Fresno is a unique city filled with the ebb and flow of people from different cultures, communities, and backgrounds. As an intern for Every Neighborhood Partnership, this summer I witnessed how different cultures and community members are coming together to make a difference through building each other up. Community leaders, teachers, pastors, and residents are all part of the process to bring change in Fresno. This is primarily founded on Christian Community Development. This philosophy says change is evoked in the community when it is done holistically. John Perkins coined this ideology and came up with the three R’s of community development (Relocate, Reconciliation, and Redistribution). 

This means in order to bring change into an area of need it is crucial to relocate.  Relocation allows you to become a mutual community member alongside your neighbors. As relationships start to form with the community, reconciliation starts to take place. Reconciliation starts with providing an open space to listen to stories, and understand how injustice, both economically and racially, affects your neighborhood.  Friendship and mutual understanding of one another can birth a sustainable solution that bring together each resident, family member, and neighbor. Once the problem is solved, the goal is for everyone to look back and say “look what we did together!” 

 As an intern this summer, this understanding of Christian Community Development showed me how this is implemented in initiatives today. I saw residents trained to advocate for their neighborhood through the Leadership Resident Cohort. I met city leaders who have given their life both professionally and personally to make Fresno a holistic living space. I saw the power education has through literacy mentoring to give students and families the resources they need to be successful. I saw Saturday Sports and Beat the Odds give kids space to be active and connect with positive mentors.  All these programs are empowering residents to be a voice of change in their neighborhoods. 

In Action at Webster Park

One of the most impactful stories I witnessed this summer was the planning process for Webster Park. The Webster neighborhood is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Fresno. It is sandwiched between two freeways with no easy access to a park. Having a park in the Webster neighborhood would  give families space for their kids to be active and allow the community to have a space to come together. 

Part of the park planning process was holding a focus group for parents and kids to give their input on what they want their park to have. The kids got a chance to submit their ideas by drawing their dream park. Seeing the glow of excitement and daydreaming coming to life on each page was so inspiring. I look back on this moment and remember this is the heart of what Every Neighborhood Partnership does. This is what makes Fresno unique. Residents from ages 2-100 get the opportunity to dream big for their neighborhood and then provided the resources to make it happen. 

As I look back on my internship, I see how God’s heart for the city is one of restoration. The seeds of restoration are being planted from within. It looks like community members from different neighborhoods across the city coming together to dream big. As simple as it sounds, this is how programs such as Literacy Mentoring and Saturday Sports start.  This summer showed me that partnerships like ENP invite us to be a part of the restoration God is bringing to Fresno.

So the question I leave with you is, how is God inviting you to partner with your city today?