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Communities First Association

October 2015 Newsletter

THIS EDITION

From the Desk of the ED

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CFA's Fall Gathering :: Registration Open

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Meet the Fast Track Candidates: John & Diane

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Professional Development Resource

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Professional Development Offerings

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The Virtual Bumping Place

From the Desk of the ED

"ABCD in Education: Training Us All in the Ways We Should Go"

Reesheda N. Graham-Washington

Executive Director, CFA

This year CFA has set it s sights on thinking through ways to infuse ABCD principles into the

field of education. Having spent some time exploring this key component to multiplying

ABCD practices, there is, indeed much to consider. CFA has gleaned the following thus far:

There are levels of infusion to be considered. In order for school leaders/teachers to

train students in ABCD as a way of life, they must also come to understand ABCD as

a practice/way of life.

The integration of ABCD into the way we "do school" effects the total composition of

that school: its budget, its operations, and of course, its academics. CFA is currently

in conversations with a new school start up Board of Directors to consider how to

integrate the principles of ABCD into how a school is developed, in every tenet of its

development, from the onset.

The approach to integrating ABCD into

school/learning is very different depending upon

the nature of the school community. For

example, Rachel VerWys, CFA's board chair, is

working collaboratively with her children's

school's teachers to think about how to name

community assets. Wendy McCaig, Community

Advancement Coach of Richmond Virginia, is

more intently focusing her time on listening to the

students of the secondary schools in her community to determine what their

expressed felt needs are and how they might be integrated into a more comprehensive

plan. Finally, at the seminary level, Calvin Seminary is participating in a consortium of

24- 26 seminaries across the country to discover, among other things, how to better

equip seminarians in ABCD tenets prior to graduation.

As we consider ABCD in education, it is important to also be thoughtful about how to

engage teacher and principal preparation programs like Teach for America(TFA) and

New Leaders. Camryn and Ernest Smith have been instrumental in such trainings

with TFA in Raleigh-Durham, as has CFA staff with TFA Chicago.

f

CFA is also working with the Village of South Holland and the RCA denomination and

local RCA churches to use ABCD practices in the development of an early childhood

initiative. Convening neighbors and stakeholders who expressed a felt need for an

initiative and then working across community stakeholders and institutions to develop

the initiative is exactly what South Holland constituents have done on their own behalf.

These are just a few ways in which CFA has begun to explore the integration of ABCD in

education. For more information on this topic, and to continue the dialogue, Community

Advancement Coaches, Vetting Candidates, Board Members, and Staff of CFA will connect

at the fall gathering that begins tomorrow in Chicago, where new vetting candidate, Melinda

Veatch of Tarrant Churches Together will lend further insight on how her organization is

supporting the community regarding ABCD in education.

For panelists bios click here.

Meet CFA's CAC Fast Track Candidates

On October 15th, 2015 our first cohort of the Community Advancement Coach

(CAC) Fast Track Process will commence. Four skilled practitioners of faith-

based ABCD will undergo the rigorous vetting process, which entails attending the

Fall 2015 Gathering, making a Legacy Presentation to a vetting panel, and

participating in a Community Collaboration Lab.

Last edition we introduced you to CAC candidates Christine Brooks-Nolf and

Melinda Veatch. This edition we are pleased to introduce our final two

CAC candidates: John Eigege and Diane Miller.

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John Eigege, Third Ward Transformation

Houston, Texas

JOHN EIGEGE and his wife, Chinyere

(Chichi) are practitioners and residents of

Houston's historic Third Ward, which

John describes as, "an inner city

neighborhood where hope and

brokenness exist simultaneously." John

and Chichi moved to the Third Ward with

the intention of being church planters,

however after some deep community

listening they discovered that the

neighborhood was not in need of another

church. What resulted was John's neighbors asking him to become a neighborhood

chaplain and the Eigege's joining in God's works of community transformation

through becoming a part of community groups/initiatives such as SITI (Square Inch

Transformative Initiative) and the Emancipation Economic Development Council.

The former working towards asset-based educational justice and the latter working

towards equitable economic development for indigenous businesses.

