast and snacks and dinner will all be provided. See it on https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/june18/
GUN REFORM INITIATIVE
4. General Information
CHILDCARE SUSBSIDY PROGRAM EXPANDS
Childcare subsidy program expands to cover more children in Mecklenburg County. The county is investing $10.5 million into a new initiative to expand North Carolina’s childcare subsidy. The program will serve at least 700 children ranging from newborns to 12-year-olds. The change just took effect this week and means families that previously made too much money to qualify may now be eligible. People interested in the program can reach out to Child Care Resources, the agency administering the program. They can be reached at 704-348-2181 or by visiting their website.
BABY FORMULA
The HHS.gov/formula site is now available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Creole.
In addition, we have a social media toolkit accessible from each site that provides social media graphics and social media copy for posts in each of the above languages. The graphics and copy help direct people to the HHS site and also offer resources to find infant formula, as well as guidance and best practices when in need of baby formula.
Faith and community leaders can help by encouraging families needing formula to visit www.hhs.gov/formula and share the following resources widely in your communities.
Baby Formula do’s & don’ts graphic on Instagram includes helpful tips for those having trouble finding formula.
Surgeon General and FLOTUS video (links below are different social media platforms) provides support to parents and outlines what the Administration is doing to address the infant formula shortage.
NEEDS IN BUFFALO
Buffalo faith and community leaders are unsurprisingly stretched thin and would welcome assistance from culturally competent mental-health counselors, clergy, and other caregivers who are outside Buffalo but who would be able to deploy to Buffalo, if called upon to do so. Local leaders are also interested in knowing about innovative approaches to provide support to traumatized Buffalo residents. In addition, we are hearing that other forms of aid may be needed, including assistance with access to healthy and nutritious food. Contact us at partnerships@hhs.gov if you are able and willing to help. Please put “Buffalo” in the subject line and describe the kind(s) of help you are able to offer and on what timeline. Again, many thanks for the outpouring of love for our sisters and brothers in Buffalo.
North Mecklenburg Woman's Club Grant Opportunity - OPEN NOW
North Mecklenburg Woman's Club raises money for local charities with programs for women, children, and families. Their grant window opens on June 1st and runs until July 15th.
Grant applications and instructions will be on their website: www.nmwclub.org beginning June 1st.
NMWC focuses on charities, especially in north Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, Gaston, and Stanley counties from where our membership hails.
United Way Grant Opportunities
The 2023 Unite Charlotte First Year grant application process opened this month. Agencies interested in applying can start the process by submitting a Letter of Interest by noon on June 3, 2022.
The grant application process for United Neighborhoods will open on June 27, 2022. Funding for this program will be prioritized to organizations committed to serving families in certain geographies, where residents identify the service needs.
NC State Grants
This week, through a partnership between the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships and the NC Department of Information Technology, the state of North Carolina added a new Grants Page to its website. The Grants Page links to various grant programs across state agencies. The page is searchable by key word and can also be exported into a spreadsheet that you can download. The Grants Page is designed to make it easier for nonprofits seeking state grants to identify possible grants without having to look through dozens of state agency websites.
The Center is appreciative to Governor Roy Cooper’s office for developing this resource to make grant navigation easier for nonprofits. We encourage you to share the Grants Page with other nonprofits in your network. The state is continuing to update the page to add any grant programs that are missing; let us know if you know of another state grant program, and we’ll pass it along to our friends in state government to add to the Grants Page.
TREES CHARLOTTE JOB OPENING
TreesCharlotte Director of Programs, Posted: May 23, 2022
Position Overview: We are seeking an energetic, motivated, social and environmental impact oriented professional as a Director of Programs in the Charlotte Metro area. This is a fit for someone with an understanding of the tremendous impact of trees in our community and an enthusiasm for leading our efforts for all Charlotte communities to plant, adopt, learn about and care for trees. The ideal candidate will have a passion for mission-driven work, effective leadership abilities, engaging collaboration skills and a knack for achieving results. This individual will report directly to the Executive Director and manage the team delivering our programs.
About TreesCharlotte: TreesCharlotte is a public/private nonprofit collaboration to grow, diversify and steward the city’s iconic urban forest. Trained volunteers and science-based programs teach residents about the value of trees and how to plant and care for them.
Responsibilities: The Director of Programs is responsible for leading, analyzing and evolving the community facing programs for TreesCharlotte. This position will ensure these programs are consistent with the mission of the organization and that all programs are operated in an efficient and financially sustainable manner.
ALDERSGATE JOB OPENINGS – See BELOW
PRAYER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS
A blessing — from Nadia Bolz-Weber
I imagine it was because of your heart that you went into this work in the first place.
So I imagine you have a heart that wanted to extend beyond itself, to stretch to love God’s people.
So may God bless the parts of your heart that receive their stories so openly, and comfort their sufferings so compassionately, and share their joys so thoroughly.
And may God also heal the parts of your heart that have been wounded by the very people whose stories you receive and whose sufferings you comfort and whose joys you share.
And may God revive the parts of your heart that have grown protectively cold.
And may God protect the parts of your heart that are well-loved by those who know you best.
And may God gently place God’s own heart right behind yours so that the sorrow of those in your care can move your heart but find a landing place in God’s.
And may God gently place God’s own heart right behind yours so that the love you give in this work can come through you but doesn't have to come from you.
And as the love of God moves from God’s heart through your own to those in your care, may your heart soak up all it needs in the process.
Because your heart is a human one too, and it deserves to be well tended to.
AMEN.
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