Gabrielle was born in Fresno, grew up and went to college in Southern California, and moved back to Fresno in 2014. She has worked with churches and non-profits in Fresno, where she developed an interest in Christian Community Development and what God is doing in Fresno. She has since made Fresno her home alongside her husband Jordan and their son. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
COVID-19 has changed many things, but we can still encourage, serve, and appreciate those around us. Below are some physically distanced volunteer ideas from loveourcities.org.
This article was written by former ENP intern Alexis Kalugin.
Over the last few decades, institutional community development has taken over the structure of most community functions. Instead of finding ways to engage neighbors to be a voice of change in their community, most cities have put the burden of change on institutions. The problem with this narrative is that workers in schools, law enforcement, and healthcare are responsible for more community problems than they can handle. There is no relationship between the institution and the community to understand each problem. This approach becomes one size fits all and leaves a gap between the institution and the citizens.
The Well Community Church partners with local organizations to promote municipal revitalization
Original Post by Addison Schultz on The Feather Online, reprinted with permission
The City of Fresno suffers as one of the worst cities for poverty concentration in the nation. Of the 500,000 residents from around the globe that inhabit Fresno, 28.2 percent live under the national poverty line. Moved by the city’s statistics, organizations gather together to attempt to mobilize the community for action.
The Well Community Church hosted the second annual Discover Fresno, a one-day event used to inform citizens about the needs of the city and volunteer opportunities for Fresno residents, Feb. 8. Over 250 guests attended the event which included ten breakout sessions and opportunities to engage with the session speakers.
Leaders from Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP), Live Again Fresno, Youth for Christ, Poverello House, Pregnancy Care Center, World Impact, Housing Authority, Safe Families, Fresno Rescue Mission, ESA Love Inc., Economic Opportunities Commission, Central Valley Justice Coalition and Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries represented their organizations and shared the part they play in revitalizing the city of Fresno.
