Sacred Places Fall 2013 | Page 7

and covered in metal gates to prevent break-ins. Inspired by North Shore’s success reaching out to community stakeholders, Rev. Ward has expanded the scope of his congregation’s fundraising efforts. In addition to reaching out to community partners – including the local school and social service agencies – Wayman has approached Target, which just opened a new store two blocks from the church, to support the congregation’s efforts to build community – and peace – in the neighborhood. Inspired by their New Dollars classmates, the Reverend Cleophus Lee and the congregation of Original Providence Baptist Church have leveraged one of their building’s physical assets – a gymnasium – to be a force for nonviolence in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s west side. The congregation has developed an afterschool program that provides free access to the gym to help keep youth off the streets. The gym, however, is only available to students after they have worked with volunteer tutors and mentors to complete their homework. Rev. Lee’s success developing an innovative education ministry has, in turn, inspired the Reverend Dr. Barbara Wilson of Coppin Memorial AME Church to leverage her community connections to launch a program for the Washington Park community on Chicago’s south side. In the summer of 2013, Coppin partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund to serve as a partner site for a Freedom School – a free summer and after-school program for children and families that teaches a multicultural curriculum promoting literacy, civic engagement, social action, intergenerational partnership, nutrition, and health. The program required Coppin to raise $50,000 in matching funds. “Immediately, I knew we needed to reach out to our community partners for support. I don’t know that I would have thought to do that – or even if I would I have had many of those community partners – if it were not for our participation in the training.” Lake Street is recruiting Northwestern interns to support its latest project: a capital campaign to renovate its kitchen and dining facilities to serve as a community kitchen and resource for local food entrepreneurs and food-justice,