Lately I have been reading all the stories and books about the inner-city that I can get my hands on. Not only is it fascinating, but I feel like the more I learn, the better-equipped I will be for ministry with my kiddos.
I've enjoyed all the reading so far. Of course, there are some books I liked better than others, and some which I found more helpful than others.
I thought maybe some of y'all might be interested in learning more about inner-city circumstances, poverty, working with inner-city kids etc. So here's a few suggestions:
Bridges out of Poverty and A Framework for Understanding Poverty (both so helpful and enlightening- but very similar - I would suggest reading one or the other -- probably Bridges)
Rosa Lee
Same Kind of Different As Me (one of my favorite books. of all time.)
Gang Leader for a Day
The Irresistible Revolution (this book changed my life - one of the reasons I landed in inner-city ministry to start with)
Amazing Grace, Savage Inequalities and anything else by Jonathon Kozol
Turning Stones: My Days and Nights with Children at Risk
and I'm currently reading: The Other Side of the River
Any other suggestions? If anyone knows of any books we should read to help us in understanding our kids and carrying out effective ministry, I would love to hear about them!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Why Mentor?
Sure we love our kiddos and want to serve them. But we love camp. And we love tutoring. And we love sidewalk Sunday school. And regular Sunday school. . . So why mentoring? Why are we so passionate about mentoring, and why should YOU be passionate about it too? And why should you want to mentor one of our kiddos?
I could tell you that for every dollar you invest in these kids now, you will save four dollars later on the cost of incarceration and rehabilitation. I could tell you that investing in the kids is making an investment into our city, into our future. I could tell you that mentored kids are nearly 50% less likely to use drugs down the line, are more likely to stay in school, and have increased self-esteem.
Or maybe I should tell you about 8 year old Sincere, whose mom died two years ago, and whose eyes welled up with tears when he whispered to me that he misses her, and that he has no one to talk to. I could tell you about Sincere's little sister, Samaya, whose laugh can literally brighten your entire week. Or I could tell you about Sharonda, who has attitude dripping from her pores. I could tell you about Zack, who is scared of dogs and heights, but who has a grin that blinds you like sun glinting off the wet roads.
Or I could tell you about the women in my own life. Women who took the time to invest pieces of themselves in me. Women who made a difference, who shaped me into the person I am today.
But I'm not going to tell you about any of that. Because here's the only thing that really matters: These kids are precious, valued children of God. And you might be the only person to ever tell them that.
Want to be a mentor or support the mentoring program? Send an email to Adam at VAMentoring@gmail.com
I could tell you that for every dollar you invest in these kids now, you will save four dollars later on the cost of incarceration and rehabilitation. I could tell you that investing in the kids is making an investment into our city, into our future. I could tell you that mentored kids are nearly 50% less likely to use drugs down the line, are more likely to stay in school, and have increased self-esteem.
Or maybe I should tell you about 8 year old Sincere, whose mom died two years ago, and whose eyes welled up with tears when he whispered to me that he misses her, and that he has no one to talk to. I could tell you about Sincere's little sister, Samaya, whose laugh can literally brighten your entire week. Or I could tell you about Sharonda, who has attitude dripping from her pores. I could tell you about Zack, who is scared of dogs and heights, but who has a grin that blinds you like sun glinting off the wet roads.
Or I could tell you about the women in my own life. Women who took the time to invest pieces of themselves in me. Women who made a difference, who shaped me into the person I am today.
But I'm not going to tell you about any of that. Because here's the only thing that really matters: These kids are precious, valued children of God. And you might be the only person to ever tell them that.
