Monday, June 29, 2020

UPDATE Week of June 29

SUMMERTIME

Love spending time with this guy
summer for the Fellows Program is often are busiest and most challenging seasons... but the work we do is hard to capture in UPDATE form...

Basically, it is hard work putting a Fellows Program together!

First of all, we need to find Fellows! RECRUITING is still going on, which is definitely made harder with COVID-19, social distancing, and the fact that graduates are scattered all over the place. 

Second of all, we need to find our Fellows JOBS! This is actually going pretty well at the moment. We are following several strong leads, and we have several planes circling the landing strip.

On average it takes a minimum of five conversations to arrange a Fellows job. Multiply that by 12 and you get 72 conversations at MINIMUM! That is if everything goes smoothly.

Third of all, we need to find our Fellows HOST FAMILIES! Again, this typically takes a minimum of five conversations, plus education, orientation, and coordination.

Fourth of all, we need to nail down our PROGRAMMING! Every year we try to up the ante on the equipping our Fellows receive. With COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement we are having to do more re-imagining than ever before. 

Fifth of all, we need FUNDRAISE! We have a relatively small budget, but it still needs supporters like you!

Sixth of all, we need to coordinate with our partner CHURCHES. You can imagine the number of conversations this can take! With our turbulent times - these conversations are even more challenging!

Seventh of all, we take the time to get EDUCATED ourselves! I'm learning a lot, particularly in doing the work of becoming an anti-racist. Here is one article:




a couple quotes from it:

"The actual foundation of racism is not ignorance or hate, but self-interest."

"the only thing inferior about black people is that we think there is something wrong with black people."


I read this earlier this year and I'm really excited about incorporating a female, black voice into our conversation in the fall. Lisa Sharon Harper rocks. 

Most importantly, my back patio has become a place for me to get educated. This summer some friends have been kind enough to help me listen. Shout out to Nigel, Anthony, Jason, Curtis and Alvin!

the patio is always open

We hired HOPE Lawn Care to mow our yard this week - they did an awesome job.

These certainly are crazy times... the Summer is the season when I remember that we need a CITY to pull this program off!

Please contact us: winstonsalemfellows@gmail.com
(336) 413-4918

If you have ideas/leads with:

Recruits
Jobs
Host Families
Funds
Friends
Content

We need your help! 
Now more than ever!


Other Highlights from the week...

Hef was off this week! YAY for HER!!!

Monday...was an admin day with several phone calls and a consulting gig with one of our partnering organizations...and a meeting of the minds AKA GOYBADS.

Tuesday...was several meetings of every type (phone, face-to-face and Zoom) regarding jobs and  Rotary with Superintendant Hairston...then Round Table and then a Back Patio Session...

Brianne and Sarah hosted us from Round Table this week

Mexican night on the Front Porch

We had a great discussion about the times...
Back Patio Sessions
Wednesday...was several phone meetings and food distribution with my favorite dude, Dave.

HOPEWS

That evening we hosted a new friend of the Fellows to our city, Grant, who just took a leadership position with RJ Young...I had the pleasure of introducing him to Garrett Briggs and Owen Wood some of our Fellows past and present...we were also able to feed him as he is batcherloring it for the time being. He moves Tuesday!

Thursday...was meetings with two Steves...Lineberger and White...both are pretty phenomenal human beings...then, continuing the job hunt for Fellows...and attending the Action 4 Equity fireside chat with Dr. Ford and Dr. Williams. That morning I was also on a great call Frankie Gist with Hope Dealers Outreach and Leadership WS. Soooo good. 

Friday...run with f-3...early morning calls...jobs and host family hunting...planning walk with Program Coordinator Shannon Rainey and an arm workout thanks to her dog Teddy! 

Saturday...walk and talks with Gardner and John...and hiring Hope Lawn Care to help with the yard while my mower is getting fixed. 

they are great workers and have great service!

among other things...

INTRODUCING FELLOWS!

Starting next week, we will be spending a good chunk of our UPDATES getting you all introduced to our incoming Fellows. 

We are pretty pumped about them!!!


GIVE

We need your financial support. Please consider giving to the Fellows today. 

Winston-Salem Fellows
PO Box 20514
Winston-Salem, NC 27120

or

consider giving monthly. $25/month pays for a month of meals for the Fellows!


OTHER FUN

Brianne had great fun at a batchlorette weekend!

The Ericksons got up to the mountains for some R and R



We celebrated our houses birthday last Monday!





this butterfly really liked David

bear print!

snuggles

quiet times



goat training



roomies

hikes

happy birthday



batcherlorette pad

kayaking

they come in all shapes and sizes



paddle boarding

thanks y'all!

keep sharing the story and spreading the love...





No comments: