UMC Blog

The following is reprinted from the Trinity Presbyterian Church newsletter. Tricia Sistrunk lives in Charlotte with her husband and three children. She is a stay-at-home mom, attorney, blogger for thelunchproject.org, and RITI Coordinator at Trinity.

On March 20, 2013, we concluded another successful season of Room In The Inn (RITI) here at Trinity.  Successful in the sense that we were able to provide food and shelter for 138 men, women, and children during the twelve nights we hosted. However, my idea of true success would mean we no longer have a need for the RITI program. We would no longer need the 60 or 70 volunteers it takes to run RITI. We would no longer need the closet at the back of our Fellowship Hall filled with mattresses, pillows, sheets, towels, toiletries, shirts, underwear, socks, hats, and gloves. We would no longer need the small shower down the hall used by our homeless guests to clean up after a hard day. Alas, we are not there yet.

According to Urban Ministry Center's 2013 count, there are approximately 2418 homeless people in Mecklenburg County, of which 738 are children. In fact, there was a disheartening 61% increase in the number of homeless families served by RITI this year.

The RITI program was started by the Urban Ministry Center in 1996 with two goals in mind. The first, to provide a warm, safe and dry place for Mecklenburg county's homeless population during our coldest months – December through March. Approximately 130 area churches and colleges participate in the RITI program by taking in twelve to fourteen homeless people on their assigned evening. There are usually ten to fifteen host sites on any given night.

The second goal of the RITI program is to provide a personal relationship with homeless people and a deeper understanding of the issue of homelessness. When most people hear the word homeless, the image that often comes to mind is of “street homelessness.” There are, of course, many chronically homeless people here in Mecklenburg County and across the country who, often due to mental or physical disabilities and/or addiction, are unable to maintain employment, pay their bills, and keep supportive social relationships.

However, the more prevalent face of homelessness is the working poor and their families. The lack of affordable housing combined with the lack of jobs has led to more and more families living in their cars, hotel rooms, and in shelters.

I have personally experienced a little bit of everything during my six years of being involved with RITI. There have certainly been mentally ill guests, all of whom have left an indelible impression on me. They are truly the “least of these” among us and I can’t help but wonder and worry about them during April through November when there is no RITI to keep them off the streets.

This season I also met a young married couple expecting twins in June. Like a nervous parent, I asked them if they had any housing prospects. They said they were working on it and hopefully they would be in an apartment by June. I can only pray that I won’t see them again next season with their babies in tow.

There was Lisa who was concerned when the hot water in our RITI shower ran out. Lisa had a job interview the next morning. She was excited about the possibility of employment but she knew she had to look clean. My heart sank as I thought about my showers filled with hot water back home. I was happy to learn that the hot water came back on an hour or so after I left the church and Lisa got her hot shower. I never found out whether she got the job.

I met a former girl scout when Girl Scout Troop 1335 came to help serve dinner and set up the beds for our guests. The girl scouts brought smiles to all of our guests but especially Dana. Dana, now in her fifties, reminisced about her days as a girl scout. As I imagined this now homeless woman as a smiling, young girl scout I wondered what events had led her to this place in life.

Perhaps the hardest for me to handle are the children we have as guests. We had a family of four – a mom and her three kids ages 11, 9 and 5. I watched as the kids played on the weekday school playground after dinner. A normal sight for sure. After all, I have watched all three of my kids play on that same playground many times over the years. But, my heart knew there was nothing normal about it. Church floors and homeless shelters are no place for children.

My list of stories goes on and on and I know the other RITI volunteers have their stories as well. Several of our regular drivers and overnight hosts have told me over and over again how much they enjoy getting to know our guests.

A couple of weeks after volunteering for RITI, the girl scouts decided, on their own, to come back and bring homemade desserts for our guests. Once they arrived at the church they asked their parents if they could stay and help out again. I was touched to see these girls, at such a young age, experience the joy of helping others as well as learn about the issue of homelessness. Perhaps this is the true meaning of success.

The goals of Urban Ministry’s RITI program are being met here at Trinity. So too is the greater goal of living a life filled with compassion as Jesus taught us to do.

I am grateful that Trinity has chosen to support this important ministry. As one of our guests said to me as we hugged goodbye, “Thank you for living the good life.”

In the last 17 years, Urban Ministry Center has become an expert on obtaining a photo ID. Due to our experience and willingness to advocate for those who come through our doors, we can successfully get most people a photo ID (we have had some very tricky cases through the years, with home births, adoptions, etc. that it took more than a year to be successful – one case we have worked on for more than 3 years). But not every community has an Urban Ministry Center and we are not able to serve all of those who live in our community. For these reasons, we oppose a photo ID requirement for voting. This week’s blog is from volunteer counselor Jinny Sullivan, who recently participated in a public hearing on the proposed photo ID requirement.

It was a no-brainer to oppose a bill requiring a photo ID for voting. My experience at UMC in helping people get new or replacement ID taught me how lengthy, expensive, and difficult the process can be. So, when the UMC asked if I could go to Raleigh to testify against the bill, I said "yes."

A lawyer from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in Durham got me on the speaker's list and guided me through the process. I was #58 on the list, so was able to hear all the argument made by the first 57. The committee consisted of about 35 of our legislators. There were more speakers against the law then for it.

The arguments for the bill focused on the danger of voter fraud, although only one presented any clear evidence and that was for the U.S. as a whole. The speakers against the bill spoke of the hard-won right to vote, and how putting more barriers to voting was a bad idea. Some spoke of those who might find it impossible to get such an ID, such as the disabled and those in nursing homes. I was the only speaker who described exactly what the process entailed and how much it cost. It was a lengthy process, running from 2:30 to 7:30, but I felt it was worth my time and energy!

House Bill 589 will be up for a vote later this month (April 23). It will probably pass, given the membership of the legislature. I would urge everyone to get active by contacting your representatives, and by voting for candidates who keep the rights of our most vulnerable citizens in mind.

Information from UMC about attaining photo ID:

• In the past year, Urban Ministry Center has assisted 730 individuals in receiving photo identification.
• Last year, UMC spent $2,000 on birth certificates alone.
• Obtaining a photo ID, especially for those with few resources, requires time, money, and access

Time: Depending on where you were born and went to school, time can vary greatly.If you send off for your birth certificate in NY state, it takes 4 weeks to get your birth certificate.If you were born in GA, it now takes 6 weeks to receive your birth certificate due to cut backs in vital records staffing.Once you complete your application for your photo ID, it still takes 5-10 days to receive it in the mail

Money: Depending on where you were born and how quickly you need your items, financial costs vary.If you were born outside of NC, birth certificates typically cost between $20-$30.If you want to pay to receive your birth certificate more quickly, there typically is an additional  $20-$30 charge.

