#1 May 2010

Inside this Issue Welcome Listening

The End of Poverty? Think Again. New Staffer

Pictured from left to right: Photo taken by Brittany Hanson Rev. Howard Dotson and Rev. Stephen Sinclair, Cait Caughey, Tim Wallace, Calvin Smothers and Brittany Hanson.

COMMON Voice

local art on display at The Commons

Welcome to our Updated Newsletter inCOMMON proudly introduces COMMON Voice; a new manifestation of our newsletter! COMMON Voice is a monthly “snapshot” written by the inCOMMON staff. It will be posted both on our website and sent via email to our extended community (newsletter subscribers). COMMON Voice is a place for updates, stories, and reflections. Each issue will provide updates for upcoming events, stories from inCOMMON’s current ministries, and personal reflections written by our staff. We hope this newsletter provides you with an avenue to stay and feel connected with us, and the journey toward healthier communities. Thank you for reading, inCOMMON Community Development

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative

force. Those who listen to us are the ones we move

toward…

On Saturday, May 22nd inCOMMON is partnering with Rural Southern Voices for Peace for an all-day interactive workshop on Listening Projects led by Herb Walters.

The Listening Project Workshop is free and open to the public. Its intent is to equip volunteers with skills for our future Listening Campaign in the Park Avenue neighborhood.

The Listening Project training touches on an integral part of community-building and community development that involves people interaction, people power, and a shared vision. “We know that healthy communities are built

Listening Project Workshop with Rural Southern Voices for Peace

We know that healthy communities are built upon open, honest, and creative collaboration between community members, practitioners, and organizations working among various sectors,”

upon open, honest and creative collaboration between community members, practitioners, and organizations working among various sectors,” says Brittany Hanson. The future Listening Project for the Park Avenue area will help facilitate safe spaces for neighbors to interact and listen to one another. The focus is on experiences in the neighborhood. Park Avenue neighbors, faith communities and neighborhood allies will be attending the training in preparation for the launch of our upcoming Listening Project.

If you are interested in joining this project, please consider attending the training on May 22nd. The Listening Project Organizing Committee is only in the beginning stages of understanding what a Listening Project in the neighborhood will look and be like.

REGISTRATION To register for the Listening Project Workshop Saturday, May 22nd 9:00AM – 5:00PM 1258 S. 13th Street 1. Email Cait@inCOMMONcd.org for the registration form link. 2. Visit www.inCOMMONcd.org and click REGISTER ONLINE

Ultimately the goal of the film was to change the dialogue around the poverty debate from “poverty is a shame,” to “poverty exists for a reason.”

Philippe Diaz, Director

On Tuesday, June 8th Film Streams and inCOMMON are showing The End of Poverty? at the Ruth Sokolof Theater.

The End of Poverty? is a daring, thought-provoking and very timely documentary by award-winning filmmaker, Philleppe Diaz, revealing that poverty is not an accident. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals and forced labor.1 Following the Film a panel of local anti-poverty advocates and educators will speak and take questions from the audience. 1 Taken from www.theendofpoverty.com

Panel Guests A’Jamal Byndon (Director of Omaha Table Talk; Professor) Chris Heuertz (International Director of Word Made Flesh) Annemarie Fowler (Voices for Children in Nebraska) inCOMMON would like to thank Film Streams for partnering to bring this film to Omaha, Nebraska. Please share this exciting opportunity with us by attending the film on June 8th!

inCOMMON and Film Streams showing The End of Poverty? in Omaha

On Thursday, May 27th Neighbors United, will sign the documents for 501(c)3 incorporation. Background Formed in 2008, Neighbors United is a diverse inter-faith network of parishioners, faith leaders, and neighbors from over 18 Park Avenue area faith communities and faith-based organizations. Purpose Neighbors United is focused on responding through relationship and service to pressing local needs and concerns, and invites involvement from all religious traditions, recognizing the shared values of service and local

community involvement. The following Faith Communities and Groups have been designated as Founding Members of Neighbors United: First Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, Metropolitan Community Church, First Unitarian, First Presbyterian Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. James United Methodist Church, Countryside Community Church, United Methodist Ministries, St. Peters Catholic Church, St. Johns Greek Orthodox, First Baptist Church, Simple Free, and First Christian Church.

Omaha Simple Free cooking at the Community Meal Thursday, May 27th 11:00 AM Signing Celebration 12:00 PM May NU Meeting First Presbyterian Church 216 South 34th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131

Neighbors United an interfaith partnership that serves community through building and strengthening relationships.

Introducing

Calvin Smothers

Calvin recently moved to Omaha and has become the newest member of the inCOMMON Community Development staff. He grew up near Denver, CO and loves the mountains. His background pertains to the Human Services field where he has spent much of his career aiding in the holistic well-being of individuals and communities.

In December 2009 Calvin moved home from Kathmandu, Nepal where he served with Word Made Flesh; he spent nearly two years in international community with the Nepalese, learning language and providing services to those who are poor. He is now in Omaha and has a huge heart for the Park Avenue neighborhood, where he resides.

Calvin is grateful for the opportunity to seek a change that is holistic to the individual, community and the neighborhood. He aspires to bring interfaith communities together and work for the betterment of the Park Avenue neighborhood. Calvin will be working alongside Brittany Hanson and the CommonGround team.

inCOMMON Community Development

1258 S. 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108

402.933.6672