Radical Love

THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, WE HELP MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ORGANIZE COLLECTIONS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES, SNACK BAGS FILLED WITH FOOD FOR LONG WEEKENDS, BOOKS, WINTER GEAR AND HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. WE CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED FRIENDSHIP AND LEARNING, WHERE NEIGHBORS AND THEIR CHILDREN PARTNER WITH LOCAL RESETTLED REFUGEE NEIGHBORS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO TEACH/LEARN ENGLISH. TRAINED TEACHERS LEAD A FORMAL ESL CLASS ON SPEAKING, READING AND WRITING ENGLISH, AND THEN ADULTS ARE PAIRED UP TO PRACTICE NEW SKILLS WITH A NATIVE-ENGLISH SPEAKER. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHILDREN ARE GROUPED TOGETHER TO PLAY MATH GAMES, READ STORIES AND JUST HAVE FUN TOGETHER. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY, INCREASE COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND SEE OUR SHARED HUMANITY. THROUGH LOCAL SENIOR LIVING ORGANIZATIONS, WE HELP PACK FOOD BOXES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS. ADDITIONALLY, WE EQUIP CHILDREN TO WRITE CARDS AND CHALK MESSAGES OF LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND FRIENDSHIP TO THESE SPECIAL NEIGHBORS.