Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of September 7

A GREAT WEEK TO BE A FELLOW

The Fellows pause for a picture under the new pavilion in Happy Hill - one of the best views of the city

We had everyone (almost everyone) fully back out of quarantine.

Ned waits to get a Q-Tip stuck up his nose

Our rule is that if you attend a high risk event you must mask, monitor and stay away from the rest of the Fellows for 72 hours, then get a test, then await the results.

Officiating Brendan and Natalie's 60+ person wedding in Ohio counts as high risk. So I had the misfortune of obeying my own rules.

Good news came Thursday and I was Negative. Woo Hoo!

I have a great team - so life went on just fine while I worked remotely.

FIRST DAY of WORK

Bryn got herself a name badge!

Hayes showing off his first big boy office

Tori gives her job a thumbs up

Bailey showing off her new spot

It is a great feeling to have all the Fellows employed and finally at work! The office is definitely a lot quieter now (though several Fellows are working remotely to keep me company, not really, but it is appreciated!)

Special Thanks to Our 2020-21 Employers

Allegacy

Applied Family Services (2)

The Budd Group (2)

Crosby Scholars

Fleet Feet

Forsyth County Government

GIDE

Habitat For Humanity

Hope Presbyterian Church

Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods

New Canaan Society

Novant Foundation

Emily is working with Bill McClain at GIDE this year

AJ is interviewed at New Canaan Society on Friday

Round Table

At the Raineys

They Raineys are rock stars

Pickleball is a hit

Sam and Bryn

Outdoor dining

I facetimed in while Hayes and C-Fils led music

Shannon led us in Lectio Divina

A great night!

LEADER LUNCH

I love starting out the year with John Bost. He is like a cat, except he's lived not nine but like nineteen lives. He also has about as good a grip as anyone on seeing the through line of the Spirit in how his life has played out.

And he never disappoints.

And he always cries! Ha!

This year we Zoomed him in. Once COVID clears up we will do Part II in his cabin.

AJ looks on AJ. Is your mind blown or what?

FREEDOM RIDE

Heading up the hill to what will soon be Peter Oliver Park

One of the most powerful experiences I get to share with the Fellows is our annual Freedom Ride. Usually, my friend Terrance Hawkins leads us, but do to COVID we had to keep it in house.

In other words, it wasn't as good as it usually is. But we did what we could.

Here are a couple spots we hit...

St. Phillips Moravian

Happy Hill

The Fourth Street Sit-Ins at Woolworths and the Good Samaritan Statue with my friends Stan Both and Darryl Barr

Discussing Jim Crow

Standing on the other side of 52 from the Innovation Quarter. It's 200 yards away and what feels like 1000 miles away

GIDE TRAINING

Bill is one of the Seven over Seventy. Our lunch was interrupted by a clock presentation!

Bill McClain helps us understand the poverty mindset

Bill and his staff did an outstanding job walking us through some of the challenges facing those born in poverty. It was a sobering and at the same time inspiring time together.

Capped off by a Fish Fry from Forsyth Seafood!

Ms. Terry cracks me up

Michelle and April

AJ, Ms. Roberts and Caroline (Lynn)

Later that afternoon, the Fellows took the Strengths Finders Assessment

Bailey models

Then it was time for some afternoon fun at the house

What a weekend!

CHURCH

Hef introduces Michelle and Hayes at Church

Davis introduces Lynn, Emily and Sam

Tripp Sanders and the Redeemer Fellows

AJ and Bryn learn to be relevant with today's youth

Thank you to all of our amazing Church Partners!

River Oaks

Reynolda

Hope

Redeemer

Salem Chapel

First Pres

MAKING WINSTON-SALEM THEIR OWN

The Girls found the Cobblestone Market

finding local landmarks

Cafe Gelato is walkng distance from the Fellows House - dangerous!

The Fellows hosted their own wine and cheese night

Michelle is discovering Winston-Salem all over again

Hayes checked out Threshing Floor Brewery

So did AJ

Ross and I worked the Beer Taps

GIVE PLEASE

The Fellows is a 501c3 Organization that depends on the generosity of the community to support what it does. Would you please consider how you might want to contribute to this transformative experience.

If you would like to schedule a time to talk about ways to invest or get involved please call or text Ned Erickson at 336-413-4918. I would love to meet with you.