#2 June 2010

Inside this Issue Neighbors United; it’s official! Listening Global and Local Poverty A Community Space

COMMON Voice

Camping in Cedar Creek, Nebraska for the inCOMMON staff retreat

Of Being Woven, by Rumi The thickets blocking your path are anything that

keeps you from that, any fear that you may be

broken into bits like a glass bottle. This road demands courage and stamina, yet it's full of footprints!

Who are these companions? They are rungs in your ladder. Use them! With company you quicken your ascent.

You may be happy enough going along, but with others you'll get farther, faster...

Every prophet sought out companions. A wall standing alone is useless, but put three or four walls together, and they'll support a roof and keep grain dry and safe...

Like that, God paired up creatures, and gave them friendship.

Rev. Howard Dotson read this excerpt at the Neighbors United Signing Ceremony. We thought it fitting to begin this month’s issue with these words because inside you will read about three collaborations; times when we at inCOMMON were blessed by our partnerships. The first collaboration began almost two years ago, and its contributions include relationships contributing to the health of the Park Avenue area. This is a collaboration of faith communities called Neighbors United. In May we met Herb Walters from Rural Southern Voices for Peace, an organization from rural North Carolina committed to positive social change through listening. In June, we screened the film THE END OF POVERTY? in partnership with Film Streams, an Omaha-based non-profit devoted to the presentation and discussion of film as an art form. It is amazing what we can do when we work together. We can love and support our neighborhood together. We can practice relational skills like listening and empathy. We can have discussions about film and the realities of local poverty. The founder of one organization we mentioned above; Rural Southern Voices for Peace said “To work for positive change in our communities we must find the common ground. If you disagree with 90% of what someone says, begin with the 10% where you agree.” Just as Rumi says, “Like that, God paired up creatures, and gave them friendship.” We are all pieces of the puzzle, part of the solution, and bound to live together in community.

This is a principle of our name, inCOMMON. We are very thankful for the moments when our eyes are opened to see those things that we all share in common. Thank you for journeying along with us, Christian, Katie, Brittany, Andrew, Calvin, and Cait

Since September 2008 Omaha faith communities have served 17,000 free meals to residents of the Park Avenue neighborhood. Working together as the interfaith group “Neighbors United” these communities have also provided clothing, basic needs and social security services to their neighbors. On May 27, 2010 the faith communities comprising Neighbors United incorporated with the State of Nebraska as a 501(c)3. The signing event was held at First Presbyterian Church at 11 am, 216 South 34th Street.

Neighbors United began in partnership with inCOMMON Community Development as part of inCOMMON’s asset-based approach to community organizing in the Park Avenue neighborhood. Brittany Hanson of inCOMMON says; "In January 2008 nearly 20 leaders from Park Ave came together to honestly discuss the condition of their local neighborhood -- now over two years later Neighbors United has become a dynamic local leader in collaborative, neighbor-driven action and holistic development.

Neighbors United has worked hard to be inclusive, authentic and community-based and it has paid off -- we have a lot to celebrate!" The following faith communities are members of Neighbors United: First Lutheran Church Metropolitan Community Church First Unitarian First Presbyterian Church Countryside Community Church First Baptist Church Simple Free inCOMMON Community Development

Neighbors United signs official 501(c)3 documents

Pictured here: Neighbors United members. All photos courtesy of Timothy Wallace

“Neighbors United has worked hard to be inclusive, authentic and community-based and it has paid off – we have a lot to celebrate!” Brittany Hanson

Congratulations

.

The wisdom of Herb Walters

At first glance Herb

Walters is not someone you usually see walking around the urban scape of Omaha, Nebraska. It is quite obvious by his look that he spends time in the wild. When his quiet, lulling , accented voice begins to coo you are certain. In May Herb first visited Nebraska for the first time. As we began to talk about the Midwest he noticed similarities between the rural communities he’s known in the South. He spoke about his experiences working for social change which include engaging with very polarized faith communities. Herb started the organization Rural Southern Voices for Peace for this reason; he wanted to respond to the polarization he saw in his country. When we asked Herb why he said that the 1980s confused him. Rather than groups working together he noted a wider gap between many different entities whether religious, political, or otherwise. As stated on the RSVP webpage, It became clear that people everywhere were looking for more inclusive, effective and less polarizing methods of working for social change. Thus in 1985 Herb began developing the Listening Project as a part of RSVP’s

program work. The first RSVP Listening Project was organized at the east coast home of the Trident nuclear submarine base in St. Marys Georgia, in 1986. This project helped peace activists build common ground, friendship and support with community residents and naval base personnel. Listening Projects have been used in various communities experiencing conflict, divisions, or disempowerment. The RSVP Listening Project incorporates the following in each interview; affirmation, finding common ground, encouraging expression of

feelings and needs, asking questions, sharing stories, encouraging solutions, and practicing empathy. Since 1985 Herb has trained individuals on how to participate in community-based Listening Projects. Herb trained 12 individuals at inCOMMON Community Development to become listeners and recorders for our project in Omaha.