When asked about his interest in becoming a CAC, John thoughtfully shared, "I

deeply love my community, and believe that it has the potential to change from

within. God has blessed the neighborhood with some of the best people I have ever

met. People who are passionate, compassionate, and skilled. I love the passion I

have, but also know that having a cohort of like-minded leaders and practitioners that

I can continue to learn from will be invaluable for the work that SITI is about to

engage in the Third Ward. God is at work in this neighborhood, and I do not want to

miss out on the work of transformation He is doing here."

Although, John will be undergoing the Fast Track Process solo, he frequently

acknowledges that the work of asset-based community transformation is a result of

the combined partnership of himself and Chichi. We look forward to welcoming

Chichi to our 2016 Fast Track cohort!

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Diane Miller, Committed to Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

DIANE MILLER is a resourceful leader,

articulate communicator, detail oriented

project manager, creative designer and

passionate community developer. Diane

and her family have contributed to the

shalom of their neighborhood, through

committing to the eight principles of

Christian Community Development. This

commitment has lead to Diane's active

involvement in the transformation of her

local public school's dual immersion

program.

She currently serves as a board member of Teachers Who Pray and holds several

active organization memberships, including Stand for Children, Greater Goethe

Neighborhood Association, The Expectations Project, Chicago Friends of the Center

for Public Justice, and Christian Community Development Association. She also life

coaches at Center for Changing Lives in her neighborhood.What brings her great joy

is hanging out in her beloved Logan Square neighborhood, establishing deep

relationships and presence

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For more details on the Fast Track Process, click here. The next CFA Community

Advancement Coach Fast Track Process intake will be in 2016.

Professional Development Resource

Core Competency: Restorative Justice

Listen in as Mike Butler, Chief of Safety for Longmont, Colorado, Peter Block and

Mike Butler join Robert Thompson and co-host Mike Neiss to kick off their first

installment of Leadership for the Common Good, a series presented by by blog talk

radio show, Thought Grenades. Chief Butler shares insights around Restorative

Justice. What is it? How did it help Longmont overcome serious issues in their

community? Could Restorative Justice have helped solve problems in Ferguson and

New York City? Click on the image below to listen.

Click on this image to listen.

Share your thoughts on this radio blog show in our online discussion forum at CFA's

Virtual Bumping Place.

Professional Development Offerings

Core Competency: Race Equity

Racial Equity Workshop: Phase 1

November 5-6, 2015

Raleigh, NC

Register Online Here

"Moving the focus from individual bigotry and bias, the REI Phase 1 workshop

presents a historical, cultural, structural and institutional analysis...With a clear

understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable

outcomes, participants in Phase 1 are able to begin a journey to work toward social

transformation and racial justice.:

Presented by:

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Core Competency: Various Areas

Talkshoe Conversation with John

McKnight & Peter Block

Dec. 8th: Michelle Long, BALLE

Join in on a half hour conversation with

John, Peter and their guests about

different ways individuals and

neighborhoods can work to build

thriving and prosperous communities.

Then participate in an open forum

discussion.

Click here to listen or join a current conversation

Click here to listen to a past conversation.

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Core Competency: Various Areas

"So many of our communities and neighborhoods experience a continual battle with

darkness. Yet, out of our encounter with the valley of the shadow, a great witness is born.

Such a witness has the profound power to expose injustice, pushing into the darkness with

the light of Christ. As Dr. King stated, 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do

that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.'"

Conference Features:

Workshop Streams - Business and Economic Development, Contemporary Social

Issues, Christian Community Development, Health & Environment, Incarceration &

Re-entry, Biblical Justice, Tools for Transformation, And Many More!

Plenary Sessions with CCD Thought Leaders

Women of Color Post CCDA Conference

Discover more features here

Register Online Here

CFA is excited to introduce an online learning

community for individuals who are committed to using ABCD

in community transformation.

Join us today @ www.cfaolc.ning.com

Communities First Association

P.O. Box 6104

Chicago, IL 60680

Office: (708) 637-1693

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