About 25 people from Immanuel and from the Volker and West Plaza neighborhoods shared a light lunch and heartfelt concerns about the quality of life in Immanuel’s neighborhood during a Sept. 12 gathering.
The event, sponsored by Immanuel’s local organizing committee, focused on how God’s faithful people can help shape solutions to the problems of our day.
All of the concerns brought forward were considered important, but the participants pointed to three particular issues that will be the focus of further research:
Unemployment and underemployment, including needs for networking and support.
Circumstances that undermine the well-being of children in local elementary schools, particularly Gordon Parks Elementary, 3715 Wyoming St., Kansas City, a charter school in in the former Volker Elementary building, and Longfellow Elementary, 2830 Holmes, in the Kansas City, Mo., school district.
The lack of relationships and sense of community among churches and the neighborhoods
The goal of the research into those concerns will be to identify how we can work together as congregation members and neighbors, and combine our voices and efforts in ways that can lead to lasting changes and improvements.
That process will begin in earnest on Monday, Oct. 18, when Immanuel members can learn how they can be part of the solution at a program by Susan Solis, the Gordon Parks development and volunteer coordinator.
-- Linda Fewell, Immanuel Organizing Committee