Listening Project Central Principles

1. The potential of every human being for good and that each person has some piece of the truth. 2. Every person can contribute to the betterment of our communities and our world. Thus, we seek to affirm and empower people, particularly those who have suffered from injustice. 3. The importance and power of positive human relationships. 4. The importance of empathy, compassion and nonviolent social change. Deep listening enables us to listen and act from a place of genuine understanding and empathy.

Pictured here: Hilary Wilken and Calvin Smothers

Over the last few months Herb mentored us on how to start this project. We organized a group of committed individuals in the Leavenworth and Park Avenue area. Our project will incorporate a few neighborhoods; Park East, Leavenworth, Columbus Park, Ford Birthsite, and Field Club. We are starting our project at the Community Meal on Park Avenue. This is a place where neighbors have been gathering for two years, and a perfect opportunity to listen more intently to eachothers stories. Just like the Community Meal the Listening Project will create safe spaces for people to build healthier, better relationships.

Film Inspires Dialogue about Poverty

Pictured here: A’Jamal Byndon, Annemarie Bailey Fowler, Chris Heuertze, and Rev. Dwight L. Ford

On Tuesday, June 8th

Film Streams and inCOMMON Community Development partnered with Film Streams for an evening of film. The film offered was THE END OF POVERTY? produced by Cinema Libre Studio. THE END OF POVERTY? is a documentary that exposes the causes of sustained poverty. inCOMMON would like to express gratitude to the panelists, community members, and Film Streams staff for making this a fantastic event. The event SOLD OUT and all proceeds support Film Streams, a non-profit organization devoted to the presentation and

discussion of film as an art form. The panelists; Chris Heuertz of Word Made Flesh, Annemarie Bailey Fowler, A’Jamal Byndon a UNO Professor and Director of Omaha Table Talk, and facilitator Rev. Dwight L. Ford of ENCAP brought their experiences in education, social service, and hospitality to the poor. The conversation following the film highlighted the diverse crowd including social service providers, business owners, teachers and academics, activists, mothers, and other community leaders.

One audience member commented on the need for community organizations to be more relationally involved with rheir clients. Another critiqued the film’s lack of highlighting successful actions that address the roots of poverty. KIOS Omaha 91.5 recorded the discussion following the film. It will air on June 21st at noon. If you would like to hear more, please tune in on that day. Each attendee received a card with three local action ideas. The purpose of this card was to encourage Omahans to respond through action.

Local Action Ideas POLICY 1. One Way to Advocate for Socially Conscious Policy Read and Sign the “Omaha Transportation for All” Petition. www.VoiceOmaha.org

RELATIONSHIP 2. Two ways to Get Involved in Knowing People Who Are Poor Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) www.encapomaha.org inCOMMON Community Development www.inCOMMONcd.org

ONGOING ENGAGEMENT 3. Three Ways to Keep the Conversation Going Omaha Table Talk www.OmahaTableTalk.com Beggar’s Society www.WordMadeFlesh.org Omaha Poverty Meetup Group – Stay tuned to the inCOMMON Facebook page

inCOMMON and Neighbors United Fundraising for Community Center

Neighbors United and its nonprofit supporting partner, inCOMMON Community Development seek funds to assist in developing and staffing a community center in the Park Avenue area. The primary objective of the community center is to address community and economic development needs of the Park Avenue Area. The focus is on nurturing and supporting the growth and development of low income, homeless and special needs individuals and families in Omaha’s Park Avenue area. The proposed project would assist in establishing a storefront to house the community center. The Center would work through its partners hips with faith community

members of Neighbors United – as well as through appropriate community organizations. Great News!

inCOMMON recently received a matching grant from the Peter Kiewit Foundation for $10,000 toward the creation of a Community Center in the Park Avenue area! Many of you have already expressed your excitement about this opportunity and have even gone above your normal acts of generosity to contribute to this effort – THANK YOU! In order to reach the matching amount required to receive this grant ($23,000) a great deal work must be done. All pledges for this grant must be

acknowledged or received by September 30th, 2010. We are far from reaching our goal of $23,000, but hopeful that we can reach it together. Please help us fulfill this amazing opportunity from the Peter Kiewit Foundation by making a donation to inCOMMON via the Community Center. We need everyone’s participation to make this a reality. Please Contact Christian Gray for more information, Christian@inCOMMONcd.org

Pictured here: Wednesdays in the Park, at Park East Park

The Center on Park Avenue will promote the involvement and ownership of residents themselves, creating a culture of affirmation and

empowerment.

Make a Donation Today!

http://incommoncd.org/get-involved/donate/financial-donations

inCOMMON Community Development

1258 S. 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108

402.933.6672

InCOMMON Community Development 1258 S. 13th Street

Omaha, NE 68108