At a Fresno elementary school, 20-year-old Bibiana Montes felt a spark ignite in her as a kindergartener. She dreamt that one day she would become a teacher, in part because of her influencers at Susan B. Anthony where she attended school and Saturday Sports. These individuals, teachers and volunteers, left a deep, personal impact on Bibiana. Their support helped her define her career goals and find the confidence to pursue them in hopes of making a difference in the lives of children.
A couple months before I began working with ENP I made the decision to live in an intentional community for ten months at the Pink House located in the inner city of Fresno.
During the ten months of living with 11 other brothers and sisters within a facility of four apartments, we learned about numerous topics, such as: Reconciliation, Christian Community Development, Biblical Community, Leadership Development, and Evangelism, to list a few. Among all the topics we studied as interns, the simplest of them all was one that resonated with me the most . . . the topic on God’s commandment to love our neighbor.
A CHILD’S JOY can be heard in a laugh, seen in a smile, felt in a hug. A CHILD’S JOY can be seen when running, playing tag or skipping rope. A CHILD’S JOY can be heard in a song or when calling out the name of a friend. A CHILD’S JOY should be something we never see fade away!
“This is so much fun!” I cherish those words I heard from students on my first day as a volunteer at Ericson Saturday Sports!
ENP’s mission is to “to connect churches and community partners to elementary schools and to equip them to serve through their active presence in every neighborhood.” What it boils down to is being a better neighbor.
. . . “equipping them to serve”
Recently we gathered with folks from about a dozen of our partnerships for an afternoon of networking, equipping and fellowship, starting with an amazing Mexican lunch prepared by parents from Susan B Anthony.
“Just go outside and play.”
Do those words bring back memories from your childhood? Playing outside was what most kids did for fun, but it isn’t quite as simple today as it was back then.
SATURDAY SPORTS will be up and running, full force by mid September at 32 sites all over Fresno. The majority of the programs are in SE & SW Fresno, where sitting in the house, watching TV, or playing video games are more common activities for kids in many of our neighborhoods.
SATURDAY SPORTS gives kids the opportunity to go outside and play, not only in a safe “green space”, but with folks who deeply care about them and want to make an impact in their lives. That’s why so many churches see Saturday Sports as a simple outreach and great way to connect with kids and families and ultimately find many ways other ways to love and serve our city.
Map showing partnerships that offer Saturday Sports ProgramsLast year more than 2,200 kids had the opportunity to “go outside and play” at Saturday Sports, and it’s so much more than SPORTS! Crafts, games, fun . . . and of course, sports, if you want. But more like it was “back in the day” when kids went outside to jump rope, play four-square, shoot hoops with dad, or play a game of baseball in the street with friends.
More Saturday Sports programs are needed in Fresno! There are lots of kids who would love to play outside, and need people in their lives to love them, and encourage them, and help them see their value and potential.
Northpointe Church has been hosting a Saturday Sports Program at Toby Lawless Elementary for the past 4 years. A real impact is being made in the lives of these kids! Check out the video and see for yourself.
After you watch it, ask yourself if can think of a church that might be interested in coming alongside and supporting an existing Saturday Sports Program, or if you know folks who might like to volunteer to take attendance each week at one of the Saturday Sports sites. We also need several volunteers each week to pick up lunches at Poverello House and deliver them to Saturday Sports. Financial donations are also welcome.
There are lots of ways to love and serve our city, and most importantly, give these kids a chance to be kids!
Please contact us if you have any questions or would like more information about ENP. We love helping folks get connected to serve!
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Even through the Summer our partnership parents from Susan B. Anthony Elementary and Yokomi Elementary are learning and working together and be advocates for their communities through their involvement in the Better Blackstone project. As they take a closer look at their neighborhood they envision walkable sidewalks, revitalized businesses, bike lanes, cross walks and a shady bus stop with benches. All of which are elements of a healthy and flourishing corridor.
Parents gathered in early July and walked from Divisadero to Olive on both Abby and Blackstone, taking pictures and observing the assets and needs in their neighborhood. The ultimate goal: to identify broken sidewalks, missing cross walks, missing waste baskets and any other areas that could be improved to make a healthy, safe, walkable community.
