Message From our Executive Director
November 2006
Triplets take more than two hands
Recently, I had a "once in a lifetime" experience – becoming grandfather to triplets on November 2! Sue and I already had four grown children and four grandchildren, so we know something about welcoming babies (but ours came one at time, and each still took all the time and energy we could give!). Having triplets is just off the charts, both in blessings and challenges. Clearly it will take a team with all extended family members excited to pitch in and share an adventure we could never have imagined!
I think this great personal joy parallels the blessing and excitement many of us feel about City Gate. When this ministry was 'born' just six years ago, it was more dream than reality. We had several great team members, but I was the only full-time staff. In six short years City Gate has multiplied and diversified in ways we could not have imagined.
Running City Gate today is akin to what I suspect it will be like to raise triplets – multiple blessings and challenges that require a devoted and skilled team . . . and we have that team! I want to tell you about these special people who help make our ministry so effective, especially because 2006 has been a year of tremendous change and growth for us.
For two years our big need has been a full-time program director. Several generous gifts from churches and individuals made it possible last April to hire Kristin Wiener for that position, and she has been the key to taking our out-of-school time programs to a new level (hopefully this newsletter gives you some clue to the quality and creativity of those programs). Growing up in a military family, Kristin has seen quite a bit of the country but hails from Alabama, and has lived with her husband Tim in the Washington metro area for over 6 years.
Kristin oversees the programs at the Johenning Community Center with the help of Michelle Newby, a resident of the Johenning neighborhood. Michelle has helped with our summer program the past two years, and we were delighted to hire her full-time in September. As our new Outreach Coordinator, her duties include managing our Johenning office as well as leading activities for the younger children in the after-school program. Rounding out our Johenning team is Le'Kheejah Frederick, a young woman who also lives in the neighborhood. She, Michelle, and Kristin do an amazing job of connecting with the community and providing an exceptional program for the kids.
The "sad news" is that Meredith Young, whose devotion in growing our organization as Operations Manager was just incredible during the past three years, moved to a new job this fall. But Meredith hasn't really left us – she agreed to serve on our board of directors. Just as exciting, we found a wonderful replacement in Theodra Washington, with nearly 20 years of teaching and admissions experience at Sidwell Friends school – and already we are celebrating the gifts Theodra adds to our team. And finally, we were able to add an experienced part-time bookkeeper in Joyce Collier, which is a tremendous administrative help.
I truly thank God for the gifts, experience, and commitment of this core team! In addition, of course, we have our summer staff, kitchen workers, wonderful volunteers and mission teams, and folks who financially support the vision of opening a gate of hope, help, opportunity and empowerment. As always, this gate swings both ways – so that whoever we are, whatever our circumstances – we all can be part of building community and changing lives. We want each of you to know your interest, involvement, and gifts are vital to accomplishing this vision, and we thank you for your support.
Lynn Bergfalk