New partnership begins

Submitted photo PARTNERS: Cheryl Batts, president and founder of P.H.O.E.B.E., left, and the Rev. Chester R. Jones, senior pastor of Haven United Methodist Church, work together to lead their organizations to help their community.
Submitted photo PARTNERS: Cheryl Batts, president and founder of P.H.O.E.B.E., left, and the Rev. Chester R. Jones, senior pastor of Haven United Methodist Church, work together to lead their organizations to help their community.

A new partnership has been garnered between People Helping Others Excel By Example, known as P.H.O.E.B.E., and Haven United Methodist Church.

Drawn together by their desire to "see youth and their families stronger and more resilient in a day when many of the attitudes of life are pulling, separating and dividing families," this new partnership seeks to encourage and empower youth. They hope that will mean an empowered community.

A new direction in programming will start for The Uzuri Project Youth Institute in the fall, not only will the youth and their parents have the chance to be a part of the workshops, but the community will be welcome to attend as well.

To kick off this new partnership and celebrate The Uzuri Project Youth Institute, there will be a Community Wide Picnic from 1-4 p.m. today at Haven UMC, 107 Burroughs St. Everyone is welcome.

The partners encourage attendees to bring their lawn chairs. There will be music, entertainment, food, a bouncy for the youngsters, games and prizes.

"It is not always easy for a faith-based and a community-based nonprofit to forge a partnership that works as well as this one," said Cheryl Batts, president and founder of P.H.O.E.B.E. "While we can be sure there are a lot of agreeable areas, it was apparent that both organizations felt that our youth and their growth was a significant place to begin."

The research conducted by P.H.O.E.B.E. and Haven UMC found that 77 percent of school age children and their families are below the poverty line and after 20 years, are still missing the mark about what youth like and want to do. Soon to begin working with other organizations to answer these and other questions concerning youth, the partnership decided to start right where they were and with the youth they already have.

When asked about the partnership, the senior pastor of Haven United Methodist Church, the Rev. Chester R. Jones said, "The church and its partnership with P.H.O.E.B.E. provides an opportunity to walk both sides of the street together. As we look at the children and their families, there is insight, direction and support, that I can share as a pastor, that P.H.O.E.B.E, as a nonprofit cannot do. Our church has started a five-year plan, and we have geared up our food pantry and Haven House Outreach, a place where we give clothing and other support to those in need. We are willing to provide these services to the best of our ability. Together we can help grow the whole person."

"The youth and senior adults will continue to be the key target audience," said Batts. "In the 16 years of working with the youth and our senior adults to document the African-American history, we were learning to facilitate the humanities scholars and professionals in our community to make sure that our youth have all that they need to be successful in life."

Attendees are encouraged bring one canned good for the needy and enjoy an afternoon picnic of fun, food and entertainment.

Religion on 05/16/2015

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