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...And ONE for all!

Too Much Need….

I’ve been reading a book called A Child is Not a Toy, Voices of Children in Poverty, by Sheila Baxter,  It’s a little dated (1993) but unfortunately, the issues are still the same 20 years later.   What follows really struck me. Ms. Baxter quotes a social service worker on her perspective working with impoverished children and youth.  The social service worker says, “I remember recently a young man who had been in care said to me – I asked him, what were the things that helped you live through what you lived through?  What he said was, it was the worker who remembered the little conversations he had had, and when it was time for his birthday, the worker brought him a little present.  It wasn’t fancy.   It wasn’t big, but showed him that that worker had listened to him, had remembered when he said that he liked football or he liked whatever, and time after time, and young person after young person, and in my own experience, it’s been that somebody is there who cares about you and who does . . . what would be a very small thing, but just shows you that they care.  I don’t think we have a lot of that today.  I think we have people working under very heavy case loads, people working with very big classes, people under all kinds of stress themselves, and they don’t have time to listen to kids.  So, they don’t know the kids and so they’re not there when it’s important.”   And I say….

But, God…. But City Kidz….

 

…And ONE for All!

Justice Matters

Jason Pino is the founder of Restoring Hope Ministries in Ottawa.  Their mandate is to provide homeless youth with a safe place to sleep, two nights a week.  They provide a clean bed and Christian fellowship every week, to youth who have nowhere to sleep.     I just read his blog "Justice Matters" this morning and thought I should share it here; a lot of what he writes resonates with what we're doing, as well, and it's fitting to share with our readers.

Justice Matters "Handle with Care" by Jason Pino

To Outreach or Not To Outreach

There are a lot of people who want to outreach to their community but never actually do anything about it.   These good-intentioned people often become overwhelmed with a passion to help “someone, somewhere” but cannot come to terms with general work, family and even church distractions to find the time to “make a difference”  within the community itself.  Many end up doing nothing because they are waiting for some kind of burning bush experience that will definitively tell them the direction they are to go in.  They become so focussed on making a mistake in God’s calling they end up doing nothing at all.   Others hold back from doing anything because they want to be sure that the project or mission they choose is where they are the most needed and will also reap major fulfilment benefits.  After all, if we’re going to make the time in our lives to answer the call, we at least want to get something out of it.

When I was a little girl in kindergarten, back in the days when we walked home from school alone (the sixties), I experienced a beautiful illustration of what my opinion is, in all of this.
It was January (or it could have been December) there was a fresh snow fall and little puddles along the side of the road, slightly snow covered.  I had a stick in my hand and was gleefully throwing it and then running to pick it up, sort of a human fetch experience that only six year olds can truly appreciate.  Until (cue in foreboding music) I threw the stick onto what I thought was a puddle but actually turned out to be an unmarked water-filled hole, dug by construction workers at the side of the road.  Of course, when I went to retrieve my stick, I fell in.  And of course, I could not get out.  I was literally up to my neck in freezing cold, January water with no help in sight.  So, I cried and I cried and I cried.  One car stopped.  My crying stopped and I was suddenly filled with hope that I would be rescued after all.  But, even though the driver began to get out to help, something made her stop.  She took a look at her watch, turned back to the car, without me, and then took off.  After that, other drivers came and went.  Some looked down at me and others chose to ignore me.  We’d all like to think the neighbours came running.  Nope.  And that was back in the day when all the moms were still at home.  And then an angel from heaven (no not really but she might as well have been one) a fine, kind,sacrificial lady came running up from a house down the road (my next door neighbour actually) and not concerned in the least about how wet she was going to get, dragged me out of the water.  Not only that, she took me to her house, gave me some warm clothes to change into and a warm blanket to wrap myself in, some delicious hot chocolate that removed all my tears, and called my mother. 

I’m sure I dripped water all over her house and I’m sure I disturbed her nice afternoon.  But she saw a need and she got involved.  She didn’t pray about it for a month to make sure that it was her calling (like the first lady who drove off) but she let herself get wet, let herself get uncomfortable, adapted her schedule to meet the need, and did it anyway.  There was no benefit for her in the least.  All the benefits were mine.  First of all, I was one very grateful little girl who thought she might stay in that puddle FOREVER.  Secondly,  this one little act of kindness that I’m sure she’s long forgotten, is still remembered by me to this day.

Still wondering where to get involved?  Henry Blackaby (he wrote Experiencing God) came up with a concept so wonderful, that when I heard about it 15 years ago,  it changed my life forever.  This concept explains why I do what I do and live where I live. It’s actually so simple that when I heard it, I realized I had been tripping over it for years.  He suggested that we look around and see what needs there are in our midst (neighbourhoods, churches, workplaces)that are not being met and then answer them.  He also suggested that we carefully observe what God is already doing through others to meet those needs and get involved in that.   Your church is filling up with missionaries?  God is calling the church into greater missions focus.  There’s a neighbourhood outreach down the street?  God wants YOU to get involved.  There’s a little girl standing neck deep in a giant puddle?   YOU pull her out.

Yes, it is that simple.

…And ONE for all

Volunteer Admin Assistant

This volunteer position is for a commitment of at least one year, approximately 10 to 15 hours per week to assist in the efficient day-to-day operation of City Kidz Ottawa and support the work of the Branch Manager. This position will give the recent graduate an opportunity to learn general office procedures and will give them insight into the non-profit/ voluntary sector as a career choice.

Responsibilities

• Use Word Office 10 software to prepare reports, memos,  documents and presentations
• Prepare Powerpoint Presentations for Saturday Playhouse
• Answering phone, dealing with general public
•  Pick up mail for distribution
•  Prepare and send outgoing mail, and courier parcels
•  Respond to general e-mails and direct priority emails to Branch Manager
•  Voice mail management
•  Purchase, receive and store the office supplies ensuring that basic supplies are always available
•  Filing
•  Provide secretarial and administrative support to Branch Manager
•  Make travel, meeting and other arrangements for staff
•  Assist with volunteer management
•  Updating social media from time to time
•  Administer petty cash according to established procedures

Provide Special Event Support

• Attend the Saturday Playhouse and other events from time to time to perform administrative functions as required by the Branch Manager

Provide Board support

• With the Branch Manager, prepare meeting agendas and supporting material for distribution
• Ensure the timely distribution of material to the Board
• Attend Board meetings (once a month) to take notes
• Draft minutes of Board meetings for review by the Branch Manager
• Create action list for management staff from board meetings

Qualifications

• High School Diploma
• Post secondary education in business, computers, or office management is an asset
• Proficiency in the use of computer programs for: Word 10, Excel Spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations, Bookkeeping,E-mail, Internet
• Proficiency in the use of office equipment: Computer, Voice messaging systems, Printer/Scanner/Photocopier

Personal characteristics

• Demonstrate the following:
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure own behaviour is consistent with these standards and align with the values of City Kidz Ottawa
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the goals of City Kidz Ottawa.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Stakeholder Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders to meet or exceed their expectations within the City Kidz Ottawa parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organization: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Experience

• 1-3 years experience in an office setting
• Or a recent Office Administration Graduate with professional references

Working Conditions

• Home office environment
• 10 – 15 hours per week over 2 days per week
• Monthly attendance at evening board meetings
• Attendance at special events as required (some evening and weekends)
• Reimbursement for mileage when conducting City Kidz Ottawa business (ie picking up mail)

Respond To:

Send your resume by email or mail to:

532 Montreal Rd., #220 Ottawa, ON K1K 4R4

613-796-3063

wendy@citykidz.ca

...And ONE for all

Volunteer Event Coordinator Still Needed

EVENT COORDINATOR

Do you like to plan events and fundraising?  We are looking for an experienced and creative fundraiser and event planner who believes in and and will be committed to putting in approximately 5 to 10 volunteer hours per week in support of our cause. Find out more about our organization that helps to break the poverty cycle in children at www.citykidz.ca/ottawa.

The Event Coordinator will be responsible for assisting the Branch Manager in designing, coordinating and implementing fundraising events to help raise money for City Kidz Ottawa. Our organization is particularly looking for the ideal candidate who will enjoy working with people, have good decision making skills and creative ideas for fundraising with the capability to multitask. To be considered for this position please reply to ottawa@citykidz.ca with a resume and two references.

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Musings on David & Goliath

I was at our board meeting last night and we got into a discussion about a book that I’m reading, “David & Goliath” by Malcom Gladwell.   One insight gleaned from this discussion was the analogy that a child can be seen as David and Poverty, Goliath.

According to Gladwell, however, wealth may not necessarily be the answer to happiness either and there seems to be an optimal level of wealth before happiness wanes. He illustrates this by examining the effects of academic achievement based on classroom size. The question of is “smaller better” (as most people would say it is) in classroom sizes, provides a surprising response. In fact, a smaller classroom size may not always have an advantage of a larger one. After offering up some proofs he suggests that academic achievement in smaller class sizes wanes to the same level as its opposite, and uses the inverted U-graph to illustrate.  His point is that in classroom sizes, the optimum level for academic achievement seems to be somewhere in the middle for class size.