Access: Many people come to us simply because they do not have the information about how to go about getting their ID.  But, there are some other vexing access issues.For those with resources, you can often go online to order a copy of your photo ID, but this requires credit card, generally in the name of the person requesting the ID.  This is rarely a possibility for those we serve.

If you were born in NYC, you must supply a copy of your photo ID in order to request your birth certificate.

Basics of getting a photo: To receive a photo ID, you need proof of your Date of Birth (Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, in-state sealed school records, etc)  and Social Security Number.To receive your Social Security card, you need proof of identity (ID, sealed medical records) and citizenship (passport, birth certificate).No one item can be used for two purposes.

If you would like to voice your concerns:

House Leader Thom Tillis: 919-733-3451 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bill Co-Sponsor Ruth Samuelson: 919-715-3009 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last week my fellow VISTA, Kristen Cothran, wrote My Work as a VISTA: Creating New Education Tools for the Community about the role of an AmeriCorps VISTA. I’d like to expand upon her explanation by further sharing what it means to be a VISTA, and the breadth of work we do.

To review, a VISTA is a Volunteer in Service to America. The VISTA program is administered by AmeriCorps, a public/private partnership that addresses critical needs in the community. Specifically, the VISTA program is focused on ending poverty in America. VISTAs do this by taking a year assignment where we live in poverty while building capacity at our assigned sites.

We are able to build capacity by strengthening the programs and departments we work in. We do so with a focus on leaving behind projects and systems that can continue without our involvement. This is accomplished through: utilizing volunteers, raising funds, and building partnerships.

My work as a VISTA has been within the ArtWorks 945 program. ArtWorks 945 is an outreach program that uses art as a way to connect with our homeless neighbors and assist them in their journey towards housing. One integral component of ArtWorks 945 is our partnerships that enable us to have a more vibrant program. In turn, we can better serve our neighbors and strengthen our ties to the community. One exciting partnership that I’ve helped to foster is with UNC Charlotte Center City. Over the course of the last five months we have worked together on five different events, engaged 50 volunteers, and involved at least six other organizations…and we’re just getting started!

Our most recent project started when UNC Charlotte Center City invited us to be involved in their latest exhibit, “Favelas: Architecture of Survival.” Their main gallery is currently featuring large format photographs of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas, or shanty towns. They were shot by Brazilian photographer Pedro Lobo, and highlight the ingenuity and resilience of people living in poverty half a world away. Lobo’s work inspired us to examine what is happening here in Charlotte, and led us to question how architecture can be the intervention that ends homelessness for our 2,418 homeless neighbors.

As a problem solving exercise ArtWorks 945 participants spent two sessions collaborating with the School of Architecture and Master of Urban Design students. Our artists acted as clients while the students listened to their needs and dreams, and worked to create an individual housing solution that occupies a 10’x10’ footprint and has no running water or electricity. The final product, 2D renderings by ArtWorks 945 artists and 3D models by the students, are displayed side by side as a compliment to Lobo’s photographs.

This partnership didn’t just recognize our neighbors’ struggles, it highlighted the creativity and effort they put forth in being a part of the conversation about housing and homelessness in our community. In turn, it was validating when over 200 community members came to together at last Friday’s opening celebration. They shared their awe, interest, anger, and support for the challenges we all face in our effort to end homelessness. As a VISTA, I’m proud to have been a part of building a bridge to further this conversation.

A special thanks to the UNC Charlotte Center City staff. We look forward to our next event together, the Soccer Challenge, on April 27^th.

“Favelas: Architecture of Survival” runs through May 30 at UNC Charlotte Center City. More info can be found at
http://centercity.uncc.edu/projective-eye-art-gallery

I was homeless for over three years. I had no direction or meaning in life. I was truly a very lonely and unhappy person. My health was not good at all. I found myself in and out of jails.

I was told very little about Moore Place Apartments and some hope came into my heart. I attended the Open House and on that very day, I claimed my apartment. I worked as hard as anyone to get into my home.

On March 9, 2012, I moved into apartment 218 at 9a.m. I haven’t looked back since that day. I now have a reason to live. I’m eating three meals daily. I take my medicine every day. I’m no longer doing things that put me in jail any more. I have renewed family relationships. My Aunts Rose and Lib call me every day to see how I’m doing. Knowing that they are pleased about my recovery and housing is priceless.

I’m involved in a walking group, game group, exercise group and do a variety of other activities at Moore Place.

Even though, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, having an apartment brought me through those trials and tribulations. I was able and ready to fight cancer head on. On February 14, 2013, I became cancer-free. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

During my first year in my apartment, I met up with David Vanderpool, a former student and basketball player, who is now coaching the Portland Trailblazers; and meeting with Mayor Anthony Foxx in my apartment. He is a fantastic person. Also attending the State of the city address as the Mayor’s guest and visiting the Mayor at his office and taking a photo with him.

I also like the fact that I have a great therapist by the name of Chris Daniels. I would not trade him for anyone else. He is the best!!!!

My plans for the future are to continue not to use drugs and become an advocate for patients with prostate cancer. I told my God if you get me through this experience of prostate cancer, I will spend time helping others.

Another entry in celebration of our great VISTA's, during AmeriCorps Week.

Last summer I got a ‘cold call’ from a donor wanting to help the homeless; little did I know the impact Calita Taylor would eventually make on the Urban Ministry Center. The traits she brought to that first visit, enthusiasm paired with a practical and positive approach to solving problems, have helped her (and us) greatly in her current placement as Basic Services Coordinator, through the AmeriCorps VISTA program.

Calita’s first challenge: the mail. Over 1,000 people receive mail and packages at UMC and the sheer volume creates a complexity you would never imagine. And for many neighbors, the mail is their only connection to the outside world, to services and assistance, or their next step out of homelessness. Imagine waiting on that ID you need so badly—the mail becomes the most important service we offer you at that moment. Calita takes that personally, respecting the personal business and connections that are so important to some of Charlotte’s most vulnerable neighbors.

Until now, volunteers sorted mail anywhere they could find space, including the floor. You had to separate, stamp, check against 2-3 different lists, then alphabetize, and finally place it in the box. . .very time consuming. Calita has introduced sorting bins with alpha-specific lists and place cards to eliminate much of those time vacuums. And it’s working famously! Volunteers who have been here for years are loving the system and have told me how efficient it is.

You might be able to help Calita with her next task: recruiting regular volunteers to help sort and distribute mail. These are short positions, 10am-12pm for sorting, 11:30-12:30 for distributing mail to neighbors. Calita is anticipating more volume during the early week days once the USPS terminates Saturday delivery in August. So, these volunteers will be more important than ever to get the mail put up on time. To volunteer, fill out the individual form found on our Volunteer webpage and indicate mail as an area you’d like to help with.