Want to be a mentor or support the mentoring program? Send an email to Adam at VAMentoring@gmail.com
Friday, April 3, 2009
Meet Zack
I want to introduce you to my friend Zack. Like the other kids we work with, Zack lives in low-income housing in Atlanta. His mom is twenty-six years old, and he is twelve. For those of you who are not a math whiz, that makes her fourteen when she became a mom. Still a kid herself, in my estimation. She doesn’t have a job and lives off the money she receives from welfare every month. It’s just her and Zack, and he has never met his father. In these ways, Zack is like the rest of the twelve year olds that we work with. But there is something special about Zack too. He has a rare ability to cheerfully navigate the obstacles that are placed squarely before him. He rarely fights, and he faces each day with a sense of humor and a maturity that is beyond his years. Yet he is also very much a kid. He loves to ride the skateboard he received from a sponsor for Christmas. He loves to get up front and lead dances at Metro Kidz. And he cannot wait to go to camp again this summer. Last summer was his first time attending an over-night summer camp. Not only did he have fun, but he also made the decision to follow Christ. Many times throughout the year, Zack has reminded us that his name is written “in the book” (of life). He knows where he is going after he dies, which is the greatest gift camp could have given him.Zack continues to emerge as a leader among his friends and at Metro Kidz. He gets up front and leads the group, he knows the rules and the prayer we do every week. He listens to the leaders and rarely gets in fights. He has an attitude of cheerfulness and good humor that we don’t often find among the children we work with. And there’s a light in his eyes, a light which goes beyond normal childish friendliness. Despite his many internal resources, Zack’s external circumstances may very well extinguish that light. Atlanta is moving to shut down many of the housing projects, and Zack’s home is one that will be torn down. Without a job, his mom will not get a voucher for a new place to live. And with the economy the way it is right now, finding a job will be nothing short of impossible for her. So who knows where they will end up in the next year?
God has created Zack for big things, even if it’s just being a leader and positive influence among his friends. His infectious grin and good heart are both an asset and a liability in the neighborhood he lives in. We hope and pray that through ministries like Metro Kidz, through mentors, and through another summer at camp, Zack’s big heart will only continue to grow and allow him to move beyond his circumstances to accomplish great things.
***We love hanging out with Zack! :-) Here's a little snippet of him enjoying himself at our house. Ok maybe he hates out dogs, but it's a source of endless amusement for us at least . . .
Charli and the Kiddos from Becca Stanley on Vimeo.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Allow Us to Introduce Ourselves
Welcome to Vision Atlanta's brand new mentoring program. We are so excited to be a part of it, and we are so glad to meet you!
I'm Becca and I will probably update this just as much as Adam, even though he's the man in charge of this operation. Why? Because I enjoy writing and blogging and building a community of support and prayer. Not that he doesn't, but he is so involved in the busy hands-on aspects that I'm sure this will be a 50/50 sort of thing. Oh and the cute little one in the picture? That's our daughter Jayci. She's almost 7 months old, and she is just as excited as we are to be a part of the mentoring program. I know it, she told me.
Hopefully, this blog will be a place where we can keep you up to date on the ministry, on our lives, on the kiddos we work with, and also provide any resources that we come across which you might find helpful as a mentor.
If you have any more questions about the mentoring program, want to get involved by mentoring, supporting us, or praying for us - give us a shout at VAMentoring@gmail.com
You can also visit Vision Atlanta's website to learn more about our ministry, what we stand for and who we serve.
Thanks for visiting!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
One of the Reasons We Love Mentoring
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
In the course of spending a lot (LOTS!) of time with all the kids downtown, Adam and I have come to realize that mentoring is really the best way to make a difference in their lives. In fact, together with Metro Kidz, Adam has launched a mentoring program for Vision Atlanta. So far, there are 4 kids being mentored by former counselors.
After church on Sunday, we went out for lunch with one of these mentors (Arielle), the girl she is mentoring (Arnesha), and the girl's two brothers. Arnesha is twelve, but looks at least sixteen. She spends most of her time taking care of her two youngest brothers who are two and three years old. Sitting there watching Arnesha talk to Arielle, grinning and giggling shyly, I was struck by the thought that this mentoring thing really works!
Of course, we DID already know that. Why else would we be leaving a full-time, steady job to cultivate the mentoring program? (oh yeah, have I mentioned that yet?) Adam and I are so passionate about mentoring for so many reasons. We love (LOVE!) camp, but also know that one week every summer is not necessarily enough to create lasting change that can be sustained in an environment that is difficult to say the least. That's why Adam is starting/developing the mentoring program as a follow-up to camp.
For many of these kids, one of the biggest obstacles they face is a decided lack of positive role models. The females they see are usually young, single, unemployed mothers living off welfare. The males they encounter are mostly drug dealers and absent fathers. As a result, these kids don't know any other way to grow up. They can't see the possibilities, they don't recognize their potential. Many times all they need is someone to point out another way of living, and someone who will support them and guide them towards a new destination: one that doesn't involve drugs, violence or welfare.