Eg.

Gladwell also discusses the question of whether wealth does make one happy.  His conclusions are that the results are similar to the foregoing because happiness tends to wane after a family income level of $75,000 is reached.   As soon as the income level surpasses this amount, the curve actually begins to fall. Great wealth does not create happiness; in fact, it can make things worse if it is not handled properly. According to Gladwell, great wealth requires that values about money and how it is spent (not always giving your child money when their hand is out and/or not living decadently) be properly taught a wealthy child to create an environment where that child can grow to be an adult that thrives. Interesting!

But to the lower income individual, Gladwell states that wealth can also be seen as a giant that can never be overcome. For the low income child the impossibility of ever having that amount of money can be seen as Goliath as well. 

At City Kidz, we help a child to believe that it is possible to achieve a better income level and hopefully have a better lifestyle even though it seems like an impossible task for them to aspire to. However, we are NOT about helping a child to achieve great wealth. That is not the City Kidz message. Instead, it’s about providing lessons of faith, hope and love to a child so they become resilient. At City Kidz we teach these values and hope that they will bring them with them to adulthood.  This will enhance their life whether they are rich, middle class or even living happily in a lower income lifestyle.

City Kidz is in a child’s life to build him or her up, increase their resiliency and give them the tools to live a happy life. Achieving and thriving does not always mean having a larger income. It means becoming resilient and living the best life possible even in adverse circumstances. In this case, while our target are children living in a low income household, our message is for every child in every demographic.  All children will benefit from lessons and values taught at City Kidz and have a good chance of becoming thriving adults, whether they are rich or poor.  It’s values that enhance a child’s life, not money.

And ONE for all…

The Invitation

When I reflect on our early days in Ottawa, I am always reminded that it all began with a simple “yes” from me. When one thinks about it, this is how God works in all things. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matt. 4:19) When He has a plan to do something---like reaching some marginalized children in a city through City Kidz---He invites us into it.

Thankfully, for me, I accepted the assignment. That`s when I realized that City Kidz Ottawa was just a miracle waiting to happen---I discovered the invitation did not stop with me. God had already been inviting others and when I told them about what I was doing, they too, excitedly, said yes. Like ever-expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it, the invitation to take part in something like City Kidz Ottawa was going out and had been going out for a long time before, even, I arrived on the scene.

Since then, the circle of supporters has grown consistently and we can proudly look back over the years and see that together, we have been able to impact well over 150 children with God’s love. God invited me to start this important work in 2010 and I had the audacity to accept. Since then many others have also said yes. A never ending call, the invitation continues to beckon others to join the effort.

When you get your invite, what will your response be? We always have two options: we can say yes, or, we can say no. If we do say no, that’s okay, God simply moves on. However, for those of us who have said, and will say, yes to this amazing invitation, no matter how small, we can delight in the knowledge that we have joined a miracle in the making called City Kidz Ottawa. We can rejoice because God is using us to become an integral part of His loving intervention in the lives of Ottawa’s kids----and their amazing response to that love. We can celebrate, because we are helping God to impact Ottawa’s children to transform this city, one child at a time. God’s way. Because, after all, it is His invite, isn’t it?

And ONE for all…

Safe and Sound

The Saturday before last week’s Dream Banquet one of our girls came to me and asked if it would be all right if she and two other girls could sing a song for Remembrance Day at our next Playhouse, which was yesterday.  When I asked her what she wanted to sing, she said Safe and Sound.  I had not heard of this song and drawing on my own life experiences, assumed it would be a nice “children’s song” that she learned at school.  Wanting to encourage her, and feeling deep down that this would be a profound moment, I agreed.

When it came time for her to sing yesterday she and another friend (the original two were away for the weekend) came forward to sing.  This was no “children’s song” however, but, in fact a Taylor Swift song and the lyrics were powerfully moving.  Every rambunctious, excited-to-be-at-the-Playhouse child, was spellbound by the richness of their voices and erupted in enthusiastic applause when it was over.  As for me, I was, as some would say, “toast” and it was a little hard to hold it together to prevent creating a giant puddle of tears right there on the stage with them. However, seeing this as a wonderful teaching moment to reinforce the week’s theme of “helping others”, I drew on the fact that soldiers helped us by going away to other countries to protect our freedom and that some even died in wars.  I suggested that even though it wasn’t officially Remembrance Day we would have a two minutes of silence in honour of the soldiers who had fought for our freedom.  What followed amazed me.