After that, Calita will be on to Showers and Laundry. Recruiting and improving. It’s what she does!

What is a VISTA? Are you staff? Are you a student intern? Do you work every day? These are some of the questions that I am asked on a daily basis. A VISTA is a volunteer in service to America through the AmeriCorps program. We are not staff, but are full time volunteers set to serve for 12 months at a time with a specific nonprofit group, be it local or national. Through indirect service, we create programs, build partnerships and organize volunteers for organizations all over the country.

These past 7 months as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Urban Ministry Center have truly been one of a kind. My decision to join the AmeriCorps program was far from spontaneous. I have always known that I wanted to work in the nonprofit field and make a difference, but I was unsure where to begin. My search took me several places, but all that ended once I came across the Urban Ministry Center. It would be here that I would do some major growing and developing, both personally and professionally.

As the Community Engagement and Education VISTA, I am responsible for increasing the capacity of UMC programs through the addition of volunteer resources, external partnerships and creation of community programs and education tools. In the past several months, I have created and edited several programs. One of which is called Walk in My Shoes.

During this simulation each group is asked to adopt the identity of a person experiencing homelessness and to “walk in their shoes”. The purpose of this exercise is to help each group comprehend the everyday difficulties of the homeless, the physical demands of walking from location to location, the frustration of homelessness and the incredible strength and complexity of these people.

I have also created an interactive workshop aimed to educate youth groups ranging from Kindergarten to 5^th grade. The goal is to help the children begin to understand the basic services offered by the UMC, to minimize the perceived differences between each child and our neighbors and to help the children begin to see that they can help improve another person’s life at any age.

My goal is to not only create educational tools that will include our local and extended community in our cause, but also to create sustainable programs that will continue to increase the capacity of the UMC in my absence. I have so much more that I hope to do during my next few months here. I am constantly inspired by the people I interact with on a daily basis, both staff and neighbors and feel truly blessed to be a part of the team.

We often say of a speech, it was inspiring or moving, meaning we had an emotional reaction or even a motivation to take some action as a result of the speech. I believe the same can be said of numbers. Numbers have the power to activate or immobilize.

If I say you have a 50/50 chance of winning the lottery, you would begin buying every lottery ticket you could find. The number motivated you because of the probability of a positive outcome. If I say 30,000 people around the world will die of starvation today, chances are you and I will not do anything differently than we would have not knowing that fact. The number immobilizes because it seems too big, too remote, and there is little we can do to create a positive difference.

Numbers have the same power to inspire or frustrate when it comes to talking about homelessness in Mecklenburg County. If you read the newspaper or watch local news, you have heard so many different reports about how many people are homeless in our community that it becomes almost meaningless to listen, or care.

The Conference of Mayors publishes a report on the number of people who are homeless, as does Mecklenburg County through its “Point in Time Count,” and so does Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. None of the numbers are the same so what is the average person supposed to think? I often get asked to clarify.

At the Urban Ministry Center we use the Point In Time Count which says there are 2,418 people who are homeless in Mecklenburg County right now (January 30, 2013). Of those, 738 are children. All are living in some type of shelter system or are completely unsheltered, living outside. We use the HUD definition of homelessness for this count. This census is repeated every year across the country, with everyone counting on the same day in the same way. So “apples to apples” when comparing year to year.

CMS uses the McKinney-Vento education definition of homelessness and a cumulative number over the course of the entire school year, counting every child who is “precariously housed”, meaning they may be in shelter, doubled up with friends or relatives, or may be staying with parents in a weekly motel. That’s why you often hear there are over 4,000 homeless children in our schools, even though there are only 2,418 homeless people in our county.

Our experience teaches us accurate data is helpful in calling the community to action. Homelessness is complex and challenging, but we know which strategies work to bring it to an end. And we know a majority of the 2,418 homeless people by name. 500-600 come to our campus every day looking for assistance with a basic service, or a next step out of homelessness. Every number we cite represents a person we know, or have met in person; but they are not just a number to us, they are the inspiration and the motivation for our work.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Those were the words, from Psalm 119:105, that resident Solomon Agunbiade shared with the group after they walked the canvas labyrinth inside Moore Place. Solomon recalls that as his favorite walk, because the lights were off and the path was lit with candles. He was instantly reminded of the twists and turns on the path of life and the light that guides him through. The labyrinth walks offer Solomon a time to focus on his own prayer and meditation, and he seems grateful for the community he feels in that moment.

There is a dedicated group of 10-15 walkers at Moore Place, getting together every Monday to venture to a new park or place around Charlotte. On the fourth Monday, they are joined by volunteer Kathy Mansfield who facilitates a walk at a local labyrinth. The group has walked the labyrinths at Avondale Presbyterian Church (3 times, and a favorite!), Myers Park Baptist Church, Sardis Baptist, Wedgewood Baptist, and a canvas version laid out at both Myers Park United Methodist and Moore Place. Kathy’s website, http://www.charlottelabyrinthgroup.com/, offers extensive information about labyrinths, their history, and benefits. My favorite insight:

“Unlike a maze – there are no dead ends, only a clearly defined path. The labyrinth journey quiets the mind as it removes us from the distractions of daily life. In so doing it allows us to reflect – receive – and to be renewed. The inward and outward turns, symbolize our path through life and our spiritual journey. We appear to reach our destination, only to find that we still have a long way to go.”

Kathy became interested in labyrinths on a trip to France with her son in 2000, when they discovered the labyrinth inside the Chartres Cathedral. Since that time Kathy has been drawn to labyrinths (especially that particular pattern) and knows walking the labyrinth is the way she best accesses “the sacred within [her]self and to connect with God.” She has undergone extensive training to become a Veriditas Advance Certified Facilitator to share the gift of the labyrinth with others.

And she’s been wildly successful at Moore Place in that endeavor. Tenant Services Coordinator Katie Church sites the Labyrinth Group as “an important source of fellowship and support among several of our tenants. From time to time, someone will lose their way or feel unsteady on their feet.  Inevitably, another member of the group will be found by their side, guiding the way.” A testament to their dedication and interest: a cool rainy day last September when Kathy and staff thought about canceling, but residents insisted on walking the labyrinth at Myers Park Baptist Church. They saw the rain as calming, soothing and cleansing—perfect for an introspective walk.

On February 1, 2013, Moore Place recognized its one year anniversary with an open house for the community. The group created a labyrinth on the front lawn, dedicating it as a celebration of housing and yet a reminder of the 2,567 people in Charlotte who are still living without the safety, warmth and stability of a home. Of the 140 guests, 35 participated, with Solomon and fellow tenant Justin Markel offering guidance, information and insight to those interested in walking the path. Justin told me how much he values the time with his fellow residents and how the walk, along with the burning of his written concerns helps him to release his own worries.

