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 email LeDayne and ask to be added to the Thursday meetings email list.
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
9/30, 11 AM - 1 PM: JCSU our Spiritual Life Fair, at JCSU “on the block”
10/2: MeckMIN Youth event at Sikh Gurdwara
10/5, 7PM: Christian Nationalism public conversation, Heaton Hall at Myers Park Baptist
10/11: Digital Skills training begins at Valerie C. Woodard Conference Center 3205 Freedom Drive, Building Entrance 'E'
10/14, 11:30-1: Interfaith American gathering on faith and health at The Duke Endowment
10/18, 11:30-1: Food for Thought: Safe and Secure Elections. Please register
10/22, 9-12: Pineville Neighbors 6th Annual Potato Drop at Carolina Place Parking Lot
11/12: MeckMIN Youth Event at Catawba Nation
11/22, 6:45 -9 PM: MeckMIN Community-Wide Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
12/14, 12 – 4 PM: Wedgewood Church Immigrant Holiday Bazaar
12/16: Canopy Realtor® Association Holiday Awards Luncheon
Opening Reflection
"God knows our requirements without being reminded. He knows them better than we do. If prayer were intended only to inform God of our desires and deficiencies, it would be unnecessary. Its true purpose is to raise the level of the supplicants by helping them develop true perceptions of life so that they can become worthy of His blessing.
This is the function of the evaluating, decision-making process of prayer. The Hebrew word for prayer is reflexive, indicating that the one who prays acts upon himself. Prayer is a process of self-evaluation, self-judgment; a process of removing oneself from the tumult of life to a little corner of truth and refastening the bonds that tie one to the purpose of life."
-The Complete Artscroll Siddur
1. MeckMIN Updates
OCTOBER 2 YOUTH EVENT /NOVEMBER 12 YOUTH EVENT
Learn about Sikhism with MeckMIN
November 12th – youth go to Catawba Nation
Please share the name and email address of the people who work with youth at your congregation or faith community so that we can share these opportunities and others.
Register here for October 2 event
November 12th – youth go to Catawba Nation
Please share the name and email address of the people who work with youth at your congregation or faith community so that we can share these opportunities and others.
YOUTH LEADER SURVEY
We are seeking help in creating interfaith opportunities for middle and high school youth which are as appealing and accessible as possible.
Anyone who works with youth (whether as a staff person or as a volunteer) is asked to PLEASE help us out by taking a brief survey about the types of events and the times that are of most interest to you and your group.
Contact LeDayne for the survey link.
IN PERSON FOOD FOR THOUGHT | FAIR, SAFE, & SECURE ELECTIONS IN NC: A BIPARTISAN EVENT October 18 | 12 - 1 PM | Covenant Presbyterian Church
Lunch starts at 11:30 AM.
Join us as we hear from members of the Voting Rights Committee of the Reimagining America Project, a group that has worked to dispel misinformation about rampant fraud in our elections system and continues to focus on safety, fairness, and overcoming racial disparities in voting rights in NC.
This event will be in-person only. NO online option. NO recording. Lunch reservations due by Monday, October 10. Register here.
IN PERSON FOOD FOR THOUGHT | MOVING BEYOND MYTH
November 15 | 12 - 1 PM | Covenant Presbyterian Church
Lunch starts at 11:30 AM.
Join us on Tuesday, November 15 at 12 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church for Moving beyond Myth which will focus on the stereotypes and misinformation about Indigenous people that we've all learned from school or the media. During this interactive workshop, participants will reflect on their experiences learning about Indigenous people in school, and how these lessons were often rooted in untruths that have crystallized over time. We will work to deconstruct these stereotypes and to recognize the authenticity and complexity of actual Indigenous identity, both contemporarily and historically. Register here
ANNUAL COMMUNITY-WIDE INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE Tuesday, November 22 | 7 - 9 PM (Prelude to begin at 6:45 PM) Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church
The 2022 Community-Wide Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will include Indigenous Carolina Catawba, Lumbee, and Tuscarora artists and activists in crafting a service that incorporates their traditional and current practices to address the mythmaking around the traditional Thanksgiving story, offer a truer and more complete story, and suggest actions toward justice that attendees and MeckMIN can take. While deeply rooted in Indigenous history and traditions, the service will be accessible to people of all faiths.