Every normally excited child from the youngest six year old, to the oldest junior leader, stood still with heads bowed and kept respectful silence, for the entire two minutes.  Impressive and definitely indicative to all who were present that there is so much more going on in those hearts of theirs.  These children, although perhaps not grasping the full meaning of what they were doing were able intuitively to understand the seriousness of the moment and showed an enormous respect for those who had fought for their freedom.

I can only speculate as to why they did this.  The Taylor Swift song has a haunting yet hopeful lyric that despite the war outside the window you are still “safe and sound”.  The fact that many of our kids come from refugee families from war torn African countries and others come from families fighting their own battles forced onto them by poverty, my thoughts turn toward the possibility that these children are soldiers fighting in their own little war.  The reason that they stood in such silence and were able to sustain it, is because they can relate. 

The 2012 City Kidz Dream Banquet and Silent Auction was a success. We sold out, the Centurion Banquet Centre menu was excellent and keynote Yasir Naqvi MPP for Ottawa Centre and EMCEE Richard Long of Love Ottawa were eloquent.  We raised over $4,000 from the generosity of all the people present.  It was a big event and quite positively impacting for me, in the end. 

But, as big a moment as that event was for me, I had my biggest moment yesterday at Saturday’s Playhouse, as I was reminded as to why I started a branch of City Kidz in Ottawa and why we need the money to keep our program going:  It’s about the kids.  It’s about putting a smile on those battle weary faces; telling them we love them, that God loves them, that we believe they can achieve their greatest dream.  It’s about being to them that someone who they can lean on when their battles are raging on. 

And for those of our investors who have donated either their time, or large sums of money, or silent auction gifts so we could keep this program present in the lives of these children, you are as much a part of keeping their dreams alive as those of us on the frontlines are.  You can go ahead and feel REALLY GOOD about what you have done.  Because, in the end, it’s all about all of us who are concerned for their welfare singing to them, along with Taylor Swift, the lyric to her beautiful song Safe and Sound:

Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

 

Good on  you!!

…And ONE for all!!

Just Thinking

I’ve been noticing in media lately, that there has been a lot of emphasis on achieving our dreams.  I’ve also noticed greater numbers of young people holding out for their dream job before taking a mundane job; and people who have found themselves unemployed for the first time in their lives, discovering their “dream career” after being forced  into finding more creative ways to make a buck. 

It’s not bad at all to have gifts and talents that we want to utilize to receive greater fulfillment in life.  I know my grandfather who raised seven children during the Great Depression may take a different view, but I do agree with today’s philosophy to encourage greater fulfillment in our career.  Perhaps not so extremely as to say we pass up the jobs that keep our family fed while waiting for that dream career to emerge; but, I am a firm believer that if we are using our God-given gifts in our area of work, we’re going to be happier in life, overall.

But is that enough?

I saw two quotes recently from Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre, who said, People that dream for their own personal success dream from their inner poverty and When you dream for others, you can dream forever.  

What I think Matthew is saying is, it’s not bad to dream for ourselves, but when we do, we are creating dreams that come from a place of self-fulfillment and gratification that many times are birthed out of past hurts and pride. This is the inner poverty that Matthew is speaking of. This may bring satisfaction for a period of time because we are using our God-given gifts, but in the end it too will soon feel mundane, leaving a longing deep within us to really feel personally fulfilled.   His thinking is, that the greatest personal fulfillment in life comes when we look outside of ourselves and our own personal needs and dream instead to transform the world into a better place. This will feel contradictory to some, because it’s hard to jive the sense that personal fulfillment comes through not thinking about our needs.  I know, however, that Matthew Barnett speaks from experience as the head of a place that is in the business of dreaming dreams that improve the culture around them.

I agree. Personal fulfillment can only be achieved when we take the focus from ourselves and onto how we can dream dreams that will transform our family, our neighbourhood, our city and even our nation into a better place.  When we achieve this level of higher dreaming for the greater good and then actually apply them (application is essential) we will notice our dreams multiplying and with it our sense of fulfillment.  In other words, we will dream forever --- as Matthew says.

What are your dreams today?

…And ONE for all!!

Why We Need You!

Crime Prevention Ottawa produced a report in 2009 entitled Ottawa Youth Gang Prevention Initiative. Within it, it identified six priority areas in Ottawa that are at-risk for youth-gang involvement, which includes the Overbrook area that our program is currently reaching.

