WEDNESDAY WORDS

FROM METRO MINISTRIES, INC.

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March 24, 2021

Metro Lenten Moment

This week's Metro Lenten Moment is brought to you by Craig Guhl, one of Metro's newest Board members. Take a look and a listen as Craig shares a great devotion moment as well as the amazing work of 2020 Ministry Grant Recipient, Society of St. Andrew Indiana.

We will continue to share a video each week through the end of April.

Getting Back to Lent Campaign

Just $600 more to go to reach our $4,000 goal!

The support we have received so far is amazing! Let's see if we can reach our goal by next Wednesday, the final Wednesday of Lent 2021.

We are hoping to raise at least $4,000 towards our 2021 Grants program by asking folks to set aside at least $1/day during this season of Lent and make that a donation to Metro Ministries. You can click on the image above to make a donation now, or you may mail a check to Metro's office at 2560 Villa Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203. 

Thank you for helping reach our goal and for your continued support of Metro Ministries! 

Resources from Indiana Youth Institute's Advancing Equity Summit

Lexee Miller (Metro's UIndy intern) and I were able to attend some of the sessions last week of Indiana Youth Institute's Equity Summit. There was so much valuable information shared for youth serving professionals. There were sessions on exploring diversity, strengthening equity and inclusion with youth, working with English language students, anti-bullying, special education challenges and more. Here are some of the resources we gleaned.

• Facing History and Ourselves: this national non-profit's mission is to use lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. Their website includes professional development for youth educators, as well as resources for the classroom. Many of the professional development opportunities are free. 
• Social Capital and Social Justice: a presentation by Dr. Nia Imani Fields with the University of Maryland 4-H Extension. This presenter explains the differences between equal, equitable and just.
• The Need for Passionate Advocates to Proceed With Bravery: a presentation by Diana Camilo, Ed.D. with University of Mississippi. This presentation includes slides with several book and podcast resources.
• Short readings Still Me Inside and Finding One's Voice are two short readings that were presented by Facing History and Ourselves
• John Amaechi Video on Being Present

Local Grant Opportunities from Finish Line Youth Foundation

The Finish Line Youth Foundation, in partnership with an internal council, is launching a nationwide grant cycle and an investment in the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. These grants will be awarded to local and national organizations that make a difference in communities of color throughout 2021. There are multiple grant cycles this year, click HERE for full details.

Faith and Action Project 2021

The Faith & Action Project at Christian Theological Seminary brings together faith communities, nonprofit organizations and leaders in business and government each year in a collaborative effort to turn back the tide of poverty. It does this each year through three components: 1) Spring Conference, where attendees are able to share ideas and hear from area organizations that are making a difference; 2) Faith and Action's Grant program aimed at innovative approaches to addressing poverty in Central Indiana; and 3) Fall Conference, where national experts discuss the big issues around poverty.

This year's Faith & Action Project Spring Conference is April 15, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. National poverty-mitigation leader Nisha Patel will offer a keynote address that will kick off panel discussion with panelists from Heart Change Ministries, Public Advocates in Community Re-entry (PACE), Edna Martin Christian Center and Arrow Street development.

This free online event is open to all who are interested in learning more about fighting obverting in Central Indiana.

Attendance at the Spring Conference is a pre-requisite for organizations wanting to apply for a Faith and Action grant in 2021. Click HERE for more conference details and to register.

Volunteer Needs with Society of St. Andrew

Society of St. Andrew Indiana has been organizing many of the USDA Farm to Family Food Boxes distributions throughout the state. They are currently seeking volunteers to help continue distributing these boxes in Marion County. Volunteers are needed Thursday mornings, 8:00 - 10:00 am.

To sign up for this volunteer opportunity, go to Society of St. Andrew's calendar.

March and April Food Box Distributions in Johnson County

Food boxes will be distributed at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin this March 26 and will continue for the Fridays in April.

This distribution is part of the USDA's Farmers to Families program, initiated in April 2020. in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is sponsored by Grace UMC, Purdue Extension, Society of St. Andrew and Michelle's Little Free Pantry.

The distribution will be drive-thru only with face masks and social distancing required. 

Children and Youth resources shared in prior weeks:

• Playing in Uncertainty
• Indiana Summit on Out of School Learning
• Indiana Youth Institute's 2021 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data book
• 40 Developmental Assets
• 50 Ways to Engage Local Schools
• Helping Kids and Families Cope with the Stress of COVID-19
• Directory of Services for Children and Families
• Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
• ACEs Primer Video
• "What do I do?" Trauma-Informed Support for Children
• Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis

Please let us know if you have resources to share!

These Food Resources will continue to be shared weekly here and will also soon be available on Metro's website. Please note the information on these linked pages is subject to change frequently. For the most current information, use the links rather than printed documents.

For Food Pantries and Community Meal information in Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Johnson, Morgan and Shelby counties, click HERE.

Note: Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Morgan County remaining March pantry date is Friday, March 26, from 2-6 p.m.