Neighbors in Ministry
from Mountain Views, March 2004
Neighbors in Ministry (NIM) is multiracial group of dedicated community leaders in Brevard, NC who have a long history of fighting for racial justice by organizing church partnerships, antiracism trainings, and programs for children and parents.
NIM’s
flagship ‘Rise and Shine’ after school program serves
children in grades K-5, and is staffed by a Director, part-time
staff, and a group of more than 100 volunteers from six churches
and the local chapter of the American Association of University
Women.
Neighbors in Ministry’s antiracism workshops, based on the Damascus Road training model of the Mennonite church, are designed to ‘chop at institutional racism.’ The half day workshops explore both racial privilege and discrimination in American systems and institutions--and how such a system is spiritually and morally destructive for all people, regardless of their race. So far, more than two hundred people have taken the training in Brevard alone.
In May of this year, Neighbors in Ministry is hosting an extended three-day antiracism workshop, organized by NIM and the Pennsylvania Mennonite Central Committee. Participating organizations, including CPC, will send teams of up to five board and staff members. Following the training, participants return to their organizations with a commitment to promote antiracism efforts with their own institutions.
In January, Neighbors in Ministry invited CPC staff members Jeannette Butterworth and Craig White to facilitate a board retreat in which board members defined their individual ‘niches’ within the organization, reflected on their commitment and role as board members, and created a board covenant.
NIM also revised and renewed their commitment to the organization’s mission: “Neighbors in Ministry exists to enrich children, empower parents and encourage community through year-round programs. Our programs enable children and adults to create equality of opportunity and build the Beloved Community of racial justice and reconciliation. We are motivated by the spirit of Christian faith.”
CPC is honored to be working with this dynamic group which has such a strong and explicit commitment to ending racism. We look forward to continued work with NIM’s Marketing/Fund Development Committee, as well as facilitating discussions about programming, staffing, and planning.
Home | About
CPC | Our
Programs | | Grassroots
Partners | Self Development Fund
Friends of CPC |
The Toolbox | Publications | Links
| Contact CPC
Copyright ©
2004 Center for Participatory ChangeAll rights reserved. Contact CPC for permission on reprinting or use of materials on this site.