As a city we are doing a lot better than most as far as gang involvement is concerned, but there are still concerns that this problem is emerging. The City Kidz mission is to come alongside young children who are at-risk and build their resilience and self-esteem and teach them right from wrong. We do this with the hope that these children will make the right choice when faced with the wrong. It also seems we are one of only a few in this city that is actually reaching this age group, because this report also identified gaps in programming for the 6-12 year old group, for early intervention for the prevention of youth-gang involvement. We need YOUR help.

City Kidz Ottawa is funded solely by concerned citizens like yourself. We have our Dream Banquet and Silent Auction coming up on November 8th. Will you come and bring your friends? Every dollar spent in Ottawa, stays in Ottawa for the benefit of Ottawa children. We need the community to provide the resources to keep this vital organization going at such a pivotal time for the betterment of Ottawa. Contact Wendy directly at 613-796-3063, or email at wendy@citykidz.ca or purchase them online at City Kidz Ottawa

…And ONE for all!!

You’re Invited!

…And ONE for all!!

Better Late Than Never??

Oh no! I can’t believe my last post was in January. Just so you know, City Kidz Ottawa is still doing really well. Since this is not a paid position for me, however, I have been working a little more than usual and have not had a lot of time left over for blogging. Now, I’m on a much deserved vacation and actually have a few moments to give you an update. And that’s why I’m linking you to our newsletter/annual report which we published this spring and sent to all our partners. Please take the time to get up to date with all that we’re doing. It’s a lot and if you’ve been following from the beginning, you may even be pleased to see the growth.

It’s really amazing, though, because we started off with about 20 kids in 2010 and are now up to 80 children on our roster.  Here’s 60 of them taken on our last day before this year’s summer break. 

 

…And ONE for all!!

Still Going Strong

Back on the train again…. this time heading back to Ottawa from a very productive two days  in Niagara Falls with the City Kidz Leadership team.   The meetings started at 9:00 am sharp on Monday January 16 and continued rapidly through 16 team building tasks ending early the following day at 3pm.  In addition to the incredible insights which were presented by our hardworking Executive Director Todd Bender and the Executive Team, we ate and slept well at the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre and had a great game of Electronic Catch Phrase…. my new favourite game. 

This was my second attendance at the annual meeting and I am so glad that I was able to attend.  Since becoming Branch Coordinator for Ottawa, I am often learning on the job and have really appreciated the constant coaching and support from Todd as I started up and continue to run this branch.  These two days, however, gave me the time to soak in a plethora of teaching on team management. From tasks gleaned out of Patrick Lencioni’s book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, learning the difference between Core Values, Mission Statement and Vision Statement, right down to the intricacies of SMART goals,  I have come away feeling a little wiser and even more equipped than ever to lead the Ottawa team to new heights in 2012.  I feel blessed too, because the material taught at these training sessions would cost hundreds of dollars for the average person looking for a seminar on team leadership.  Yet, City Kidz does it for free, with the desire to see the ministry excel to its greatest potential through an army of properly equipped children’s ministers. And I maintain that’s one of the reasons why City Kidz is still standing after starting as long ago as 1992.  In addition to recognizing his pastoral role, Todd Bender also figured out early on, that in order to make a ministry sustainable over the long haul, one needs to apply good business sense and strategy for future growth.  Todd has always been proactive in equipping his team administratively, AS WELL AS pastorally.

But it was the last exercise that really drove things home for me and how I personally fit into the City Kidz team.  As you may or may not imagine, it hasn’t always been easy starting up a branch on my own in the big City of Ottawa.  In many ways in this modern world of ours, I have often felt like a pioneer out on the frontier battling the elements alone to build my new home.   Perhaps that’s a little drastic.  I do have one major supporter that has been with me through thick and thin from the beginning and in the last few months I have discovered an incredible team of volunteers and community members who are coming on board with the City Kidz vision.  So I am not completely alone.  In the end, however, the vision for a branch in this City was  mine and 95 percent of the administrative work and fundraising has been done by me.  What has kept me going  was the incredible  support and coaching I have been receiving from the City Kidz Hamilton (National) office.

So,  in the last exercise of our retreat, we were each asked to look around the room we had been spending our time in, and find an object that best reflected the impact that was made on us personally.  Each person went around the room and found significant objects that represented their feelings.  One chose a rock, another a picture of a mother and child, and yet another, three markers.  I chose a chair. 

