ServeFresno.org 2016 Highlights & Infographic

February 9, 2017 andrewfeil ENP News

At ENP we believe that we are most satisfied when we are giving our lives away to something bigger than ourselves. We have found our passion. Serving schools and neighborhoods.

If serving with ENP in our schools and neighborhoods isn’t your passion we wanted to find a way for you to use your unique gifts and abilities. That is why we create ServeFresno.org.

ServeFresno.org makes it easy to find projects and volunteer opportunities across our city. As we look back at what 2016 we were blown away by the website traffic and usage of the Serve Fresno site.

The Archer Filter

February 7, 2017 andrewfeil Equipping

Keith Bergthold of Fresno Metro Ministry, Randy White of the FPU Center for Community Transformation, and Artie Padilla of Every Neighborhood Partnership collaborated on the creation of organizing filters to separate the substantive from the superficial in the approaches to true revitalization. ARCHER.

What elements are absolutely necessary to be present in order to hit the target of authentic community building? This is a useful tool for every community-based organization to take stock of its approaches.
Do we recognize the true presence of these elements in our approaches.
Are they supported by our methodologies and the allocation of our resources?

ARCHER is an acronym for Assets, Responsibility, Competence, Harmony, Empowerment and Results.

Download the PDF or view the image below for a full explanation.

Changing the Future of Fresno

January 18, 2017 andrewfeil Literacy

For most middle and upper-class families, the ability to read is something we take for granted. Books were aplenty in our homes and still are.

Imagine living in a home that doesn’t have any books, much less a bookshelf. Mom loves and works hard for you, but has little to give after her second part-time job ends at 8:00pm. Did I mention Mom doesn’t speak English? She wants to help you with your homework, but she only finished fourth grade in Mexico so she can’t read the words on the page. This situation and many others like it play out every day in our schools.

Fresno Unified is made up of just over 74,000 kids. Over 18,000 of them are English learners, and 86% are living in poverty.[1] How do we make a difference in a city and a school system that has so much need? How do you go about changing the future of Fresno? Help a kid learn to read.

Transformation Requires More Then Doing Things for People and Neighborhoods

January 6, 2017 andrewfeil Equipping

This blog is used by permission from Stan of Neighborhood Transformation. See original post and blog here. Garold Elston of Neighborhood Transformation will be hosting our upcoming 20/Twenty on Jan 14th. Click here to learn more and register.

For transformation to take place people and neighborhoods must decide they want something different than what they currently have. Then they must care enough that they are willing to do something about it to see the change take place. If that desire and action are not there then no matter what we do for others might be good, but generally transformation does not take place. Transformation comes from inside people themselves and neighborhoods.

But we as Western Christians are focused on doing things for others. People might say sure I would like that and gratefully accept whatever we do for them but does that transform them or their neighborhood? The answer is No.

Order Your ENP T-Shirt Today!

November 21, 2016 andrewfeil ENP News

Update: If you want a Serve Fresno T-Shirt we did order extras… email info@everyneighborhood.org to see if we have your size in!

We love Fresno.

We love the people of Fresno.

We have given our lives to this work.

We know you do too.

As a staff we wanted to design a t-shirt that would help us express the love we have for Fresno and share the work/message of ENP. We will be doing a short run of these For the Love of Fresno T-Shirts. Order yours today! $25.

ORDER TODAY

Spreading the Joy of Learning

November 7, 2016 Carol Young Literacy

Several weeks ago, I walked into a first-grade classroom, excited about getting to know 26 enthusiastic kids and anxious to help them with reading. It didn’t take long for me to be reminded why volunteering with beginning readers is so rewarding.

On my first day in a classroom this year, I began working with students to see how many sight words they knew. A few of the kids did pretty well, and I could tell they had someone at home who had been working with them. There was a confidence and pride in their accomplishments. But it became clear after just an hour in the classroom that many of them needed some extra help and encouragement.

Meet Kristin . . . and be inspired!

November 2, 2016 Carol Young Perspectives

One of the greatest joys of being a part of Every Neighborhood Partnership is the opportunity I have to meet some amazing people. I would like to introduce you to Kristin, a high school student who is giving back and inviting her friends and classmates at Bullard High to do the same!

Thanks for sharing your story, Kristin!

ENP Gathering

October 28, 2016 andrewfeil ENP News

To you our donors & supporters…

Thank you for being an amazing champion and friend of ENP! Because of you:

This semester alone, hundreds of kids are being impacted at 31 Saturday Sports programs, hosted by volunteers from our partnership churches and organizations. Kids like Larissa.
Volunteers are understanding our city and redefining their calling because of your support. Volunteers like Qianlin.
In 2016 alone we have trained over 756 individuals through our equipping events. Events like City Scope.

Running Towards Success

October 28, 2016 andrewfeil Serving Our Schools

Fitness and running have always been a focus for ENP as we engage with our kids on our school campuses during the year. We’ve had running clubs at Saturday Sports, running clubs during lunch recess and we’ve had ENP volunteers serve as cross country coaches at our schools as well.

This year, we’ve had two community partners help ENP in two unique ways.

Us vs. Them: The Need for Unity in the Church

October 21, 2016 andrewfeil Perspectives

If there is anything that has become apparent in the latest national and political season, it is that we are a divided nation, politically and racially.

If you don’t trust me, just get on Facebook. Geez. The infighting, the name-calling – the distrust is clear. How are we supposed to change our neighborhood, city, nation or world if we think everyone else is the problem?

As we look for solutions, you would think the church of Jesus Christ would be an example of civility and unity, but sadly it isn’t.

Recent research shows 86% of congregations are made up of one predominant racial group. That may not be surprising, but what was to me is that most churchgoers were content with the ethnic status quo in an increasingly diverse world. We are fine being with people who are like us and who like us.[1]

ENP Blog