Capacity-building grant enables City Gate to expand staff
Last September, City Gate received a mini-grant from The Compassion Capital Fund (CCF), which was established in 2002 to expand the role that faith-based and community organizations play in providing social services to those in need. City Gate was one of 50 organizations nationwide to receive this one-time, $50,000 mini-grant to help serve the needs of at-risk youth and homeless people. In the past, one of City Gate's biggest challenges was developing the organizational capacity sufficient to keep pace with growing demands and opportunities for serving those in need. The CCF award met that challenge by providing funds to hire a full-time operations manager (necessary for implementing an effective administrative structure) and to provide ongoing bookkeeping services.
Government grants to faith-based organizations continue to generate debate over church/state separation. However, City Gate (a 501(c) 3 nonprofit) accepts these government funds for the provisions of capacity-building and social services, and not for religious programs (which are supported by private donations).
This grant comes at a time when programs have grown beyond existing financial and organizational resources, enabling City Gate to hire Meredith Young as Manager of Operations. Aside from overseeing the day-to-day operations, Meredith will help develop the funding and organizational infrastructure critical in launching City Gate to the next level.
Meredith, a native of New Orleans and a graduate of Louisiana State University, joins City Gate from her previous job on Capitol Hill. There, Meredith served as Legislative Correspondent for U.S. Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA). Looking for an opportunity to work in the nonprofit sector, Meredith was attracted to City Gate because of its mission. She brings much excitement and enthusiasm for helping bring City Gate into its full potential. Similarly, Meredith's enthusiasm stems from her passion to help the children we serve.
Meredith looks forward to "jumping on the public relations bandwagon for City Gate, so others will become familiar with our organization and maybe want to become involved." She feels she has found her place, a place where her "personal beliefs matter" and where what is accomplished makes a difference in the lives of others.
Before joining City Gate on November 24th, Meredith was able to attend the annual meetings for the Christian Community Development Association and the Association of Christian Community Computer Centers — a great orientation for her new responsibilities. Her office is located at the Johenning Center. She has thrown herself into these new challenges, and is quickly learning how the different pieces fit together.
Volunteers-in-Mission
Two key volunteer appointments by National Ministries of the American Baptist Churches USA — one old and the other new — are helping City Gate grow its community mission.
Ms. Marilyn Norris, a retired social worker from Illinois, was our first American Baptist "Volunteer-in-Mission," appointed in January 2001. At the time, we were hoping to begin an English-as-a-Second-Language ministry in partnership with Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church. Under Marilyn's leadership, the program grew from one class to four levels of instruction within one year, and continues to flourish with a dedicated core of volunteers (including a number of American University students).
The big question we faced at the end of Marilyn's appointment was who would take the reins of this vital program. The answer was . . . Marilyn! Marilyn decided to relocate to Washington, join Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church, and actually was reappointed by National Ministries to continue this ministry of friendship and practical help to the international community. We salute Marilyn as double-dip VIM (Volunteer in Mission).
Our new VIM appointee joins us the first week of January 2004. Lucas Shivers from Kansas is a new elementary school teacher who has just completed in student teaching. Lucas will join us in our programs at Johenning for six months before returning to Kansas to teach.
City Gate is an urban ministry in Washington, working primarily with under-served and at-risk children and youth from some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in our nation's capital. We are grateful and enthusiastic about the appointment of Lucas Shivers as a Volunteer-in-Mission by ABC National Ministries to work with us beginning in January 2004.
His primary assignment will be in our after-school mentoring program at the Johenning Community Center in Southeast D.C. This program provides academic tutoring and homework assistance, life-skills, computer lab, field trips and other enrichment activities, and an evening meal after every school day. More than 100 children participated in our seven-week summer day camp at the Johenning Center. Because of lack of funding, the after-school program is currently limited to 30 children, to be expanded as additional resources are secured.
City Gate is a new faith-based ministry which grew out of the extensive community ministries of Calvary Baptist, a historic downtown church. In response to community needs and new opportunities, our programs have continued to expand since our beginning three years ago.
Lucas will be a tremendous addition to our ministry team at a critical moment, as City Gate assumes daily responsibility for the Johenning Center, a ministry of the DC Baptist Convention for forty years. Unfortunately, the Convention last year lost its funding sources for the Center. City Gate, already working in partnership with the DC Baptist Convention at the Center, has stepped into the gap to make sure the doors of this vitally-needed community resource remain open.
This is a venture of faith, trusting God to provide the necessary resources for the Johenning Center to remain a place of hope and practical help in a neighborhood of great need. Lucas will bring not only his skills as a teacher but a love for Christ and people, and a passion for service, to help us meet what is both an urgent opportunity and great challenge. I cannot tell you how much we need and look forward to his help in the coming months, and that you continue to encourage, support, and pray for him as a Volunteer-In-Mission.