Faith Based Initiatives Work Group
Recognizing the importance of the church in Latino culture, and with the hope of facilitating more church involvement in the Latino community and more partnerships between it and other service providers, CJ has been networking since 2007 with area faith based agencies, both those with and without significant Latino members.
We encourage churches and other faith based groups interested in the Latino community to contact us to
- speak with you and your members about our local Latino community
- explore joining this work group
- to help you identify service providers who can provide brief talks about their programs after your weekly service or at another time convenient for your Latino congregation
- help assist you to identify services you can provide to the Latino community and, if needed, potential partners to help you or
- share ideas about how this work group can help churches and other faith based groups work together or separately in support of our Latino residents.
Through 2009, the CJ Faith Based Initiatives Work Group largely operated through the efforts of one or two CJ members, largely Linda Hemby; between mid 2009 and 2010, Pastor D aniel Bannister led it. The group has been discontinued until a leader, someone who will accept a leadership role to reactivate and coordinate it, is identified. If you are interested, please contact cj.cville@gmail.com
WORK GROUP HISTORY, UPDATES & RESOURCES
IMPACT. Each year, this network of churches identifies one or two issues that its membership works collaboratively to address. Its 2010 issue was language access. Linda Hemby and Daniel Bannister, prior members of the CJ Faith Based Initiatives Work Group, collaborated with this effort.
Networking. The Work Group made first contact and follow up with Latino churches, with churches with Spanish speaking congregations, and with English speaking churches with an interest in the Latino community. Click here for a list of its contacts before 2011.
Examples of Local Faith Based Initiatives (2007-2010). This document lists non-sectarian services, open to all Latinos regardless of religious affiliation, provided by Charlottesville and Albemarle churches.
January 2010, Forum: Faith Based Perspective on Latino Problems. Forty-six persons attended this forum. Its objective was to provide a bridge, between the local faith based community and service providers working with Latinos, to enhance understanding about problems facing the Latino community and generate ideas and opportunities to explore partnerships to respond to them. The forum, facilitated by Daniel Bannister, was organized with the assistance of Linda Hemby, along with Brian Plum and Veronica Vargas of IMPACT. To view an overview of the forum, click here.
Directory of Churches with Latino Congregations. Click here for a list of churches and faith based groups with Latino congregations.
Meeting Notes. This archive contains summaries of some of the work group meetings in 2010.
January 2009: CJ Presentation at Alliance Interfaith Ministries.
Overview 2007 – October 2009: Click here for a summary of contacts, activities and outcomes relating to this group during this period.
Overview 2005 – October 2008: Click here for a summary of faith based initiatives conducted by former CJ Executive Committee member Rhonda Miska, who, among her many current activities, is working with IMPACT on its 2009 language access issue. Rhonda can be contacted at rhondacville@gmail.com