Adam has been mentoring Saviour (aka Sabo - I've told you about him before). Just a few weeks ago, I was struck by how far he has come since we first met him. You want to know why? Don't worry, I'll tell you . . . but this post is already entirely too long and I'm all 'written out' for today. Hopefully tomorrow fresh eyes and words will make it easier for me to tell the story in a way that doesn't involve entirely too many details and rambling side notes and boring, unnecessary information like this post is starting to have . . .
Posted by Becca at 8:13 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
In the course of spending a lot (LOTS!) of time with all the kids downtown, Adam and I have come to realize that mentoring is really the best way to make a difference in their lives. In fact, together with Metro Kidz, Adam has launched a mentoring program for Vision Atlanta. So far, there are 4 kids being mentored by former counselors.
After church on Sunday, we went out for lunch with one of these mentors (Arielle), the girl she is mentoring (Arnesha), and the girl's two brothers. Arnesha is twelve, but looks at least sixteen. She spends most of her time taking care of her two youngest brothers who are two and three years old. Sitting there watching Arnesha talk to Arielle, grinning and giggling shyly, I was struck by the thought that this mentoring thing really works!
Of course, we DID already know that. Why else would we be leaving a full-time, steady job to cultivate the mentoring program? (oh yeah, have I mentioned that yet?) Adam and I are so passionate about mentoring for so many reasons. We love (LOVE!) camp, but also know that one week every summer is not necessarily enough to create lasting change that can be sustained in an environment that is difficult to say the least. That's why Adam is starting/developing the mentoring program as a follow-up to camp.
For many of these kids, one of the biggest obstacles they face is a decided lack of positive role models. The females they see are usually young, single, unemployed mothers living off welfare. The males they encounter are mostly drug dealers and absent fathers. As a result, these kids don't know any other way to grow up. They can't see the possibilities, they don't recognize their potential. Many times all they need is someone to point out another way of living, and someone who will support them and guide them towards a new destination: one that doesn't involve drugs, violence or welfare.
Adam has been mentoring Saviour (aka Sabo - I've told you about him before). Just a few weeks ago, I was struck by how far he has come since we first met him. You want to know why? Don't worry, I'll tell you . . . but this post is already entirely too long and I'm all 'written out' for today. Hopefully tomorrow fresh eyes and words will make it easier for me to tell the story in a way that doesn't involve entirely too many details and rambling side notes and boring, unnecessary information like this post is starting to have . . .
Posted by Becca at 8:13 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
Science Fair Fun
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I feel like I need to preface this post by telling you that I have been trying to write it for days and my thoughts just keep going around and around . . . My heart has been burdened and I can't seem to get my feelings down in words. So my apologies beforehand if things wander or don't make much sense!
Anyways, because nothing is better than doing school work when its completely unnecessary, Adam and I agreed to help two of our boys from downtown (Zack and Sabo) with their science fair projects. We didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into - in other words, we had no idea how unprepared and ill-equipped these poor boys actually were to create a science fair project. Both boys failed science last year (but it 'don't matter' because they just keep moving up in grades anyways . . . science doesn't count). Without our help, I'm almost positive they just wouldn't have done it.
Our time spent helping them was interesting and eye-opening. Although we visit them at home every Saturday and see them a few more times throughout the week, this was the first time we had spent any amount of time in their homes. When we got downtown with supplies and ready to work on a very large project due in two days, Zack's mom wasn't sure where Zack was -- outside somewhere? Once we finally got him inside and started to work on the project, Zack's mom joined us and actually seemed quite into the experiment (which paper towel was most absorbent), despite the fact that she had no idea what the scientific method was, or what hypothesis meant, or even what his problem was, or his conclusion should be . . . The good news is that we were able to empower her to help Zack finish his project, and I left feeling completely certain that she would make sure he turned it in (because now SHE was invested in the project herself).
At Sabo's house, we went upstairs to help him put together his poster board (since he had already done the experiment) Sabo's grandmother cannot leave her spot on the couch, so she cant help him. Sabo and his brother Sincere share a room which consists of bare, dingy off-white walls, two twin beds with bare matresses (no sheets) which were stained, lumpy and all-together unappetizing as a place to sleep (which is probably why 8 year old Sincere usually sleeps on the couch in front of the tv). Seeing how this eleven year old boy lives helped me understand why he seems completely depressed every time we are at his house or in his neighborhood, but is a laughing, funny, normal boy when we're at our house or church or anywhere else.