We gather each year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and the service is a delightful reminder of the rich and growing diversity of our community. We hope you'll mark your calendar and plan to join us!
If you too are excited about this opportunity, please consider becoming a sponsor of the service to enable us to equitably compensate the Indigenous leaders who are assisting with the service. The lead sponsorship is available for $5,000, and there are additional opportunities available for individuals, congregations, businesses, and fellow nonprofits ranging from $3,000 to $250.
Click here to sponsor this event. Click here to see our sponsorship opportunities
Pandemic Updates
Tamara Hawkins | Tamara.Hawkins@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Good news! North Carolina ranked number 2 in the nation in its effort to preserve life during the pandemic. #1 was Vermont which has a fraction of the population. That means about 14K people in NC did not die during the pandemic because of our shared efforts. Many of those on these calls have played a role in that success so thank you. Safest States During COVID-19 Article - https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-states-during-covid/86567
Covid rates are declining and for the first time in a long time, there’s been a surge in first-time vaccines!
COVID vaccines can also be scheduled.
https://www.mecknc.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Home.aspx
Monkeypox vaccines can be scheduled online if eligible. 210 local cases as of yesterday and 520 overall in the state.
https://www.mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/CDControl/GeneralCDControl/Pages/Monkeypox.aspx
Reminder – we are entering flu season. You can get flu and a Covid booster at the same time (use different arms). We have a good flu site with prevention etc. We go by what happens in the southern hemisphere and they had a severe flu season so be vigilant and encourage people to get the shot. After several light flu seasons due to Covid precautions, we are expecting a lot of flu cases this year. Just as with Covid, our efforts to encourage flu shots and basic precautions can save lives!
Meck County Flu Information Website
COVID-19 REPORT FOR MECKLENBURG - PAST 2 WEEKS: SEPT 9-22 (ENG/SPAN)
The good news is that all the data points indicate improving conditions as far as COVID transmission is concerned. Also, we are seeing positive movement on the vaccination campaign:
Almost 20,000 vaccine doses administered in the previous 14 days
More than 12,000 people received their first COVID booster dose
29% of booster doses were administered to residents 25-49 years old, the age group where COVID transmission is higher
All wastewater monitoring locations are showing steady or declining COVID detection, and none of the sites are at Level 5.
REPORTE DE COVID-19 DE MECKLENBURG (ULTIMAS 2 SEMANAS: 9-22 DE SEPTIEMBRE (INGLES/ESPANOL)
La buena noticia es que todos los puntos de datos indican una mejora de las condiciones en lo que respecta a la transmisión de COVID. Además, estamos viendo un movimiento positivo en la campaña de vacunación:
• Casi 20,000 dosis de vacunas administradas en los pasados 14 días
• Más de 12,000 personas recibieron su primera dosis de refuerzo de COVID
• El 29% de las dosis de refuerzo se administraron a residentes de 25 a 49 años, el grupo de edad donde la transmisión de COVID es más alta
Todos los lugares de monitoreo de aguas residuales muestran una detección de COVID constante o en disminución, y ninguno de los sitios está en el Nivel 5.
2. Non-Profit Updates
6TH ANNUAL PINEVILLE POTATO DROP
Jane Shutt | jane@pinevilleneighbors.org | 704-972-8722
561 North Polk Street, Pineville, NC
The 6th Annual Pineville Potato Drop will be Saturday, October 22 from 9-12 at Carolina Place Mall. Our volunteers will be packing 40,000 pounds of potatoes in 10 pound bags for distribution to agencies such as yours. If you would like some, please let me know how many bags you can use.
If you need potatoes, email me at jane@pinevilleneighbors.org or call us at 704-972-8722
MeckMIN is promoting this as the service project for all Open tables participants! Here is the link to the registration project on JustServe (with the details about where to meet and what to wear/bring.
NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL FORUM
October 8, 11, 13 – virtual candidate debates
Oct 8th from 1-4 PM: US Senate, US House, NC Senate, NC House
Oct 11th from 6:30-8:30 PM: Mecklenburg Co. Soil & Water Board, Mecklenburg Co. Commission (At-Large), NC Supreme Court, NC Court of Appeals, Mecklenburg Superior Court
Oct 13th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Mecklenburg Co. Commission (Districts), CMS Board of Education
Register HERE to participate
CULTIVATE: EMERGING LEADERS
Susan Arrington | susan@nextstage-consulting.com | 704-650-2009
Digital Content & Community Manager
Cultivate is an online platform for social good changemakers. The goal of the FREE Emerging Leaders community is to help develop social sector leaders’ abilities to build effective and sustainable nonprofits across six capacities – leadership & strategy, human resource management, program development, financial resources, operations and marketing. Designed for orgs less than 10 years old, operating budget less than $500K That looks like:
• Six, self-paced course modules including highlight videos, written lessons, video testimonies and more
• An online workbook where participants can reflect, brainstorm and turn learnings into action steps
• A member activity feed to spark ideas, ask questions and build relationships
• Invitations to in-person events and connection opportunities to expand personal network
• Support and encouragement from the Cultivate Moderator
YEAR UP CHARLOTTE
Bridgette Schuch, bschuch01@yearup.org
Recruitment Manager, CPCC | Office (980) 498-9933 | Mobile (704) 591-3306
Year Up is a national non-profit that provides free career training and internship for young adults ages 18-29. We have 3 different program offerings.
1. Our traditional year-long program (6 months of learning and development followed by a 6 month internship) students can choose from 4 pathways: Project Management, Data Analytics, Application Development, or Cybersecurity.
2. Our Consumer Banking program (10 weeks of learning and development followed by a 6 month internship) and
3. Our accelerated program, designed for college graduates, or students close to graduation (8 weeks of learning and development followed by a 6 month internship).
Students earn an educational stipend while in program and our end goal is for each student to receive a job offer at the end of internship. Average starting salary is 60K. Offer stipend (small) for participating students and it is hybrid – partially in-person, partially online.
FILL MY CUP!
Sheila Laury | Executive Director Director@fmcliteracy.org | Office: (704) 705-9797
Fill My Cup! Adult Literacy and Adult Basic Education Services Organization has served our Charlotte - Mecklenburg Community for nearly 20 years. We teach adults to read, improve their reading and obtain needed functional adult literacy skills. My Cup!
In addition to our Adult Literacy tutoring services, we are now providing digital skills training to the aging, to help support life skills and employability interests. We really need the Church and Faith Community's help in sharing the news about a free digital skills training that we offer to those age 50+ ( women, People of Color, and those who have a low-income). As a Licensed Partner of AARP, Fill My Cup! conducts the Digital Skills Ready@50+™ training sessions at the Valerie C. Woodard Conference Center.
AARP Digital Skills Ready @50+™ Training Sessions currently being conducted. The sessions start at 10am, and are approximately 75 minutes in length, on most Tuesdays, and some Thursdays.
Participants should REGISTER:
CALL: (704) 705-9797
OUR TRAINING LOCATION:
Valerie C. Woodard Conference Center
3205 Freedom Drive, Building Entrance 'E'
Charlotte, North Carolina 28208
SEATS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR UPCOMING SESSIONS! REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
INTERFAITH AMERICA GATHERING AT THE DUKE ENDOWMENT OCTOBER 14
Suzanne Watts Henderson, shenderson@interfaithamerica.org
Senior Consultant, Strategic Initiatives | phone: 312.573.4207
Announcing a gathering at The Duke Endowment on Friday, 10/14, from 11:30-1:00. As we turn the corner from the pandemic, we’re building on what we’ve learned to forge a sustainable, impactful coalition of partners working at the intersection of faith and health. This lunchtime roundtable discussion will gather leaders from higher education, health care, faith-based organizations, public health, and more to dream together about how we can deepen and extend the faith and health network in our community.
