Love Out Loud

SEE SCHEDULE O

SCHOOL OF LOVE SCHOOL OF LOVE DIRECTS COHORTS OF APPROXIMATELY THIRTY PARTICIPANTS. THE PARTICIPANTS COME FROM DENOMINATIONALLY DIVERSE CHURCHES IN WINSTON-SALEM, SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CONGREGATIONS AND CONGREGATIONS OF COLOR. THE COHORTS ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISH A RHYTHM OF LIFE TOGETHER, WHICH REQUIRES COMMITMENTS TO: (1) COMMON RHYTHMS OF LOVE, SUCH AS COMMON PRAYER, CONFESSION, SABBATH, EDUCATION, JUSTICE, BREAKING BREAD MEALS, AND MORE, (2) PERSONALIZED RHYTHMS OF LOVE, AND (3) INTERCULTURAL LIFE TOGETHER.

LIT CITY LIT CITY'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES SEEK TO BUILD IN SOLIDARITY WITH UNDER-SERVED WINSTON-SALEM TEENS FROM THE "CLASSROOM TO THE CORNER, FROM THE COURT TO THE CONCERT." LIT CITY SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING/ADVOCACY, AND URBAN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. LIT CITY PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL SCHOOLS TO LEAD AFTER-SCHOOL GROUPS THAT HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, PURPOSE, DESTINY, AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, LIT CITY SPONSORED THE FREEDOM SCHOOL, A SIX-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE LITERACY, SELF- ESTEEM, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, A LOVE OF LEARNING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY BEGAN IN 2008 AND IS A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT. OUR LARGEST YEAR (2019), WE PARTNERED WITH 87 CHURCHES, 67 NONPROFITS, AND 126 BUSINESSES. TO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE, APPROXIMATELY 1,200 VOLUNTEERS HOSTED THE FREE CHRISTMAS PARTY AND WELCOMED 12,000+ PEOPLE FROM WINSTON-SALEM, NC AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. IN 2020, THOUGH COVID MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE INDOOR EVENT, CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY CONTINUED WITH A DRIVE THRU MODEL THAT LED ATTENDEES THROUGH EXPERIENCES SET UP BY NONPROFITS AND CHURCHES FOR EXPERIENCES, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS TOGETHER IN A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER. IN 2021, CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY RETURNED BACK TO AN INDOOR EVENT, A SAFE AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WITH 3,000+ PEOPLE ATTENDING AND SUPPORTED BY SPONSORSHIPS AND 300 VOLUNTEERS FROM 71 CHURCHES, 69 NONPROFITS AND 27 BUSINESSES.

DISASTER RELIEF FOOD DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO COVID CONTINUED IN 2021. LOVE OUT LOUD PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEEDED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO JOB LOSSES, NONPROFITS CLOSING / REDUCED CAPACITY, AND OTHER EFFECTS ON OUR COMMUNITY. FEARLESS WINSTON-SALEM FEARLESS WINSTON-SALEM IS A COLLABORATIVE COLLECTIVE, SOCIAL COMMUNITY AND MUTUAL AID FUND FOR AND BY FOLKS IN WINSTON-SALEM. MUTUAL AID SUPPORT ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH RENT, UTILITIES, GROCERIES, MEDICAL PAYMENTS, AND OTHER NEEDS. GIFT MART GIFT MART IS A PROGRAM IN DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO SHOP FOR NEW AND LIKE NEW TOYS, CLOTHES, AND OTHER GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN FOR CHRISTMAS. THESE ITEMS ARE DONATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SET UP WHERE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS CAN SHOP FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS OLD AT REDUCED PRICES, ALLOWING THEM THE DIGNITY OF PURCHASING GIFTS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IN 2021, GIFT MART SERVED OVER 330 FAMILIES, PROVIDING GIFTS TO WELL OVER 1,200 LOCAL CHILDREN. STUDENT CAMP UP TO ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES ATTEND A ONE-WEEK OVERNIGHT (OR DAY) CAMP EXPERIENCE AND ARE MOBILIZED IN THE WINSTON-SALEM AREA TO MAKE LASTING TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT ON THEIR CITY AND THEMSELVES. EACH DAY, STUDENT CAMP SENDS TEAMS OUT INTO OUR CITY TO SERVE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, EAT MEALS TOGETHER AT CHURCHES HEARING MULTIPLE LOCAL EXPERTS ON TOPICS OF FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, HEALTH, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN WORSHIPPING AS A COMMUNITY AT THE WINSTON SQUARE AMPHITHEATER DOWNTOWN. REPAIR THE BODY SOLIDARITY FUND THE REPAIR THE BODY SOLIDARITY FUND IS A CALL TO WHITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP REPAIR CHRIST'S BODY IN OUR TIME. IT IS A CALL FOR REPENTANCE THAT PRIORITIZES THE GOOD OF BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FOR THE SAKE OF THE SPIRIT HEALING US ALL. THROUGH THIS FUND, THE VISION IS TO SEE DEEPER CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP, MORE FAITHFUL AND THRIVING CONGREGATIONS, AND A MORE JUST WINSTON-SALEM. A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL BLACK PARTNERS IS UNITED IN CHRIST TO SEEK THE FLOURISHING AND FREEDOM OF OUR BELOVED BLACK COMMUNITIES. THESE PARTNERS SEEK TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES RECEIVED THROUGH THE SOLIDARITY FUND TOWARD THAT END, DISTRIBUTING FUNDS TO BLACK-LED, GRASSROOTS, HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS THAT ADDRESS HISTORIC AND PRESENT INJUSTICES AGAINST BLACK WINSTON-SALEM. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: BROWNSBORO COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, CITYWIDE PRAYER, CYCLE RECYCLE, DRUM MAJORS ALLIANCE, EDUCATION, FREEDOM SCHOOLS, HOUSING, JOY PROM, LIT CITY, SECOND CHANCE MINISTRIES, UNIFORM MART, UNITY WELLNESS CENTER, AND WINSHAPE.