You see for me, coming to Hamilton and meeting Donna West, our Regina Branch Coordinator, and all the other leaders from the Hamilton office, I felt very much a part of a bigger vision. Not just for Hamilton or any of the branch cities, but for the country.  As I sat in my chair, next to this amazing team of Christian leaders who love the Lord and are passionate about reaching 5000 children by the end of 2013,  I was constantly reminded that I am not just one individual trying to make a change, but a member of a unified force.  I am only one member of a team of people that want to bring change to this nation’s children and who are wholly committed to finding the best way to foster those changes in significant ways.    I am not alone.   And this is what I will be telling the Ottawa team when I return.  That we are all part of something very big that’s happening in Canada and not only can we feel proud, but we can feel supported in the cause as well.  We have a team of people from across Canada now that share the same vision and are there to cheer us on any time we ask.  And that’s why I chose the chair.  And that’s why I think City Kidz Ottawa is going to excel in 2012!

…And ONE for all!!

Lofty Plans

Today, I am travelling by Via Rail from Ottawa to Hamilton. It’s minus 20 degrees outside and the windows are frosting up creating a gauzy lens to view the snow covered countryside.  It is a beautiful and bright sunshiney day. The train is equipped with WiFi and has thus enabled me to take the time to write a City Kidz Ottawa update. 

I’m heading to Hamilton for an important meeting of City Kidz leaders from across Canada and am looking forward with excitement to reconnecting with the Hamilton crew and at the notion of finally meeting Donna West, Branch Coordinator for Regina.  Donna and I started the first two OFFICIAL branches of City Kidz at the same time and although I have spoken with her by Skype, I have never met her face to face. The purpose of this meeting will be to do some important vision mapping and goal setting for 2012. 

The chief objective for Ottawa in 2012 will be the kids and how we can impact them more in 2012. We already are up to 46 children on our roster.This means that we are home visiting almost 50 children bi-weekly throughout the year and bussing approximately 35 children (not all children choose to attend every session) to the bi-weekly Playhouse program which runs in the spring and fall.  Our hope this year will be to expand our territory and bring even more children in.  Now that we have moved our location to the City Church basement, which has donated this space for free, we can potentially fit 200 children into that space.  Perhaps we won’t reach 200 children this year, but perhaps another 30 children added to our roster to bring our numbers to 80?  My hope is that by the end of 2013  we will have the workers and enough money in the bank, to be reaching at least 200 children.  Impossible?  Nope.

We, in Ottawa, have a lot of big plans for our branch, and much of that will be discussed at the meetings that start Monday.  I can’t wait to hear what’s on the horizon for Hamilton and Regina, as well.

Here’s a couple of pictures from our Christmas Party last season. School bags and mitts and hats were donated by local groups and City Kidz Hamilton contributed stockings to be given to all the children. 

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…And ONE for all!

It’s been busy!!

Despite the fact that I haven’t written anything over the summer, there’s been a lot going on. 

We had a wrap up barbecue for our great volunteers and I had a chance to get to know them on a more personal level.  We’re so busy all season, there’s very little time to just sit and shoot the breeze and the barbecue offered me a great opportunity to do just that. 

I was also engaged in some very good training by Skype provided by Todd Bender and team as we prepare to move out of the provisional branch stage to an independent branch.  It was in these meetings that I had a chance to connect with children’s ministers in Halifax, Welland, Hamilton and Regina.  All of them participating in a City Kidz type of ministry.  Ahh the age of technology where people can gather in one place from all across the country!  It was nice meeting other like-minded people who live scattered across Canada. 

We also had a volunteer training day in August, at which time I was privileged to pour as much into our passionate and eager volunteers as they could muster.  They learned about what it means to be a volunteer at City Kidz and had a crash course in how to talk to kids, the meaning of resilience from a City Kidz perspective and how to deal with all kinds of kids behaviorally.  They now “get” what City Kidz is all about and why they’re doing what they do.  They’re even more anxious now to make a difference in Ottawa.  I am so proud of my team!

And just when you think that’s quite a bit, City Kidz is growing so quickly that we’ve officially moved to another location with a bigger hall.  The good folks at City Church in Vanier, have kindly offered their hall free of charge to City Kidz Ottawa.   Despite the similarity in our names, City Kidz  is still an independent ministry, hoping to gather churches from all denominations to join in the fun, and all people within the greater Ottawa community who love children, as well.    Our new digs are pretty special!  Not only do we have more room, in which we can potentially fit 300 kids into, we now have two washrooms, a kitchen, and an installed lights and sound system.  We’re in heaven!!  Thanks Rob and Heather at City Church, and your congregation too!  The new Playhouse address is 221 Baribeau Street, around the corner on Ethel Street, Door C.