Kathy says, “I told the residents that they are no longer just labyrinth walkers, but labyrinth keepers (keepers of the wisdom) and labyrinth builders.  That brought smiles to all of their faces!” It’s such a gift to share your ‘wisdom,’ and insight with a larger community and I have been a happy recipient of the gifts from this group.

We have more Room In The Inn (RITI) beds than ever before (98-200+/night), yet they are not enough to meet the needs of those who make it here to the Center. Increased demand, along with changes to local shelters’ entrance and eligibility policies, has led to a significant increase in women and families using RITI.

This year has brought a necessary change to administration of RITI, ensuring that those who are unable to stay other places are the first to receive beds in RITI. Often this is because a person cannot show required residency, or a certain length of homelessness, or there is no physical space in the shelter for additional people.

We are consistently checking in over 50 women who are ineligible for the Center of Hope (Women’s Emergency Shelter) every night. In December, we hosted 15 families (22 children); in the first half of January, we hosted 23 families (31 children).

We have 100 men on the “A” list (those who cannot get into the Men’s Shelter) every night – we check in as many as we can but are always forced to turn some away. The A list changes daily, as men who have been homeless for at least two weeks become eligible to reapply at the Shelter. Also, women and men who receive regular checks (disability, SSI, unemployment, paychecks) are ineligible for RITI unless they’re working with a staff member on a housing plan.

I couldn’t be more pleased with how smoothly things are running this year. The check-in/assigning teams are wonderfully enthusiastic and skilled (all the credit goes to our seven incredible evening coordinators); the hosts are genuinely interested in the folks they’re serving; the neighbors are responding well – all of this under circumstances that make this season more complex—and intense—than last year.

Urban Ministry Center began Room In The Inn in 1996. This year we have 130 houses of faith/organizations participating, and so far (Dec 1 – Jan 15) have offered 6,211 bed nights, for 54 children in 38 families, 221 women, and 596 men.

For more information about RITI or to find out how you can help: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Like many of us, Mark Ross is afraid of snakes. That’s what led him to his ingenious and creative response during his years experiencing homelessness—construction barrels. He found that if he pulled together two of them, near a road construction site, that no person would notice him. And he reasoned that the vibration and the highway noise would keep the snakes away. It was a perfect solution for Mark and he slept around road construction projects for over three years, while he held down a job at Bo Jangles.

120 fourth graders at Charlotte Latin School listened intently to Mark’s story and asked, “were you afraid; where is your family; and where did you eat?” The answers: yes, Mark was afraid; he’d had significant trauma in his childhood and lost both his parents at an early age; and he would eat at the Urban Ministry Center.

Mark came to UMC over ten years ago and relationships he built over the years empowered him to change his life for the better and UMC staff assisted him in finding housing in 2009. After spending the majority of his life homeless, Mark (age 40) now enjoys sharing his story through the UMC’s Faces of Homelessness Panel. The Faces Panel allows people to hear first-hand an individual’s story, ask questions, and begin to understand the reasons for, the challenges during, and the difficulty in ending homelessness. Mark feels this gives him an opportunity to make a difference, paying back the support and encouragement he received over the years at UMC.

The best benefit of the Faces Panel is that it’s a myth-buster. Participants begin to see that many of the homeless are either looking for work, or employed like Mark, but unable to make ends meet. There is often a single or a series of events that people cannot recover from that sends them in to homelessness. And, while many of us enjoy extensive, supportive networks when something bad happens, many in poverty do not have that benefit and find themselves hanging by an unraveling thread.

The Panel can in itself be a catalyst to end homelessness. Once you have heard these stories, it is hard to forget them and the awareness you now have is a golden opportunity to share your knowledge and help the community to make change. It becomes a call to action: tell someone about the person you’ve just met; spread the word; and the next time you see a person in poverty or experiencing homelessness, extend a smile or engage in conversation.

Panels are scheduled through our Volunteer office and begin with filling out the Group Form. I am happy to help you schedule something that is appropriate for your group. The Panel can also be paired with service, like Operation Sandwich, Drink Groups, or work in our community garden. Take the time to learn someone’s story, share an act of kindness, and extend yourself in service.

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Yesterday, Hunter treated some of our neighbors to McDonald’s for lunch. That may not sound like much (and technically, it’s against our rules), but it’s a great example of how people go above and beyond every day to help our clients. Hunter normally volunteers in the laundry, but with our Tuesday van driver out of the country, Hunter stepped up to fill the need. What he didn’t know was that after he drove 31 people to the DMV, DSS, CMC and other places reduced to acronyms, if he brought some of them back late for lunch, we would save a plate for them. Instead he took matters into his own hands and made sure they were fed before he brought them back to 945 N College St.

And Hunter is just one of the 39 volunteers on site yesterday to help provide basic services to our neighbors. Afternoon Desk Volunteers Betty, Linda & Sandra helped neighbors sign up for services. St. Andrew’s United Methodist was there to serve drinks during lunch and dozens of other volunteers and staff helped to make Tuesday, November 27^th a day of smooth sailing and service to others including the following:

· 4 Job/resume counseling

· 31 Van transportation

· 35 Loads of laundry

· 45 Computer lab

· 47 Counseling

· 47 Showers

· 53 Phone calls

· 294 Lunches served

Our staff and partners also helped neighbors address their medical, income and housing needs. Nurse Lorraine, from CW Williams, is on site every morning to provide care, helping 16 people on Tuesday. Grace, our SOAR Coordinator, interviewed 2 new potential clients yesterday. She’s already helped 27 to access their disability income this year and she has a 100% approval rate! Megan works for the county’s Homeless Services department, but her office is at UMC so she is readily accessible to her clients. On Tuesday, she continued to do what she does best, listening and helping people find housing opportunities in Charlotte.

Vonnie and Jeff are volunteer counselors every Tuesday afternoon. Vonnie mostly helped people with transportation to their new jobs yesterday! UMC will provide a 10-ride bus passes for new employment (verified by our counselors) until that first paycheck arrives. The week before she had more requests for assistance with ID. Jeff also helped with transportation and ID, but one neighbor really worried him—a man with physical and medical disabilities, unable to work, not yet receiving any disability assistance, and ineligible for shelter. Sleeping outside will likely exacerbate his conditions. Jeff helped him with referrals to a different shelter and has another hope for him: Room In The Inn.

Urban Ministry Center’s Room In The Inn program starts on Saturday, December 1^st. That’s what team member Paul was working on Tuesday. Specifically, he’s found another congregation to support the program and is in the process of matching them with a more seasoned church. For the first few weeks the lowest bed number is 98, while the highest is 190. . .that’s a lot of people off the streets when it’s in the 30’s, becoming extremely uncomfortable, if not unhealthy to sleep outside.

