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Relationships are the Foundation for Catalyzing Change!
Stephanie Acker is Associate Director of
Community Development and a full time staff
member on the Vineyard Community Offerings team. Her work in developing relationships in the community is one the big keys to the success of our programs. She took a moment out of her busy schedule to talk about her passions - I suspect many of you might be excited about the same stuff!
Danny Tao
Executive Director, Vineyard Community Offerings
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Stephanie: My hope is that we would be a catalyst in creating thriving diverse communities. I really hope our church can be the salt that can add a whole level of liveliness to our neighborhoods in a way that salt adds zest, but one is not really aware its there. What if we can organize the community to have a voice to communicate their dreams and vision of change? I'd love for us together to catalyze a movement where people and organizations across the city are all working together-and I think that big vision requires something deeper...a foundation of trusting relationships. |
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Stephanie: My job is to listen to people, to look for opportunities and to mobilize people to create community. I work to really know our community and the people and organizations in it, finding meaningful and sustainable ways to partner together. I create spaces and foster avenues for people to be known, valued and heard. Last year I was building relationships on my own and this year I'm overseeing people that are building relationships...and at the same time expanding relationships with other non-profit and government organizations. As I'm connecting with organizations who are offering great programs, I'm discovering that they recognize that we add value because we know people in the neighborhood.
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Stephanie: I love traveling, but I connect right here in Cambridge with people from around the world in really profound ways. One story that epitomizes what I love about my job was one time when I had the opportunity to sit and share a meal with 76 yr old Pakistani woman who speaks very little English. In every way we're completely different, she grew up in Kashmir and married at 13. She's a grandmother, widowed, and speaks Urdu. The 'oneness' of that moment is compelling...even with someone who is so opposite of me. Where else could I experience that?
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Fun Facts!!
Did you know? About a third of the population in Boston and Cambridge speaks a language other than English in the home! ...and you thought you had to buy an expensive airline ticket to meet people from around the world!
Did you know? Almost a third of the adults that regularly attend the Greater Boston Vineyard volunteer in Vineyard Community Offerings events or programs! We'd love to have you join us if you haven't already! Check out our opportunities at www.bostonvineyard.org/communityofferings.
Did you know? Stephanie would love to help you explore how your own unique gifting and passions can make a difference in Greater Boston! Contact us at communityofferings@bostonvineyard.org!
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Ladies Night
Sign-up NOW to help with another night of beauty, fun & community for women from the Vineyard and the Fresh Pond Apartments.
When & Where:
Friday May 1st | 6:00pm-9:00pm
Community Room, Rindge Towers 364 Rindge Ave Cambridge MA 02140
What's happening?
Co-hosted by members of the Greater Boston Vineyard and women residents at the Fresh Pond Apartments, Ladies Night is a fun free night where women will be able to take a break, relax, pamper themselves, and get to spend time meeting other ladies in the community. There will be different beauty stations with henna, threading, nail-painting, facials, hair braiding, hand massages and makeup. (And of course yummy snacks & good background music). Women can come and go throughout
the night, cycling through the various stations.
How You Can Help?
Are you a women with a heart to connect with other women? Do you like to interact cross-culturally and meet new people? Do you want to be involved in what God is doing in our local neighborhoods? Are you willing to bring a dessert, snack or drink to share? Can you help with Set-up (5-6pm), Tear-down (9-9:30pm) or Check-In? Can you Paint nails, Braid hair, Hand-massages? Please email LadiesNight@bostonvineyard.org to rsvp & to sign up to help.
The Purpose
Our hope is to honor and love women in our local neighborhood through a Ladies' Night that provides space for women to get away, be themselves and connect with other women. We want to create a space and context that enables us to learn from and engage with the local women in our community and sets a platform for deeper relationships to be formed.
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