Dear Friends,
This spring semester we are excited to welcome Anab Naiyer, an international student from the NESA Program and Iowa Western Community College is joining inCOMMON for a semester internship. She is from Delhi, India where she lives with her parents and younger sister. Anab says, “I am very straight-forward and I want to be a journalist in the future and work for my country’s betterment. I enjoy working for the community and have served as a volunteer teacher in India during my summer breaks.” Anab will work with the CommonGround Department using her writing and language skills. Please join us in welcoming Anab if you see her in the office, or at the Community Meals on Saturdays.
On a side note – Sami Jones & I have been working together on each newsletter for the past few years wanted to say thanks to all of you faithful eNewsletter readers throughout the years. We’ve enjoyed sharing inCOMMON’s news with all of you and have appreciated all of your love and support during our time on staff here, and as we transition into what is ahead. Many, many blessings and thanks…
-Jodi Cooper, Community Coordinator
Staff Transitions
In February we’ll have the bittersweet occasion of seeing two of our best and beloved staff members transition from inCOMMON.
Jodi Cooper has served as a VISTA member for three years and is credited in many ways with making inCOMMON the growing and thriving mission it has become. As a widely-competent and adaptable member of our team, Jodi has performed an array of important roles at inCOMMON (volunteer and partnership coordination, communications guru, event orchestrator, ministry developer, and VISTA leader… to name just few) and is often referred to as the “glue that holds us all together.” There have been many times where Jodi and I have reflected back over the years and chuckled over all the adventures (i.e. growing pains) shared together at inCOMMON, as well as stood still in amazement in witness of the miraculous ways God has sustained and blessed us through it all.
Sami Jones, in turn, has served as a VISTA member for two years and has been a key component in the re-birth of Mosaic in her own right. In fact, Sami was in many ways responsible for the re-branding of inCOMMON, including the formation of our brand, organizing the re-branding event, and leading a team of summer interns toward the fulfillment of the endless list of details required in such an undertaking. In addition to these achievements, Sami has also been responsible for curating numerous inCOMMON art auctions (generating both necessary funds for and new involvement within the organization), as well as for developing inCOMMON’s MMP-accredited mentorship ministry for at-risk youth.
Above and beyond losing great co-workers we also loose irreplaceable members of our community in Jodi & Sami (at least in regard to our staff community). We have all shared countless, meaningful moments working in community with them and have learned more through their friendship and example than they’ll ever know. Pray with us for God’s hand on their lives as He leads these great and uniquely-gifted women forward in His purposes in the days ahead.
-Christian Gray, Executive Director
CommonGround
This year CommonGround is committed to exploring the intersection of creativity and advocacy in the Park Avenue neighborhoods. One of the most inspiring developments in 2009 was the widespread interest in sharing stories, both as individual neighbors and as a collective neighborhood. We began gathering photography inspired by and taken in the Park Avenue neighborhood in November 2009, and are excited to expand our creative efforts in 2010.
One of the additional projects we’ll be organizing is a neighborhood focused Listening Project. Rural Southern Voice for Peace (RSVP), a longstanding national leader in Listening Projects, defines a Listening Project as “a comprehensive process that includes ‘deep listening’ interviews and community organizing that can result in cooperative community education and action on a wide range of issues and concerns”. RSVP also notes that “Listening Projects are especially useful in communities where conflict, divisions or disempowerment weakens efforts for positive change, and can help organizations successfully address injustice, conflict, community development, health and environmental concerns”.
Are you interested in getting involved in this creative initiative in the Park Avenue neighborhoods — or in finding out more information? Here are a few easy steps to help you get connected!
1) Check out these websites for more info about and examples of Listening Projects.
→ Rural Southern Voice for Peace – LP Overview
→ Rural Southern Voice for Peace – LP Examples
→ Iowa Public Radio Listening Project
2) Attend the Listening Project Brainstorming Session. The meeting time and date are listed below. Please RSVP to Brittany Hanson by phone or e-mail; we will then send you the meeting location information (402-933-6672 or Brittany@inCOMMONcd.org).
→ Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 6:00 PM
If you are unable to attend the Brainstorming Session, but are interested in getting involved in this creative initiative please get in touch! We would love to hear your ideas and keep you in the loop.
-Brittany Hanson, Director of Neighborhood Development