Our annual gate survey was held on an October Monday and showed over 500 people coming onto our site (23 for the first time that day). We thank the community—our volunteers and our donors especially—for partnering with our staff to make yesterday, and every day, an opportunity for service, a moment of change, and a time to love our neighbors.

I met William Larry Major on my first day of work at Urban Ministry Center. It was May 2010, and Dale suggested we take a walk downstairs to see the soup kitchen gearing up to serve lunch. We had barely entered the lunchroom when Larry came barreling towards us, all long limbs and drunken giggles. Dale said, “Meet Larry. He’s been homeless for years, and he’s probably going to come live at Moore Place.” I was soon enveloped in a big and messy bear hug, accompanied by the flashing of Larry’s trademark peace sign. For the next 18 months, Larry stood as a symbol for me about why establishing Moore Place was so urgent for our community. He - like so many others – was believed to be “unhouse-able,” and the prevailing wisdom was that he was simply choosing to be homeless. I would often see him on the streets in my East Charlotte neighborhood and think “Hang on, Larry…it’s coming.” And by “it,” I meant a chance at a different kind of life.

Larry was scheduled to move in to Moore Place on February 14. One of our social workers had spent countless hours getting Larry to the point of move-in, including a long and somewhat comical day at the DMV obtaining a needed ID card. Throughout the process, Larry had seemed enthusiastic, if not incredulous, about the idea of moving to Moore Place. But when the scheduled time to sign his lease arrived, he was nowhere to be found. The social workers got in the car and searched all of his usual haunts to no avail. We were disappointed but not entirely surprised. It fit with the stereotype that Larry really didn’t want housing. Then 90 minutes later, I heard “Larry’s here!” He apologized for being late and asked if he could still move in. He had just left detox. Keep in mind - at no point had we ever told Larry that he needed to go to detox in order to move in. But he had decided on his own that he wanted to be clear-headed for this big day. Sober and proud, Larry sat down to sign his lease. He was an indelible part of Moore Place for the next eight months.

The thing that constantly surprised me about Larry was that he stayed. In my experience working with individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness, housing – as much as it is desired – can often feel overwhelming, to the point that sometimes the first or even second housing attempt is unsuccessful. Continued outreach, support, and encouragement are often needed to help individuals bridge the chasm between life on the streets and life inside. I was certain this would be the case with Larry. I was completely wrong. His key and his building ID card were like gold. “I’ve got my key, I’ve got my card, I’ve got my apartment” was his popular refrain. Just a few weeks before his death, we had to issue him a new ID card. The original had cracked from being clutched so hard and so long in his hands for eight months.

Every day at Moore Place for Larry was not easy. Although he stayed in housing, he struggled sometimes with being in his apartment, and it took him months before he was finally sleeping in his bed. He got lonely at night, and it was not infrequent that I would come in the next day to hear “Your voicemail is full” as Larry had left me multiple messages throughout the night when it was too quiet and he wanted to talk. He possessed great insight into himself and in his clearer moments, he would freely admit that he needed and craved attention. Larry had become such a celebrity of sorts on the streets of Charlotte. At Moore Place, he struggled to retain that “famed” identity while living in community with 84 other men and women. Yet Larry had a way of getting his needs met. He was a fixture in our outdoor pavilion, serving as the unofficial greeter for visitors and passersby. I once even lost a tour group to Larry’s charms. I had excused myself for just a moment to tend to a building issue, and when I returned, my visitors had disappeared. Someone said “I think I just saw them going down the hall with Larry.” Sure enough, I found the group in apartment 104, being regaled by Larry and getting the grand tour of his home.

Larry loved Moore Place, but alcohol was still his mistress. He had great insight into this as well. “It’s not me, it’s the alcohol,” he would plead on the days when hard conversations needed to happen. And there were certainly a lot of those days. The thing was, it really was the alcohol. Liquor turned this man who would describe himself as “free-hearted,” who would ask nearly every day after my mother’s health, who would tell young people to stay in school and stay away from booze, who would grasp hands and pray with any visitor that was willing – well, it turned him into a person that you simply did not want to be around. That was the great struggle of Larry. He had a visceral need to be with other people. He also had an addiction to alcohol. It was hard to have them both.

With Larry’s passing, I have had a great deal of time to reflect upon the mental promise I had made to Larry in passing all those times before Moore Place opened. Did he really get to have a chance at a different kind of life? I’ve been re-listening to some of those late-night voicemail messages, and I think the answer is a resounding yes. Larry said:

“I’m proud of myself, and I’m enjoying every minute of my apartment. I’m keeping plenty of groceries in here, I’m eating good, and I’ve slacked down on a lot of my drinking. And I’m doing very well now. I’m bettering myself a little more. It’s gonna take a little more time, but I’m working with it. It’s hard to deal with, but I’ve come this far. I can go a lot further and I’m going try to maintain doing a little better than what I been doing. Well a lot better. And I appreciate everyone here working with me because it makes me feel like a person again. And I do feel like a person now.”

In the days after Larry’s death, I received an email that was ironically poignant. The writer said “I will never forget Larry’s extreme gifts of hospitality when I was at Moore Place.” Imagine that - Charlotte’s most famous formerly homeless person was now known by his hospitality.

Larry was at home. He will forever be missed.

Pedestrian identified as ‘Chilly Willy’ killed on East 7th

Man hit, killed by car ID'd as famous homeless man "Chilly Willy" - WBTV

Chilly Willy - Tommy Tomlinson Blog

Chilly Willy to you, just Larry to friends - Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer

Remembering William Larry Major, AKA 'Chilly Willy' - Julie Rose, WFAE

The Maxwell House Drops of Good Renovation video for Urban Ministry Center has been posted!

In late August, Urban Ministry Center welcomed three new additions to our Neighbor Services team. John Zika is here courtesy of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with funding from an LSTA grant. John is working through June, 2013, to help neighbors with job finding skills and to support our JobWorks counselors. Kristen Cothran is a Vista Volunteer with us until the end of August, 2013, and will be focused on spreading awareness and building community partnerships. Sean Robinson is a MSW student at Winthrop University, who will be counseling neighbors in his internship through May, 2013.

Our new staff members were asked to reflect on a portion of their extensive orientation over the last few weeks:

One of the last pieces of our orientation, a walking tour of two organizations close to UMC, was possibly one of the most informative. We first walked to the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte (only three blocks north of UMC), and met Nefertiri of the Shelter who kindly accompanied us on our tour. This was extremely eye opening! One of the things that was most shocking to us was the number of men that needed their services and the extent that they were willing to go to try to help them all. Our guide Nefertiri explained that on certain nights they fill every bed available and so they place cots and blankets on any open floor space just to get (500+) people inside and off the streets. She also told us about the resources they offer: legal aid, a chiropractor on site, SACOT (substance abuse program), as well as a nurse and social worker (similar to Urban Ministry Center).

