Shepherd Community Blog

The Story of the City

Jay Height — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:16:36 +0000

Good friend, Gary Varvel, editorial cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star, has been drawing full page depictions every Thursday. These pages are helping unmask many truths behind why people are stuck in poverty. Last week, he spent a day riding the bus to find the challenges most families endure while trying to access public transportation. His work is also telling the stories of those who have broken free from some of their past hardships. The title, Path to Hope, tells it all. Your help is making it possible to create more paths. Thank you.

Carpe diem

Jay

Where Has the Time Gone?

Jay Height — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:28:14 +0000

Months of planning and in just a few short days, Summer Excel will be over for the summer of 2010. As my grandmother said,”the older you get, the faster the sand in the hourglass flows…” It was just a blink, a moment in time and now soon we will head into our school year programs.

As the name says, it was a summer for our students to EXCEL, to move forward, and to thrive. Unfortunately, statistics tell us that urban students will regress educationally during the summer months… but not for our students.

We have begun testing and monitoring the academic progress of our student’s, and the results are strong. We are sending our students back to school primed for success. We also are sending them back with the items, such as clothes and school supplies, needed for success. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate the support that enables us to make this investment in our kids lives… it will bring about a great return.

Carpe Diem

Jay

Summer Excel

Jay Height — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:09:36 +0000

I am so excited.

I am thrilled to see our Summer Excel program in action… hundreds of children and teens are at our four locations busy with all kinds of activities. One of the most thrilling parts for me is that six of those who are working in the camp are our own students. Students who themselves have been part of the past camps… and now they give back. How thrilling for us to see their growth.

Whether they are in reading circles, playing drums, going swimming, or just asking for prayer, we see the wonderful opportunity to see these kids grow in tremendous ways. To see our own help lead the way makes me thrilled.

Jay

Continuum of Care

Jay Height — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:03:15 +0000

Maybe you have seen our latest newsletter… with the picture of 15 colleges and the 30+ students who are attending them. These students have been involved with Shepherd Community and partner ministries for the past several years. We celebrate their exciting journey, as well as four more students headed off to college this fall.

We recognize that our support cannot end with sending them off. We must continue to work with them through the many hurdles they will face once on campus. We are thankful to those who have supported our efforts to help our students stay in school.

Our efforts don’t end at high school graduation. It just takes us to the next part of our continuum of care. You can help send more children through it.

Jay

The Sense of Accomplishment

Jay Height — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:06:43 +0000

For our middle school youth, they thought we were crazy. Last fall we discussed with them about running the mini marathon. That first run was not a fun one….but they could not see the idea of running 13.1 miles. Quite honestly, I think I understand. Yet, their miles increased and their excitement grew, and then came the day.

The Indianapolis Star ran a front page article featuring our kids and their mini-marathon effort. Off and running… each student completing the mini and accomplishing a dream that seemed much too big. They never figured it was possible for them. Yet, they accomplished it and hopefully set a course for life of bigger dreams and much bigger accomplishments.

Jay

Jay Height — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:22:05 +0000

So this is the month of May… exciting days here in Indianapolis. I grew up in Ohio, and each Memorial weekend we would travel to upper Ohio to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I remember lying in the back of our station wagon, listening to the broadcast of the Indy 500. Names like Rick Mears, Gordon Johncock, AJ Foyt, and Mario Andretti are just a handful of those who I remember listening to.

Now, living here in Indianapolis, I have had the privilege of listening to those cars as I drive through that part of our city. I see a city that erupts in excitement with all the happenings of this month.

Yet, each day, we battle a race that is one that never seems to end. One that helps us instill hope in the lives of those we serve. Hope is really the challenge, for many… they have accepted their fate and see no escape. Yet, Hope can fuel the race that leads them to more than a checkered flag, but a lifetime free of poverty.

I thank you for your help and I appreciate your sacrifice to make a difference.

The race has begun… the flag has dropped and the kids are fighting for position in life. You make that possible.

Giving Hope!

Jay

the lifeblood of Shepherd…

Jay Height — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:21:46 +0000

I recently wrote how Saturday is kept busy by the great number of volunteers who are working to make a difference. I think of speaking to a student who was looking forward to time with their mentor. I saw the kids enjoying dinner, served by the hands of a volunteer.

I soon sat down and chatted with a business adviser on a challenge… someone who volunteers countless hours each week. As I spoke to a friend on the phone, I observed a gentleman mowing our yard… a volunteer. During a recent meeting for all staff, our phones were answered by… a volunteer.

Do you see a common goal? Maybe helping to coach our competitive jump rope team. Maybe working with a student in math, answering phones, mowing the grass, driving a truck… how do you fit in this picture? Your talent will find a home at Shepherd… come be the difference in a student’s life.

jay

It’s only Saturday

Jay Height — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:41:12 +0000

Saturday is the down day at Shepherd.. right? Well, there are no after school programs, no academy, no sports program. But what you will find? Hope being given in a variety of ways…

Health clinic – where those in our programs, and their families can come to receive free medical care and have prescriptions filled.
Free tax prep – both English and Spanish speakers can come to have their taxes done for free.
Free legal advice – in partnership with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic.
Food pantry – where families can come to receive food and personal care items.
Once a month free haircuts are provided.
Once a month science club for middle and high school students.

the key, in this very busy day…….volunteers. All this is run by volunteers… can you join with us on this very busy “down” day? You can help make a difference.

jay

So excited!

Jay Height — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:46:27 +0000

All the research shows that the earlier you engage with a child, the more impact you can have on them. Here at Shepherd Community we have Project Jordan… a special program that works with birth moms and their babies. We use a national curriculum called “Parents as Teachers” to teach important skills to the mothers. For most of our mothers, they care deeply for their child. They have just never been taught how to.

They recently had their quarterly meeting, where all the moms and children come for a special evening of teaching, sharing and just having fun together. I so appreciate the support people provide so we can do this program. Over 40 families are being help, but there is a waiting list… got to keep growing. This program makes a difference for a lifetime.

jay

Tell the story

Jay Height — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:16:32 +0000

Each and every day families’ lives are being impacted here in the Near-Eastside of Indianapolis. We want you to know that story and see how lives are being changed. It isn’t a story about Shepherd, but the story about lives being changed. Parts of that means we must define poverty and what does it look like in Indianapolis… are there really gangs? Do kids go to bed hungry? Does a teenager have to sleep on the street? In the next several months we will begin to explore this and see what we can do to make a difference.

This is really a conversation that we want to invite you to join with us in. Leave a comment below or send us an email. We want to learn together. But we know this… that the great war on poverty has been a dismal failure, and unless we act now, it will only get worse. I hope you’ll stay tuned.

jay