In addition to holding down jobs, we’ve also been carrying on with home visits and staying connected with the kids over the summer. Just because the program is over, we’re not! Relationship building is what City Kidz is all about and this never takes a break! Phew! I’m getting tired reading that!  But there’s more….

Now we’re into start up mode.  The curriculum has been picked and distributed around my team, the supplies have been purchased, the photocopying is done and the prizes are ready to go.  City Kidz Ottawa begins its fall season Saturday September 17th and the countdown is on.  The kids in the neighbourhood were so excited to hear this during home visits last night.   When I got out of my car, I was immediately swarmed by these children eager to know when we would be picking them up again! They were very happy to know it was this Saturday!! And SO AM I!!

…And ONE for all!!!

We Can Do This Together

Today was the last day of City Kidz Ottawa's spring session.  It was wonderful, complete with cake and a photographer to get a group shot as a keepsake for everyone to remember our first City Kidz season in Ottawa. We had the most kids today.  It seems that word's getting out and with the good weather, everyone is bringing friends and the bus was full today.   A little disconcerting as we try to figure out and remember what friend goes with who and where we're supposed to drop them off again, but it's a problem that Shawn and I and all of the City Kidz Ottawa staff have been longing for and even praying about.  

It's a good thing too!  While out doing our home visits last week we heard from one of the parents that there had been a pool party hosted by a local 18 year old.  The party was in the City Kidz neighbourhood and those invited ranged in age from 10 to 18.  There were drugs and alcohol at this party and apparently a few arrests.  Thankfully, none of our City Kidz kids were participants and we hope that we have gotten through to them enough to make the right decision not to attend such a thing. But it's a bit of a wake up call to the parents in the area as they realize that a viable war has been waged against their children. Maybe that's why we had so many kids on the bus today.  

 

Whatever the reason, we're glad to help in any way we can. We're here to join forces.  Even though the Playhouse is done for the summer, have no worries, we're going to maintain our home visits and stay in touch with the kids to keep the relationships we've already forged going.  And when September comes we'll be stronger than ever, with even more kids on the roster.  Together we will fight for the children of Ottawa.

...And ONE for all!!

Eyes

To City Kidz followers: This piece was written by a writer friend of mine who has a wonderful way with words.  When I read it, I felt that it so strongly reflects the heart of what City Kidz is, that I had to share it with all of you!  I hope you’re as blessed reading this as I was!

One time when I was living in Ottawa, I was coming home from work one night. Obviously, Ottawa being the city that it is, we had our share of homelessness and thus we were interrogated every once in awhile for some coinage. As a girl who grew up in a small town, at first I found it awkward and as time went on, I found it oddly comforting. There is something about a stranger going out of their way to reach out to you even if it is completely motivated by need.

As I was going home this one night, I had an encounter with a woman I will never ever forget.

She was asking me for a bus ticket. I, the avid transit user I was did not carry bus tickets, only a bus pass so I looked at her and mentioned I was sorry but I did not have any. Suddenly, she looked at me with her large brown eyes and the following words come out of her mouth..

"Thank you. Thank you for looking me in the eyes. No one ever looks me in the eyes."

I can still hear those words as if they happened just moments ago. I remember when I finally did get on the bus that night and eventually made it to my home in not the safest neighbourhood there is, my own eyes found the courage to let go of their tears.

Sometimes it is so easy to look at people anywhere but in their eyes. It is when you look someone in the eye that you remember that you are both human beings, with stories and with dreams, who feel the angst of emotion and the courage to be able to love. It is when you look someone in the eyes, that you actually see yourself and that you see the very little that separates you from them. Looking someone in the eye is communicating the unspoken words of, "I see you. I validate you. You can talk to me and I will really hear you. You are worthy of this."

It is in looking away, that we forget who we are.

I find that it is the eyes of Christ that are one of the most captivating and compelling things about Him. Scripture says He has eyes of fire, and it also says that there is no shadow of His turning. He never takes His eyes off of you. My friends, He never looks away.

As Christ is, so we are. This is our mission and I want this to be my life prayer.

To look every man, every woman, every child in the eye, no matter if they're a leper or if they're an all-star athlete, if they are living in the slums or in the palace, if they are a baby dying of AIDS or if they are the king of a mighty nation. No matter who you are let me look in the eyes, so I can tell you without saying a word...

"You are worth it."

~Ashley Beaudin

…And ONE for all!!

