Your Backyard is My Backyard

 July 14, 2009

It’s not my neighborhood. But it’s in my backyard and part of my community. And so I went to see if Mika Community Development Corporation is really doing what it set out to do five years ago; to identify and equip leaders in low-income neighborhoods to build communities with VISION.

It was about 6:00PM when I visited Center Street and from "the outside" - Center Street is like any other (street) where apartment complexes line the blocks as cars cruise the neighborhood looking for a prime parking space.

But as a handful of residents poured over their neighborhood three year strategic plan in Unit #3, I noticed that in this particular community there where a lot of kids under 16 years of age who were playing in groups, hanging onto their bikes and running from one friend’s home to another. So why would women and men who reside in a high-density (low-income) apartment complex want to tackle such a monumental task? Why, because these families want what you and I do. They want to live in a community where neighbors know their neighbors; where families can develop relationships; and where children can have friends.

Wanting a safe environment and a place for the kids to hang after school for homework help, the neighbors got together, organized and ultimately opened a apartment unit (resource center): Center of Hope, a vision for our future. But how did this happen?

Maybe it was a wing and a prayer or maybe it was MCDC and Crissy Brooks, their executive director. Crissy believes. She is a servant leader and she has a heart for the Lord’s work. And while she may do the Lord’s work, what she does remarkably well is get others to make their dreams turn to realities.

I saw Crissy in action the other night. While this strategic planning session was in Spanish, and I tried feebly to comprehend conversations; what I did understand is the passion of the people and their commitment to make a difference in their neighborhood. Ideas flowed. Goals were set. Action items were identified and victories were set to paper.

If Crissy is an angel, the neighoborhood advisor, Juval, is the guardian, someone who may have come to the agency to work part time but his dedication, commitment and passion for the community will leave a lifetime mark with the families he comes in connects with.

Crissy is quoted as saying that her “…greatest joy is seeing neighbors and staff grow in their leadership abilities as they work together to see God’s Kingdom come in their city.” I saw it happening on Center Street all the while God was smiling.

http://www.mikacdc.org/