HCI Surprise!

Long Beach Connection Monthly Meeting


On May 20th, during a regular Long Beach Connection monthly meeting case workers, volunteers, and leaders involved with the Homeless Connection Initiative were surprised by a lovely lunch catered by Nino's Restaurant. Case workers walked in with a confused look upon their faces, thinking that they accidentally walked into the wrong meeting. After reassuring them they were in the right room, they happily piled pasta on their plates. Community partners, Sea Coast Grace Church; Grace Harbor Church; We Love Long Beach; The Garden Church; Friends Church and many more, joined with the Kingdom Causes Homeless Task Force in supporting the surprise lunch. Volunteers from the Homeless Connection Initiative move ins were able to connect with the city workers who were finding apartments. We were also received updates from the leaders including Joel Roberts, Susan Price, Martha Long, and Elsa Ramos. Currently, there have been 56 move-ins, of these 13 were veterans and 6 were youth (18-25 years old). Long Beach Connection express their gratitude toward the community partners and open the meeting to them. They also shared other ways we as community members can continue to be involved through advocacy, educating others, and being part of the next Homeless count taking place on January 27th.

One visible impact the Homeless Connection Initiative has had in Long Beach City is that Pat West noticed there was a third less homeless individuals at the Civic Center.

Thank you to Long Beach Connection for commitment to our homeless neighbors. Thank you for literally taking them off the streets! Thank you community partners for being their support and making their apartments into homes!

The FIRST HAT 2.0

The Homeless Assistance Training has just welcomed a new member to the HAT Family. HAT 2.0 made its debut on May 18th. Over 20 individuals representing 6 organizations came Tuesday evening to learn how to build relationships with our homeless neighbors. In conjunction with Long Beach Connection's mission to move in homeless individuals into homes, Kingdom Causes would like to also provide long-term support by establishing relationships with these individuals. Our first step into this process is HAT 2.0.

Our Homeless Task Force Leaders, Eric Copeland and Somatra Sean, imparted practical knowledge and tools from their own experience and training into 2 hours. Participants learned how to share their story and to find out other's stories. In pairs, they learned the importance of communication and how to actively listen. There were great group discussions and interactions through out the training. Overall my favorite quote from the night came from an elderly woman. The participants were asked to draw a river representing their life. In response she said "do you have a longer paper for me to draw on?"

Look at how great their communications skills were!

I was very impressed or they cheated!

Ministers Alliance High Pastoral Study

May 18th HAT 2

DATE: Tues, May 18th, 2010

TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 PM

LOCATION: KC LB Office (1965 E. 21st St)

MORE: Already been to a HAT training? Already involved in the LB Connection Project? This evenings training will be for those interested in providing relational follow up! How to set goals and boundaries, frame mutual expectations, and establish healthy two-way conversation. Please RSVP Susana at susanas@kingdomcauses.org if you plan to attend.

National Day of Prayer 2010

There isn't many days where our Christian Leaders gather together, but yesterday was one of the few days. It was an exciting and uplifting experience to see people praying and on their knees before the Lord. There were over 500 people and at least 40 pastors gathered on the afternoon of May 6th at the Civic Plaza, in the heart of downtown. The worship and prayers were powerful and heartfelt. Many things were prayed for including a time when people gathered around pastors and lifted them up in prayer. It was a taste of people who call upon the Lord daily that God is our only hope. We witnessed the embodiment of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, "... Requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." May we continue to pray daily for everyone and not just on the National Day of Prayer. AMEN

Thank you Hamilton Teachers!

Volunteers from Light and Life West, Church One, Community Grace Brethren, Fountain of Life, HANDS International, Kingdom Causes and new council member Steve Neal joined together to bless the Hamilton Staff with a continental breakfast on Teacher Appreciation Day

Teachers walked into the Hamilton library thinking it was a typical early morning staff meeting to receive testing packets for state-wide testing for the students that week. Instead they walked into a room decorated with pastel tablecloths, flower pots, an array of breakfast goods and drinks, and the smell of Starbucks coffee. Some teachers were so stunned by the display of gratitude, they didn't know how to respond. Volunteers welcomed the teachers in and guided them to the breakfast table, which was set with an array of bagels, donuts, fruit, yogurt, and juices. Many of the teachers marveled at the various Starbucks coffee. It is amazing to see how just Starbucks coffee is a treat for teachers. As the teachers ate at the tables, some fought over packages of seeds given as favors. On the seed packages a little tag said "Teachers plant the seeds that help our children grow". The leftover seeds were taken to be used in the school's organic garden. Principal Downing raffled off gift baskets filled with snacks, bath goods, and movies and gift certificates including passes to The Aquarium of the Pacific, Nino's Restaurant, and Target. The teachers became as giddy as their students while Principal Downing read off names. There were so many gifts, all teachers at the meeting received one and the rest were raffled off through out the day. All left the breakfast blessed, teachers and volunteers.

It was a privilege to show our appreciation for the work teachers do each day year round. The Church of the City was a beacon of hope during a difficult time for teachers. Thank you to all who contributed to the breakfast and especially thank you to the teachers who continue to "plant the seeds that help our children grow".

To see more pictures of the Hamilton Breakfast see our Facebook Album!