There is a large-screen television in a room where many of the residents watch the 5PM news every day, and then proceed with other viewing adventures, e.g. Monday Night Football in autumn. The Men's Shelter serves three meals per day:  Breakfast and Supper are for residents only, while lunch is for anyone who wants to visit the shelter during the noon meal. It was also very well maintained, and impressed us with its cleanliness.

We found it very surprising that the shelter was chiefly staffed by female employees. The staff expressed a feeling of safety and stated that hired security guards were not needed, because most of the men were so grateful for their work and support they became very protective of them. This correlates with the mission and principles of the Urban Ministry Center. By focusing on relationships and helping the individual, it allows a connection to be created. That connection is more security than one could ever need and it creates a mutual respect and appreciation for the other. It was also great to see that residents of the Shelter are encouraged to provide input on matters which they are concerned about.

After leaving the Men’s shelter we continued on to the Homeless Resource Center in the Hal Marshall Building Annex at College Street and Phifer Street. We think it’s great that there’s something open after the UMC is closed. The staff there gave us a tour, explaining the services offered at the HRC, the hours the Center is open, and the clientele of the Center. And we even began to see some of the neighbors gathering outside before they opened their doors.

Of note here is the fact that many of the individuals, who frequent the UMC, also visit the HRC.  The Center has served the community by giving the homeless who used to congregate at "the Wall" outside the Hal Marshall Building a more comfortable and uplifting place to interact. Once inside we saw big screen TVs, air hockey table and a pool table. Another resource offered in hot weather, the Center not only provides a cool respite for those on the streets, but also provides medical staffing on days when the heat index exceeds 102 degrees.

We have come to appreciate partnerships between different places such as the Men’s Shelter, HRC, Crisis Assistance, Second Harvest Food Bank and of course the Urban Ministry Center. By minimally overlapping resources, and cooperating together, we collectively are able to more effectively help our neighbors and the homeless population in Charlotte. We greatly enjoyed our walking tour of these facilities, and the opportunity we had to expand our knowledge of the support network for the homeless within one mile of UMC.

We are thrilled to be working in a place where the staff and volunteers are very invested in the neighbors and we have already begun creating relationships with many as well. We are looking forward to our next year here at the Urb!

Did you know that the Urban Ministry Center has 3 gardens in Charlotte? Each is a therapeutic garden, is a member of the Friendship Garden network, and each has had lots of excitement this year!

At 945 College Street, GardenWorks 945 grows organic produce for our neighbors, the Soup Kitchen, the Common Grounds Farm Stand, and for Friendship Gardens. Neighbors work in the garden, but this year the spotlight has been on the really wonderful improvements made possible by our community, including a grant and work group from Duke Energy to get the upper garden cleared, terraced and planted with 125 sweet potato plants! And of course, last month we were thrilled to welcome hundreds of volunteers onsite after UMC won the Maxwell House Drops of Good renovation facilitated by Rebuilding Together of the Carolinas. These improvements included new raised, table top beds for people in wheel chairs, a vertical garden for those who cannot bend over, a shaded area, coldframes, a new information sign, mulching, and more. The garden looks great and we have lots of volunteers to thank for that! Contact Trish Fries to get involved, or follow the UMCGarden on Facebook!

In April, Friendship Gardens organized an installation of 8 raised beds at Moore Place, our HousingWorks program located on Lucena Street, housing 85 previously homeless individuals where the average length of homelessness for tenants was 9 years.

This brand new garden also has a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who come each Wednesday morning to work in the garden and engage with the tenants. According to Stephen McQueen, HousingWorks Assistant Director, “Our summer garden has produced delicious tomatoes, and bell pepper and squash.  And it is still producing okra.  Our tenants have enjoyed early picking a few green tomatoes to make…..you know what (fried green tomatoes).  We have some transitional items added to the garden such as basil and watermelon.  I often see some of the tenants watering garden in the early hours of the morning and some in the late afternoon—tending to the green.  This has been a wonderful addition to our grounds and has helped bring a little more ‘home’ into our tenants’ lives.” To volunteer on Wednesday’s, please contact Katie Church.

Last, and maybe most exciting right now, is the SABER garden. SABER is a substance abuse treatment program for homeless men. The garden is one of the activities in a very deliberate and intensive program with an outstanding success rate of 55% after 9 months as compared to the national average of 20%. Located on the property where the guys live, they tend the garden each week, and it has also seen some great community support from the Scouts this year.

Scoutreach is a division of Scouting that emphasizes leadership among urban youth. Troop 394 from the Johnston YMCA participated in a Scoutreach project led by QuaDoffious Sutton from Vance High School. The boys built fences and gates to delineate and protect the garden from nibbling friends.

SABER has also received a grant from Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful to install native plants in September. As a result, they have planned a community service day on September 22 to do yard work, clean up, and install plants, including those native to North Carolina and a few special items in memory of Kate Bland, a SABER therapist who passed away in August. If you’d like to help with this clean up/planting day, please contact Laura McCarthy.

“So, what are you going to be up to this summer?” was the friendly, only slightly curious question of friends and family as my freshman year came to a close.

“Oh, I’ll be working at a homeless services center in Charlotte,” was the vague, only slightly knowledgeable answer I gave in response.

The reactions would range from surprise to confusion to excitement, but usually settled on “Well, that’ll be interesting!” And looking back, I think that is the only thought that came to my mind as I prepared to be a part of the Stapleton-Davidson Urban Service Internship. All I knew about my summer at the Urban Ministry Center was that it would surely be interesting.

I never could have expected the sheer chaos of my Monday morning check-in on my first day on the job. I was bombarded with questions that I hadn’t a slightest clue how to answer, and lots of angry neighbors who could tell I didn’t know what was going on. And I never could have expected that I would be leaving the Urb with the ability to walk up and down the check-in line and answer questions on the fly.

I never could have expected the amazing team that I have been able to work with. The staff here has gone above and beyond in making me feel welcomed, affirmed, and loved. They have walked me through learning the ins and outs of the Urb, and guided me through my many, many missteps. I have watched them function as an amazing unit, with every single member dedicated to helping and respecting every neighbor that walks into our center, and making sure that meeting their needs is at the heart of every action. I look up to the staff here, not just because of what they do, but because of who they are. They are people I admire and have learned so much from, and have had an unbelievable impact on my life.

I never could have expected the deep and lasting relationships that I have made with neighbors. The neighbors I have met have stretched me beyond my comfort zone, and have challenged me to truly understand homelessness and to meet people exactly where they are. I saw lives at the Urban Ministry Center change, fortunes reversed, hopes and dreams realized. I built relationships of trust and respect and love with neighbors, and though they don’t know and can’t know it, I am indebted to them for changing who I am.