Bereket Mamo | bereket.kass@gmail.com | 240-314-9981
We are a non-profit organization that works against sex-trafficking. We work in Ethiopia and the States. Just in April we brought in 20 women. Poverty is the chief driver. We housed them and got them vocational training. Bringing another 20 in October. We need partners and others to help. For details visit https://thespringsoflivingwater.org/
Emma Chuma | echuma@charlottespeechhearing.com
Shannon Tucker | stucker@charlottespeechhearing.com Angie Rikard | arikard@charlottespeechhearing.com
Founded in 1967 by the Junior League of Charlotte in response to the rubella epidemic, Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is thrilled to celebrate its 55th year serving the Charlotte area communities. Using evidence-based strategies and highly trained providers, we continue to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of those we have promised to serve. Our vision is that everyone in need, regardless of income or other barriers, has access to the speech-language and hearing services they need to build their own pathways to success and to obtain a meaningful and enriched life. We have offices near Metropolitan and the heart of Charlotte and in Monroe to serve Union County
Some of their programs include:
• CLIP – Community Language Literacy Impact Program: We do screening and therapy with low income students including in many schools. We screen them just as they enter the schooling years so they can enter kindergarten on an equal level
• Advancing Literacy through Language – work with Renaissance West STEAM academy kindergartners and the YWCA afterschool and during the summer.
• Hearing services Bank: Provides thousands of hearing aids to low-income children and adults since 1972. It is a sliding scale. It is the only program of its kind within 100 miles of Charlotte. Serve over 700 children and adults with hearing impairments each year.
If your organization would like to host a hearing screening, please reach out.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE - AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING POSITIONS OPEN
Julia Bulinska | jbulinska@ihclt.org
Cooper Manley | nmanley@uncc.edu (intern)
This fall IHCLT is expanding our afterschool tutoring program to 6 additional school sites. We’re hoping to provide 1:1 tutoring services to 200+ ESL children in grades K-5. To make this happen, we’re looking to hire about 50 Tutors and 6 Lead Tutors to support this 6-week program.
Please take a look at the attached job descriptions and share with anyone you think may be interested! The “We’re Hiring” flyer also includes a list of the 6 new school sites and the approximate times for the program. Please post to any job boards or community bulletin spaces you may have available.
Ideally, we’re trying to reach college students that are aspiring teachers and looking to gain some teaching experience, recently retired teachers that miss working with children in a school setting, and active teachers or TA’s that are looking for supplemental work opportunities this fall. We’re also hoping to find a few volunteers that can help with afterschool dismissal, snack time, behind-the-scene support, etc.
Please let me know if you have any questions! Anyone who would like to apply can email a copy of their resume to our Education Director, Julia Bulinska at jbulinska@ihclt.org.
There are also many volunteer opportunities -- https://www.ihclt.org/volunteer
CAMINO RESEARCH INSTITUTE - NC LATINO COMMUNITY STRENGTHS & NEEDS ASSESMENT
We released the findings and report for Mecklenburg County. I have included links to the video presentation, the written report, and a little of the local media coverage (front page of the Charlotte Observer!). I have also attached a one-page summary of the findings.
The Mecklenburg County portion of the project is based on 458 survey responses and results from focus groups with 36 Latino immigrants. Our initial work in Mecklenburg County was a huge success, and we are working hard to continue expanding the project across the state.
Please feel free to share this information widely! Thank you for your continued support!
PROMISING PAGES BOOKTOBERFEST
On September 29, Promising Pages will kick off its second annual Booktoberfest Community Book Drive. The purpose is to collect as many books as possible throughout October to share them with children living in the Charlotte Area Book Desert. Register for their kick-off celebration.
Wedgewood Community Church is hosting an International Holiday Bazaar on Sunday, December 4th from 12 noon to 4pm to benefit the refugee and immigrant community. We are currently looking for individuals, musicians and vendors to sell their artisan crafts during the event as well as food vendors. Booths are free, but we are asking everyone to donate a minimum of 30% of all earnings from the event to Refugee Support Services. If you are an immigrant or refugee, you can keep all of your proceeds. We are also looking for musicians to perform for donations that would also go to this community. If you would like to participate, we would love to have you! Please contact us at wedgewood.church@yahoo.com for more information. Thank you!
LOAVES AND FISHES
Huge Increase in clients we need to serve due to rising costs. 72% increase over last August. We need food drives. We also need home delivery drivers. Increasing to 4 days/week for home delivery. Open staff positions: Part-time customer service (bi-lingual preferred), warehouse assistant and IT coordinator.
MeckMIN is seeking congregations willing to host a Loaves and Fishes collection box in the lead up to the Thanksgiving service.
NEEDS FOR OFFICE AND MEETING SPACE, HR, IT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT: Take the survey here
Children & Family Services Center provides office and meeting space, as well as full-service HR, IT and financial management to local nonprofits in their building at 601 E. 5th St. in uptown Charlotte. They are hoping to gain a better understanding of the need to expand in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region. Please take a few moments to complete their brief survey below to help guide their plans!
PACE OF THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT
Is co-hosting a fair along with One-Care (cabarras County). Giving away 100 care packages with food and other resources. Reach out if you are interested in being a vendor
Wednesday, November 2 from 9 AM - 12 PM.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE PROGRAM ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
3. General Information
ABC MECKLENBURG COUNTY GRANT OPPORTUNITY
The ABC Grant is now requiring a Letter of Intent (LOI) process for their Small Grant Program and Annual Grant Program. This year, they are hosting several drop-in Grant Information Sessions throughout the county to make it more convenient for you to attend. Dates include: 9/27, 9/28, and 9/30 at 10am. Please click HERE to learn more!
CATS LAUNCHES A SEAMLESS SAVINGS OPTION WITH FARE CAPPING
Gwenarda Miller | gwenarda.miller@charlottenc.gov
Fair Housing Manager, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations
Office: 704-336-1500 | Mobile: 980-240-8451
Beginning Sept. 21, 2022, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will introduce fare capping on its CATS-Pass app. Fare capping is a flexible, cost-saving option that rewards customers with a monthly pass once they have paid $88, the equivalent of a monthly pass, in eligible fares through the CATS-Pass app. When customers reach the $88 monthly threshold, a monthly pass will automatically be added to their CATS-Pass wallet. With the monthly pass, customers can ride local bus and rail for free for the remainder of that month.
How fare capping works:
• All local bus and rail passes, including one-way, one-day and weekly passes, purchased through the CATS-Pass app will count towards the $88 monthly threshold. Only passes purchased through the CATS-Pass app will count towards a monthly pass.
• Riders can connect their CATS-Pass accounts to their debit or credit cards and load funds into their mobile wallets to purchase passes.
• To pay with cash, riders can visit the CATS customer service booth at the Charlotte Transit Center and provide the agent with cash that will be instantly added to their CATS-Pass accounts.
• Customers will automatically receive a monthly pass in their CATS-Pass wallets once they have met the monthly threshold.
For the remainder of the month, riders can show their monthly passes to bus operators and rail fare inspectors to ride CATS local bus and rail for free. Express and Express Plus buses will still require normal fare, regardless of the fare capping status of the rider. On the first day of the following month, riders’ fare capping will reset.
Watch the video to learn more about fare capping here:
Riders who do not have access to a smartphone may be eligible to receive a free smartphone and free phone service through the Federal Communications Commission’s income-based Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Through ACP, qualifying households can receive one free smartphone and free monthly service. To learn more about this program, riders can contact the Life Wireless at 1-888-543-3620 or email info@lifewireless.com For more information, visit RideTransit.org or contact CATS Customer Service at 704-336-RIDE (7433).
CITY OF CHARLOTTE ARTS & CULTURE SURVEY
The City of Charlotte is developing a comprehensive plan to guide the future of arts and culture in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. This process will determine how resources and funding can achieve sustainability and growth across the entire sector. It will also identify opportunities for inclusive collaboration among individuals, organizations and other partners.
Take the survey HERE
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
HELP CHARLOTTE CROP WALK STOP HUNGER
PRAYER FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS
In The Energy of Prayer, Thich Nhat Hanh says that when Buddhists pray, they are praying both to themselves and to what is outside themselves, that there is no distinction between the pray-er and the pray-ee—they are of the same substance. He says that when we practice mindful meditation and send our energy to someone who is in need, that transmission of energy is a form of prayer. “When love and compassion are present in us, and we send them outward, then that is truly prayer. [Further], in sending love outward, we may notice a change in our own heart.”