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LEADING FROM BELOW

Except for Ed Pastor (our U.S. congressman from our district) I was the oldest person in the room. Congressman Pastor had come to The Neighborhood Center to hear our youth describe to him the results of their year-long work in learning from their own community. It was our youth that led this amazing gathering. They were prepared, professional and stayed true to the agenda designed for such a prestigious occasion. He listened carefully to each presenter and answered respectfully.

NM highschool leadership team with US Congressman Ed Pastor, April 15, 2009.

The leaders of our youth sat scattered among them. Ian, Jeremy, Shiloh, Sarah, Nicole, Chris … they had been steadfast all year, believing that their job is to equip these young emerging leaders for their future. One project of this year’s leadership class was to asset map residents in their and our neighborhood interviewing over 33 and taking over 350 photos. The outcome of which is displayed at ASU (AZ State University, Downtown Campus).

As I surveyed the room, I was struck by the beauty of leadership development among us. The results are not just our youth; it is inside these youth leaders as well. They lead from below. They know that in the end, their work will be measured by how many others experience the good news of the gospel, how many others speak to power, how many others find their dreams fulfilled, how many others make a difference in the next generation … they are leading from below.

We have been greatly helped in this, and I want to acknowledge this publicly. For three and a half years our youth staff has diligently taken advantage of an artful theological curriculum brought to us by Kris Rocke and The Center for Transforming Mission (CTM). Three of them have taken the courses for graduate level credit from Bakke Graduate University (BGU). This course work gave our leaders (and many others for that matter) language and tools for the work of community transformation from below. Because this is our everyday work, we needed everyday tools. On any given day, you can hear the language of CTM weave in and out of an observation or reflection, or used as a descriptor for the ways in which our community is finding its voice back to us.

May these friends and their good work influence many others in the ways in which they have influenced us. And may the community of saints that live and work among the poor continue to find one another, in the same ways in which we have found these, our dear friends. 

Love, Kit
Kit's Corner

Grace is like water -- it flows downhill and pools up in the lowest places.


CTM moniker

[Let] nothing [be done] through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross.


Philippians 2:3-8
Ministry Event:

Parent Volunteer Store –
The Spring Store

Saturday, April 25 is our next Parent Volunteer Store fondly called “The Spring Store”. Months of hard work in caring for The Neighborhood Center by our community’s adults have accrued in-house paychecks. These will be spent at the store.

It isn’t too late to bring by your gently used or new household goods for this store.

1918 W. Van Buren, 602-252-5225

Gricelda VasquezAs a participant in Neighborhood Ministries, I have learned more than I would have at any other place. Ever since I started being part of the leadership class every Wednesday night I began to see things in a different perspective. I realized how much needs to be done in our community. I have lived in the same street for more than eleven years already and I have seen many things happen. Change in my neighborhood does not happen over night or in just a few weeks. Being a participant at Neighborhood Ministries has thought me that it is fundamental that we all influence our community in a positive way, so that it can be a safer place to live in.

I learned that influencing my community in a positive way is a good way to let the people know that they can accomplish all they have ever dreamed of. Influencing my community positively also lets the people know that there are people in the community that care for them and their family. Being positive and showing the people in your community that you are a good role model helps them know that you are a leader with goals. It is nice to receive a compliment from one of your neighbors for the hard work you have accomplished. When I influence someone in my community I can tell that they are happy because even the smallest words or an action gives them hope. Talking to the people that live in my community is a way of getting to know them better and the beginning of a friendship. I have also learned that trust comes along when you influence your community positively.

Overall I have learned that it is extremely important that we all influence our community in a positive way. It is important because if you show the people in your community that you are a good leader they will trust you. Influencing ones community in a positive way allows the community to know each other. It also helps accomplish more in the community and that is how change comes along. Being positive benefits all of the people in the community and that's why it is very important.

Gricelda Vasquez

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