The Little Bus That Could

It’s hard for me to believe that it was just last May, 2010, that I met with Todd Bender, City Kidz Founder and Director and proposed the idea of starting a branch of City Kidz in Ottawa.  I had been thinking about it for a few months and first met Todd the previous October on a City Kidz bus when I had made a deliberate trip to Hamilton to take a tour through the program. 

Since then I’ve gone through quite the process to make this dream a reality in Ottawa.  I mapped the city to determine our target community, found a venue to hold the Saturday Playhouse, recruited a couple of very dedicated volunteers, recruited 20 children, started the program in October 2010 (only 5 months later), recruited MORE volunteers, ran the playhouse and conducted home visits bi-weekly until December, planned and held a Fundraiser Dinner in November where almost 75 people attended,  broke for the Christmas break, visited Hamilton for a Vision Mapping and Goal session, returned with a new vision to expand to 60 children by year end, took 20 City Kidz to the canal for a skate in February, recruited MORE kids for the spring startup on March 12th now filling our roster to 37, engaged in several visits with stakeholders across the city to create awareness, have gained one corporate donor, purchased one digital projector and have found a very generous church in Vanier who has loaned lights and sound equipment.  The spring startup of City Kidz Ottawa was March 12th and since then three playhouses have been held, with bi-weekly home visits and we plan to continue like this until June 18th.  Are you tired reading that list??  I’m not!! I’m EXCITED!! Hopefully, if all goes well, by September, 2011 I will have met the goal of 60 children, have at least 25 volunteers on our roster, and be running weekly, with weekly home visits year round.

When I think of the establishment of this branch an image of the “Little Engine that Could” comes to mind.  In my case, though, it should be more appropriately entitled, “The Little Bus That Could!”   This story fits because like the little engine’s task of pulling it’s heavy load, my dream to start the The City Kidz Ottawa branch was impossible to do alone.  But, with a couple of other little buses, such as City Kidz Hamilton and Peace Tower Church here in Ottawa, and a handful of dedicated volunteers, I made it over the hill and onto the other side with a long string of accomplishments pulled behind.

I suppose you could say it was a bold move on my part to begin a branch, but like the little steam engines working together, we sang, “I think I can – I think I can – I think I can”  and now looking back over the year, I’m over the hill and on the other side, and I’m going merrily on my way singing, “I thought I could" – I thought I could – I thought I could” and WE did!

….And ONE For All!!

Worth the Trek

March is a crazy time of year weather-wise in Ottawa, getting it in all its varieties.  Yesterday was no exception.  We went from snow to freezing rain and then to rain which rendered all the streets with their accumulated snowfall since November, covered in six inch slush, ponds instead of puddles and treacherous ice everywhere.   Yesterday the side streets were a mess and no one who didn’t need to go out stayed home.  I was at the TD Bank yesterday in the middle of the day and there was NO line up. 

The thing is, yesterday was also our planned date for Home Visits with the added expectation to return to homes where promises were made to pick up the last set of new registration forms for the spring session.  We absolutely needed to do our home visits yesterday.  It couldn’t wait until today.  Undaunted Fireman Shawn Donnelly and I donned our rainwear and old boots (both of us ended up getting soakers) a flashlight (cause it’s still dark at 6:00), the Saturday flyer and a smile on our faces. In reality, both Shawn and I look forward to seeing the kids and their parents and it takes more than a messy snow slush day to wreck our spirits.  

But what really kept our smiles beaming brightly for two hours in this crazy weather was just about every home we went to we were told, “The kids have been waiting for you!!!”  One mother even called to her daughter, “See?! they’re here!” And true to this word, we were welcomed by hugs from every child visited and their anticipated excitement  for Saturday’s spring launch.  Our kids are the best!!  

This is all very encouraging in itself, but it goes to another level for me when we consider that it’s all very good evidence that City Kidz Ottawa is, in actual fact, making a difference in the lives of Ottawa’s children.  To have stayed home yesterday may have been convenient for us, but it also would have potentially broken trust with some of these kids.  They were expecting us.  By going we proved to them that we are there for each one of them and even willing to endure some pretty slushy cold bad weather just to see them. 

It was a bad weather night last night with a resulting bad hair day for me.  On the other hand, both Shawn and I went to our respective homes afterward feeling pretty good with our hearts warmed by the love we received from all of our kids.  For that reason alone we were glad we went. It’s all about keeping things in perspective.  Smiles and hugs overwhelmingly out weigh the odd soaker here and there.  It was a good night.  The kids were worth every step.  It was worth the trek.

….And ONE for all!!