Printer-friendly version

TRAINING CHURCH TEAMS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

EGC’s Starlight Ministries trains church teams through workshops customized for individual churches or small groups, as well as by hands-on learning through outreach on the streets, visits to shelters and treatment programs, and through modeling in-house services such as advocacy and our Thursday afternoon, on-site Opportunity Resource Center. We blend on-the-ground relationship-building with people who are homeless with targeted trainings for outreach volunteers and coaching for church-based teams. Training, coaching, and mentoring include overviews of homelessness and street outreach, to the how-tos of outreach and relationship, to the principles of partnering with individuals seeking change.

CONNECT: If you would like to talk with someone about building a customized training program for your church or small group, to help your church or group gain vision and skills to open its doors and hearts to people who are homeless or street involved, contact Alex Grant, training coordinator, at agrant@egc.org or visit www.egc.org/starlight.
 

TRAINING IN THE SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF YOUTH VIOLENCE

The Youth Violence Systems Project (YVSP), led by EGC’s Applied Evaluation Systems, works to gain deeper insight into the root causes of youth violence, create a broader conversation about these root causes, help people see where they fit into the framework, discern what is missing, and increase the dialogue about needed strategies.

Partnering with community agencies in three urban neighborhoods, YVSP has launched Learning Centers which will give residents training to increase understanding of the causes of youth violence; and ultimately to see broad, long-term reduction in violence and improvement in the overall health of the community.

Over the next two years, 50 agencies and 200 youth workers will receive training in the systemic causes of youth violence in Boston under the direction of a YVSP Training Team.

CONNECT: If you would like more information on the Youth Violence Systems Project, contact Sam Kim, director, Applied Evaluation Systems, email: skim@egc.org, or visit www.gettingtotheroots.org.

TRAINING YOUTH WORKERS FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRY

Formed by a collaboration of seasoned Christian organizations with a long term commitment to urban youth, neXus serves 200 full-time, part-time, and volunteer youth workers, who in turn serve 4,000 youth ages 10-19 in Boston.

neXus provides training, mentoring and resources for youth workers at urban churches and at faith- and community-based agencies to help them reach and serve youth and their families more professionally and effectively.

The neXus Leadership Initiative is an intense, year-long leadership program, through which cohorts of a dozen youth workers learn to integrate leadership skills like planning for change, problem solving, and mobilizing resources into their personal life and ministry.

Urban Youth Worker Certificate classes, offered by neXus and the Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME), challenge youth workers through subjects such as the promotion of healing and growth in youth ministry, the strategy and management of youth programs, and understanding youth culture.

Peer mentoring takes place at the “Living Room,” a bi-monthly meeting to empower youth workers through interactive fellowship, food, and fun while serving as a key entry point for those looking for like-minded relationships. neXus also sponsors regional, small accountability groups of urban youth workers called “cluster communities.”

CONNECT: If you would like more information on how neXus serves urban youth workers, or to learn how to get involved, contact Rev. Matthew Gibson, director. Call 617-427-7293 ext 6211, email  mgibson@egc.org, or visit www.bostonnexus.org.

[published in Inside EGC, September-October, 2010]