This summer has been filled with challenge, and yet, because of the challenges not in spite of them, I can experience real joy. I can laugh with Dexter when he mocks my stupidity, and feel Vivian’s pain about the bus schedule. I smile whenever Bobashei smiles, and my face lights up whenever Miss Loretta calls my name as I walk up the front steps. I laugh and laugh when Michelle escorts me to the front door, and tells every neighbor that we’re “a thing”. I get uncontrollably happy when James tells me he’s gotten his medications covered for another two months, and feel a deep sense of pride when Brian tells me that all the bus passes I’ve given him have lead to a steady job.

I am only just beginning to realize what an amazing opportunity the Urban Ministry Center gave me this summer. I am so grateful to have been a part of this experience, and will never be able to thank everyone enough for these ten weeks. I know that this has been an internship that I will never forget.

That is what I did on my summer vacation. And I wouldn’t have spent it any other way.

We couldn’t have asked for a better team of people to make this project a success! There’s no way we can thank everyone (from the inkind sponsors, to the churches, to the parking assistance, to many others who quickly agreed to help out), but there are a few who need recognition. First up in our timeline of success: Rebuilding Together of the Carolinas Executive Director Amy Gough. Amy prepared the grant application for us and took many hours to understand our neighbors, our services, and our needs. Over the course of five months, Amy became our best advocate, always reminding others of the project purpose and impact of decisions on our neighbors.

Next and likely the very most crucial team: the Charlotte community and the dedicated ‘horde’ of people who voted for UMC in the Maxwell House Drops of Good Community Project contest. We are still hearing stories about people who voted for us – many asked not by us, but by other advocates for UMC and the homeless. We cannot thank YOU enough for making this happen! We had people vote while on vacation in Australia, from all over the U.S., and I’m sure we will continue to learn of those who played a part in a renovation that was very local, but may have happened because of a global effort. (thanks again!)

Our thanks also to the local Rebuilding Together of the Carolinas Board of Directors who embody the definition of a ‘working board.’ Their dedication, experience, time, and resources made the project go incredibly smoothly. One of their newest members, Robert Price, took the lead, and provided the confidence and leadership everyone needed to accomplish an extensive work scope.

The Rebuilding Together national staff provided wonderful support, gentle guidance and lots of experience with such a large, public project. We also have to thank Maxwell House for taking such interest and providing so much support to community centers across the U.S. Follow their Drops of Good Truck as it moves around the country delivering much needed financial support to centers providing opportunity and hope to a diverse population of children, American Indians, the elderly, and more.

And Trace Adkins volunteering at the Urb--how cool was that?!

Finally, our thanks to the volunteers who came and spent hours (and even days in many cases) in the hot sun helping us to improve our century old Depot building, community garden, and grounds. They did so with smiles on their faces and kindness in their hearts as they tore down, built up, hauled, dug, spread, hammered, and painted, painted, painted!

As a result of this renovation, the Depot is more energy efficient (six sets of doors replaced!) and has had a great interior facelift (paint, floors, bathroom upgrades). ArtWorks 945 has space that no longer looks like the old soup kitchen, but is fit for storing large canvases, precious works of art, and organized supplies. GardenWorks 945 has the opportunity to serve a larger population with table-high raised beds and a vertical garden, the opportunity to extend its growing season with new cold frames, a vehicle for education with a new garden sign, and an opportunity to contribute even more to the Common Grounds Farm Stand with the installation of 10 hydrangea bushes. Not to mention, how great it looks and how inviting the garden feels now! I could go on, there are benches, a new pergola, and more. . .but a picture's worth a thousand words: check out the pics on both the Urban Ministry Center, Charlotte and Rebuilding Together of the Carolinas Facebook pages.

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.     ~Scott Adams

I have always been terrible with names. Honestly, I’ve tried absolutely every trick in the book to attempt recollection: name association, rhyming, repeating it after I’ve been told, writing it down—the works. It seems what I was missing was the special men and women at the Urban Ministry Center, our neighbors.

After starting the RunningWorks program in early April with my dear friend Kelly Fillnow, I noticed a phenomenon happening: I could remember each and every new runner’s name the first time he or she gave it to me. Why? My guess is because I finally cared enough to really listen. I am so invested in what they have to say to me, and genuinely want them to know that I am there for them and care deeply, that I focused wholeheartedly on what was being said. I surprised myself, and discovered something I am not terribly proud of at the same time.

Every Tuesday and Friday, we meet in the Depot Building beginning at 9:45am. Like clockwork, our “regulars” are already sitting there with their running attire on, ready to go when I arrive. Not only that, but they have taken such ownership in their program, that Tom and Emil already have the equipment bins out of the office. Robert and Chris are ready to recruit and size new runners. Osman re-folds all of the clothes at the end of each week. Nathan and Troy lead the “fast” group. We are past the point of them caring whether other neighbors make fun of them for doing something healthy. They love it, they want new people to join our “team” and have the same life-changing experience they are having.

I’m not sure what I expected when I wholeheartedly decided to sink my teeth into this program; but, the neighbors have already given me far more than I could ever give to them. Each and every round group session (following the runs), they exhibit gratitude and a true willingness to improve their lives by quietly paying attention to the lesson for the day and sharing thoughtfully when called upon. When someone on our team has an issue, we all huddle together to problem solve and offer words of encouragement. If Matt is having a bad day running, Antonio is the first person to wait for him to get him moving again. When tragedy struck Jermaine, Chuck stepped forward and offered his hand. The words in our RunningWorks mission statement are coming to fruition: the power of teamwork, discipline and respect for each other—one stride at a time.

Each and every day of RunningWorks, I am astounded by the discipline and resiliency of these men and women. If only we could get everyone in the Charlotte community to spend one day touching the life of a homeless person—and allowing them to touch theirs—our world would instantly begin the metamorphosis it so needs. Walls would be torn down, jobs created and arms opened—prejudice burned in the street. I can assure you, not one of them is as simple as the perspective you see on television or in the papers, nor is their story so different from yours or mine. One little decision here, one slip of bad luck there, and I might be sitting on that same curb at lunch time.

During the last eight weeks, Tuesday night easily became my favorite time of the week for StreetSoccer 945—it is when we got together for our 8 week series called Connectin’ with Kicks. Every week (15-25) volunteers and (15-20) Street Soccer players got together to participate in team building exercises, life skill lessons, relationship building, and of course, soccer. We had over 70 volunteers join us, several on a regular basis and some of their perspectives have been recorded here:

Kenneth Surles:

I was raised in a mid-sized town in the South where ACC college basketball was revered. Culturally, soccer was perceived as a sport reserved for those who marched to the beat of a different drum: rich kids riding with soccer moms in SUVs, northerners who refused to assimilate to southern values, and Europeans who insisted they were playing “fútbol,” not soccer. While I cared little about a person’s socioeconomic status or where they were born, I passionately agreed that soccer was a sport for outsiders who couldn’t cut it in the big three: basketball, football, and baseball.

