High Hopes - It Takes a Village

Yesterday, over fifty church leaders gathered at Northwood-Appold United Methodist Church to participate in the workshop "It Takes a Village - Developing Partnerships between Churches and Schools." At least 17 churches were represented among the participants. The workshop is a part of our ongoing strategic effort aimed at strengthening churches and transforming communities in Baltimore. We were blessed to hear from Mr. Michael Sarbanes and Mr. Michael Carter - both from Baltimore City Public Schools - who shared with us some of the ways that churches can become more involved in the schools in their communities, and who solicited feedback from us on how to make church-school partnerships more constructive in moving forward. We also heard from Dr. Philip Leaf, from John Hopkins University, who offered encouraging words as to the positive impact that parents and community members can have on children and youth, which can serve to turn the tide on the negative factors impacting young people in the inner city. One of the things that Dr. Leaf challenged each of us to do was to identify one thing - small or large - in addition to what we are already doing, and commit to doing this. From adopting one classroom, to offering supplies or computer equipment, each of us and our churches can do something more. These incremental action steps can have a large impact. We also heard stories from many of the churches represented of how they are already working with the children in their respective communities, and how they remain committed to continuing, and in some cases expanding, these efforts in the future. At the end of the day, we left with a sense that as a village concerned about the future of our children in the city, we can continue to make a difference. We left with hope that the days ahead will be filled with promise.