This understanding helped me come to an important realization about why these boys fail. (Well that's not super-accurate, because there are LOTS of reasons they fail) but one important reason is that it is so much safer to NOT TRY than to try and fail anyways. Because how are these boys supposed to do a science project that has to be typed when they have no computers? or parents who know what "hypothesis" means? or parents who can get out of bed for that matter . . . (As a side note - why would they give inner-city kids a project that requires typing and "dressing up" for the presentation??)
I dont even know what my point is, except that these boys are precious children of God. They deserve to be loved and cared for as much as we do, as much as Jayci does. But just because of where Jayci was born, she is going to be given so many more opportunities and chances for success. Because of where these boys are born, they face obstacles that often seem too big to surmount -- but I guess that's why the Lord tells us to take care of "the least of these." By loving them and helping them, I see Jesus and feel Jesus and am filled with a joy that comes from knowing that He loves his children all deeply regardless of their circumstances.
Posted by Becca at 7:41 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
I feel like I need to preface this post by telling you that I have been trying to write it for days and my thoughts just keep going around and around . . . My heart has been burdened and I can't seem to get my feelings down in words. So my apologies beforehand if things wander or don't make much sense!
Anyways, because nothing is better than doing school work when its completely unnecessary, Adam and I agreed to help two of our boys from downtown (Zack and Sabo) with their science fair projects. We didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into - in other words, we had no idea how unprepared and ill-equipped these poor boys actually were to create a science fair project. Both boys failed science last year (but it 'don't matter' because they just keep moving up in grades anyways . . . science doesn't count). Without our help, I'm almost positive they just wouldn't have done it.
Our time spent helping them was interesting and eye-opening. Although we visit them at home every Saturday and see them a few more times throughout the week, this was the first time we had spent any amount of time in their homes. When we got downtown with supplies and ready to work on a very large project due in two days, Zack's mom wasn't sure where Zack was -- outside somewhere? Once we finally got him inside and started to work on the project, Zack's mom joined us and actually seemed quite into the experiment (which paper towel was most absorbent), despite the fact that she had no idea what the scientific method was, or what hypothesis meant, or even what his problem was, or his conclusion should be . . . The good news is that we were able to empower her to help Zack finish his project, and I left feeling completely certain that she would make sure he turned it in (because now SHE was invested in the project herself).
At Sabo's house, we went upstairs to help him put together his poster board (since he had already done the experiment) Sabo's grandmother cannot leave her spot on the couch, so she cant help him. Sabo and his brother Sincere share a room which consists of bare, dingy off-white walls, two twin beds with bare matresses (no sheets) which were stained, lumpy and all-together unappetizing as a place to sleep (which is probably why 8 year old Sincere usually sleeps on the couch in front of the tv). Seeing how this eleven year old boy lives helped me understand why he seems completely depressed every time we are at his house or in his neighborhood, but is a laughing, funny, normal boy when we're at our house or church or anywhere else.
This understanding helped me come to an important realization about why these boys fail. (Well that's not super-accurate, because there are LOTS of reasons they fail) but one important reason is that it is so much safer to NOT TRY than to try and fail anyways. Because how are these boys supposed to do a science project that has to be typed when they have no computers? or parents who know what "hypothesis" means? or parents who can get out of bed for that matter . . . (As a side note - why would they give inner-city kids a project that requires typing and "dressing up" for the presentation??)
I dont even know what my point is, except that these boys are precious children of God. They deserve to be loved and cared for as much as we do, as much as Jayci does. But just because of where Jayci was born, she is going to be given so many more opportunities and chances for success. Because of where these boys are born, they face obstacles that often seem too big to surmount -- but I guess that's why the Lord tells us to take care of "the least of these." By loving them and helping them, I see Jesus and feel Jesus and am filled with a joy that comes from knowing that He loves his children all deeply regardless of their circumstances.