They are excited and empowered by this role they are playing. It’s just one more step in helping parents see the important role they can play as volunteers and leaders in their school and neighborhood.
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On August 7th neighbors will come together to Imagine the Possibilities for Blackstone.
Blackstone neighbors will be sharing their findings through a photography display. This “Photovoice/Fotovoz” project will highlight the healthy and unhealthy aspects of daily life in this neighborhood. Through this project they are learning to be positive and proactive as they work together for a better neighborhood.
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Brenda Bravo
Every Neighborhood Partnership
Parent Engagement Coordinator
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The gates opened at 9am on Saturday morning and kids began to arrive to “Hoop It Up”! They had fun hanging out with friends and practicing until it was their time to compete.
The boys were ready to compete!There was one little girl however, who was looking a little sad. We asked her what was wrong. She quietly replied, “The boys said that girls can’t play basketball.” We reminded her that was NOT the case and ushered her over to the check-in table. She signed in, put her blue t-shirt on and began practicing.
Kids in our partnership neighborhoods don’t have many opportunities to participate in competitions like Hoop It Up. This was a morning of fun for them and a new experience for many.
patiently waiting their turn89 kids participated from nine different schools. Each child received a very cool Hoop It Up t-shirt (thanks to our awesome sponsors) and then waited for their turn at the free throw line. Everyone had fun!
. . . some kids needed a little extra help 1st, 2nd & 3rd place medals were awarded at the end of the morning in all age categoriesWHAT A GREAT MORNING!
Fun morning for everyone!THANKS VOLUNTEERS!
GREAT group of volunteers!Thanks to our great group of volunteers who had fun interacting with the kids & helped make Hoop It Up a huge success!
– Kids had the chance to compete (a new experience for many of them).
– It was another opportunity to promote health and fitness.
– Hoop it up brought more awareness of the value of Saturday Sports and the need for mentoring kids in our Fresno Neighborhoods
– and we raised enough money to purchase sports equipment for 30+ Saturday Sports Programs that will start up again in the fall!
THANK YOU SPONSORS & FRIENDS!
Thank to Kaiser Permanente, J&D Foods, Fresno Housing Authority, Cargill, Torosian & Walter, NY Life, Spirit Radio, Fresno Breast Surgery, Spike & Rail, Holiday Inn Swan Court, FS Lawn, Bobby Salazar’s, and a lot other friends of ENP who helped sponsor kids to compete in the event!
We also want to thank Principal Tharpe for allowing us to Hoop It Up at Olmos Elementary!
Special thanks to Walgreens who not only provided unlimited water for everyone, but came in person to hand it out throughout the morning AND even helped with the competition.
Thanks also to the Fresno State Nonprofit Management Class and Professor Zhanna Bagdasarov who assisted ENP in planning and seeking sponsorships for Hoop It Up!
This day was a beautiful picture of MANY in our community coming together for the kids! We at ENP value the partnerships we have with churches, businesses, universities, and our schools and know that Fresno is a better place because there are SO MANY who want to be part of the transformation!
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ALSO WORTH NOTING: The first medal was awarded to A GIRL! Who said “girls can’t play basketball” anyway!
* The first medal was awarded to A GIRL!!!
On the morning of Saturday, May 30th, Olmos Elementary will be filled with kids trying to reach a goal as they compete with other kids their age in ENP’s Hoop it Up Basketball Competition.
THEIR GOAL: To make baskets from various spots on the key and get points for each basket!
ENP has several goals for the day as well!
The purpose of this event is to promote the importance of physical activity, bring awareness of the value and need for mentoring kids in our Fresno neighborhoods, and raise funds for Saturday Sports.
ANYONE CAN COMPETE!
YOU CAN REGISTER HERE
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REGISTRATION FEE is $20
– Participants will receive an event t-shirt
– 1st, 2nd, 3rd place Medals will be given
in each of the following categories:
1st grade and under
2nd-4th grade
5th-6th grade}
7th-8th grade
High School
Adult
We are also looking for folks who would like to sponsor a child from one of our partnership neighborhoods to participate in the event.
