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“Community transformation is about the quality of neighbors, not the quality of programs.” – Robert D. Lupton, Charity Detox
In the fight to find a way to walk beside our unsheltered friends and neighbors, a commonly heard sentiment is NIMBY or Not In My Back Yard.
But one of the things that I have always loved about the Hi-Crest neighborhood is how people from all walks of life have always been welcomed and not only are they welcome, but our proud neighborhood has also showcased how we are truly better together.
In an effort to listen and learn, I took a day trip with some of the Fellowship Hi-Crest staff to Lawrence. While there we visited with James Chislom and his team at the Lawrence Community Shelter, the innovative Pallet Village, Dare Center, and Community Children’s Center. Each place does its part to fill a hole in the spectrum. It is truly inspiring the work that is being done next door to Top City.
While there we not only looked, but we listened. We asked so many questions and concluded that the things we saw in Lawrence were within reach for our community. The greatest hurdle at this point doesn’t seem to be a lack of resources, but the heart to see our unsheltered friends as people to know and love, people to walk beside. They are not the least of us, they are a part of us. They are not a situation to be dealt with they are people to lovingly journey with and learn from.
And, it is from this heart that I hope our community partners seriously consider choosing Hi-Crest as a place to provide help for our unsheltered friends. Much work is being done to develop Avondale East into a one-stop shop of human services. By developing key properties for our unsheltered friends, continuing to develop our in-fill properties, and committing to developments like Fremont Hill, the Hi-Crest community provides a place to continue saying welcome to my backyard.
We say, “Welcome,” to those others push away because in Hi-Crest we believe that every thread in the rich tapestry of our community matters and adds beauty to the whole.
In the newsletter below, you’ll find information on current and upcoming programs and initiatives as well as highlights on community partners and all that we’re achieving together for our community. I hope you’ll join us in whatever way you can!
Welcome to my backyard,
Johnathan Sublet
Interim Executive Director