Posted by Becca at 7:41 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
Rosa Lee
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Rosa Lee
I just finished reading a fascinating (and heartbreaking) book called 'Rosa Lee.' The book is about the life of Rosa, a mother of 8 (she had her first at 14 years old) and grandmother to more than 30. Rosa lives in the housing projects of Washington, DC. She has always lived in poverty and is a heroin addict, prostitute, chronic shoplifter and drug dealer. Of her 8 kids, 6 of them followed her into a lifestyle of drugs, violence, and poverty.
I was heartbroken to read about how she helped her kids shoot heroin, turned tricks while her daughter slept in the bed next to her, and used her children and grandchildren to help her both shoplift and run drugs. Even her adult children live with her, bum money off her to buy drugs and refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Reading about the conditions they live in (plagued by fear, filled with mistakes and violence) I am both angry and broken. Yes, Rosa's children are living lifestyles that are just wrong and yes, I am angry at the fact that they are doing the same things to their children that their mom did to them (in fact, many of Rosa's grandchildren are also addicts, in prison or dealing drugs etc). My anger, however, is tempered by the realization that neither Rosa nor her children know anything different. No one has shown them another way to live, and how can they be expected to make choices differently than their mother, and everyone else they see and experience in their environment?
That said, 2 of Rosa's children DID make it out of the projects, and live within the bounds of "normal" society, with good jobs and without dependence on drugs, welfare or their mother. So what happened - how did these two make it out unscathed? The book's author asked the two children the same question - and it turns out that both of them had one person outside of their family who took a vested interest in their lives and success. For one of them, that person was a teacher who taught him how to read, and for the other it was a social worker who drove him to tutoring and just was there for him when he needed someone. Both of these people were able to demonstrate to Rosa's children that there was another way to live, that drugs and violence were not the only option.
My heart literally broke as I was reading this book, both for these kids and for the possibility that MY kids (ok i use "my" loosely here) might be living in these same circumstances. This possibility makes me want to rescue them, to take them into my home where I can love them and feed and clothe them properly, teaching them responsibility so they dont fall into the many traps that surround them in their environment. All I can do though, is pray for them, and hope that maybe Adam and I can be those people who offer these kids a new perspective, new options and a way out.
Posted by Becca at 7:31 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
Rosa Lee
I just finished reading a fascinating (and heartbreaking) book called 'Rosa Lee.' The book is about the life of Rosa, a mother of 8 (she had her first at 14 years old) and grandmother to more than 30. Rosa lives in the housing projects of Washington, DC. She has always lived in poverty and is a heroin addict, prostitute, chronic shoplifter and drug dealer. Of her 8 kids, 6 of them followed her into a lifestyle of drugs, violence, and poverty.
I was heartbroken to read about how she helped her kids shoot heroin, turned tricks while her daughter slept in the bed next to her, and used her children and grandchildren to help her both shoplift and run drugs. Even her adult children live with her, bum money off her to buy drugs and refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Reading about the conditions they live in (plagued by fear, filled with mistakes and violence) I am both angry and broken. Yes, Rosa's children are living lifestyles that are just wrong and yes, I am angry at the fact that they are doing the same things to their children that their mom did to them (in fact, many of Rosa's grandchildren are also addicts, in prison or dealing drugs etc). My anger, however, is tempered by the realization that neither Rosa nor her children know anything different. No one has shown them another way to live, and how can they be expected to make choices differently than their mother, and everyone else they see and experience in their environment?
That said, 2 of Rosa's children DID make it out of the projects, and live within the bounds of "normal" society, with good jobs and without dependence on drugs, welfare or their mother. So what happened - how did these two make it out unscathed? The book's author asked the two children the same question - and it turns out that both of them had one person outside of their family who took a vested interest in their lives and success. For one of them, that person was a teacher who taught him how to read, and for the other it was a social worker who drove him to tutoring and just was there for him when he needed someone. Both of these people were able to demonstrate to Rosa's children that there was another way to live, that drugs and violence were not the only option.
My heart literally broke as I was reading this book, both for these kids and for the possibility that MY kids (ok i use "my" loosely here) might be living in these same circumstances. This possibility makes me want to rescue them, to take them into my home where I can love them and feed and clothe them properly, teaching them responsibility so they dont fall into the many traps that surround them in their environment. All I can do though, is pray for them, and hope that maybe Adam and I can be those people who offer these kids a new perspective, new options and a way out.
Posted by Becca at 7:31 AM
Labels: mentoring, Vision Atlanta
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