This narrow-minded sentiment was challenged a few years ago when I moved to Charlotte, NC and met a group of people, including Pete Fink and Rachelle Chretien, who felt passionate about all-things soccer.  I listened and watched secretly from afar as my friends played in soccer leagues, traveled to the World Cup in South Africa, and started soccer blocs (clubs) at our church—Watershed Charlotte.  I was also inspired by Pete’s creative work with the homeless community as the Director of StreetSoccer 945 at Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center.  Pete had a vision that soccer could be used to address homelessness by introducing ideas of teamwork, healthy living, accountability, and setting personal goals.

In the summer of 2011, at Pete and Rachelle’s wedding, I gave in and played soccer for the first time. I was awful—any athleticism I thought I possessed let me down big time. However, in the midst of the awkwardness, there was a sense of connection and camaraderie inherent in team sports. The experience taught me that beyond the competitiveness and physicality, soccer—like any other sport—is a conduit to facilitate the human connection we all yearn for.

A few weeks after Pete and Rachelle’s wedding, friends from the Watershed soccer bloc convinced me to come out and play pick-up with the StreetSoccer 945 players.  The idea was to connect players from the community with players from StreetSoccer, and in the process, build relationships, share life skills, and create respect and friendships across outdated social, cultural, and socio-economic lines.  This is my second summer playing pick-up with StreetSoccer. The experience has taught me a lot about myself—my shortcomings and my strengths; but most important, I’ve become a believer in the power of soccer to build relationships across class lines. I’ve spent several years working with various community and social justice projects in the Charlotte community, but Connectin’ with Kicks is the first time I’ve engaged Charlotte’s homeless community not as a mentor or as a teacher, but as an equal. Regardless of our position in life, we all run onto the field as equals—trying to do our best to earn respect and trust, achieve our goals, control our emotions, and play as a team. We come with our own unique problems and stresses.  We share our achievements and we share our burdens. We communicate, we learn, and we teach.  Walls of fear, mistrust, and insecurity come down. Ultimately, we do not show up to win, workout, or improve our skills—although those are positive byproducts; instead, we show up prepared to share life.

I have played soccer for a year now—two leagues and two summers of Connectin’ with Kicks. My foot-skills are still horrible; and I pray when I pass the ball that it goes somewhere near my target. Nevertheless, I approach soccer the same way I approach my relationship with Street Soccer 945 players—one game at a time.

Antonio Martinez:

"Connectin’ with Kicks has been incredibly fun so far. Since my first time playing with the 945 Street Team from Urban Ministry Center, it seems like the attendance has nearly doubled. It is understandable since everyone who shows up has a blast, no matter the skill level. All the soccer aside, it’s a really great opportunity for people with different socio-economic situations to get together and share stories, lessons, and realize how we are all in this together. Everyone is equal on the field. The coaches do an excellent job of incorporating soccer lessons into life lessons, and vise versa, while maintaining an easy going and fun environment for everyone who shows up. Plus, everyone learns something and walks away feeling better about themselves and life in general. I am excited to see where this program goes in the future; it has a lot more potential than I thought it would before playing with them."

Thanks for following through with this program, it’s one of the better things happening in Charlotte.

Josh Bishop:

It is hard to put into words what a great feeling it is to be part of the Street Soccer “Connectin’ with Kicks” program. Tuesday night is the evening I look forward to most each week. My first exposure to Street Soccer 945 was this past spring when they won their 7 v 7 tournaments. It was incredible to witness the amount of passion and heart the team competed with and I knew that I wanted to get involved. The best thing about volunteering with the Urban Ministry Street Soccer program is that it feels more like participating then volunteering. There is no distinction or separation; everyone is on the same field playing the same game. It is an opportunity to both better yourself and make a difference in someone else’s life.

At its core, volunteering is simply the giving of your time to a cause. Not everyone has money and not everyone needs money. Time is something we all have and time is something we can all share. Giving your time shows that you are able to put someone else’s needs ahead of your own. Though we may all not have a unique skill or talent to share, we all have experiences and we have all seen different things. No matter how trivial they may seem, our experiences, obstacles and lessons learned all have value. Volunteering your time and sharing your experiences enable everyone involved the opportunity to learn and grow both in the game of soccer and in life. So much can be gained through volunteering, particularly with a cause that is close to your heart. By participating and getting involved, connections and friendships can be made as well as new outlooks and perspectives. The beauty of the Street Soccer program is that it extends past the pitch and beyond the game. It is through volunteering and sharing our time that we are able to affect change and make a difference. Soccer is the vehicle for that change but ultimately it is the connections that are made to everyday life that ties it all together.

Getting Involved

Another 8-week Kick Around will be offered in the fall – stay in touch with UMC to get involved. Also, consider joining, or renewing your membership with, the Royal Court, the official fan club of StreetSoccer 945. Your membership helps support the team and keeps you connected to the players who are doing their best to win the small successes in their lives.

In mid-June, I was selected by the Arts & Science Council to attend the Americans for the Arts Conference (AFTA) in San Antonio, Texas. The experience was the perfection punctuation as I wrapped up my year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA with UMC’s ArtWorks 945 program. For the past year I had worked on building capacity within the program by fostering partnerships, engaging volunteers, and raising funds. This all sounds dandy, but the questions I often get are, “Why art? What does that have to do with homelessness?”

The answer for our program, and the Urban Ministry Center as a whole is COMMUNITY. ArtWorks 945 not only provides a safe, positive, and productive place for community to be built with our neighbors, it is one of UMC’s many arms that reach out and positively affect the greater Charlotte community. It is only because of our connectedness to individuals, volunteers, churches, businesses, and other institutions that we are able to take on the huge job of ending homelessness in Charlotte.

The AFTA conference highlighted that the arts exist in a similar realm where connectedness and collaboration is essential. It is said that when the arts form a firing squad, they form a circle. It is up to us as leaders to instead create a new vision where our links together allow us to be stronger and more responsive. With coordinated advocacy and partnership, our strength is not in the single threads of our separate work, but in the rich fabric we weave together. Over the years ArtWorks has cultivated partnerships with over 70 community partners, while UMC has worked with hundreds more. Without this approach our huge task would be unthinkable, and now I know that on a personal level I have to move forward with intentional action to add more threads to our fabric.

Picture: Here I am in  front of the “La Antorcha de la Amistad” otherwise known as the “Torch of Friendship.”  It is a symbol of bi-lateral cooperation between Mexico and the US, but I couldn’t think of a better photo to also illustrate the idea of collaboration!

Thank you to the Arts & Science Council for granting an Emerging Leader in the Arts Award to attend the 2012 Americans for the Arts Conference.