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Strategic
Plan for
The Mission of AIM
The
Vision of Aim
The Strategy of Aim
Our Values
Our Purpose
Problems in The Inner-city
Action Plan for resolving
problems
Volunteer Opportunities
Financial Cost involved
with S.A.Y Yes
Life Skills Center
Food & Clothing
Distribution Center
Fund Raising Campaign
$175,000
The Mission
of AIM
The Mission of Atlanta Inner-city Ministry is to involve Metro Atlanta in
ministry to bring wholeness and productivity to impoverished individuals in
South Fulton county by providing the unemployed and underemployed adults life
skills; by providing children and youth enrichment activities, and providing the
homeless food, clothing, and other basic human needs.
The Vision of AIM
To establish a network of
individuals, churches, corporations, trusts, and foundations with the goal of
providing ministry to the hurting in Metro Atlanta.
To promote the involvement of
Metro Atlanta focusing on the significant problems of poverty and its negative
effects on children, youth and adults in South Fulton
To provide safe and wholesome
activities for children and youth
To provide wholistic emotional,
educational, and spiritual opportunities for unemployed or underemployed adults
through ESL, GED, job training and work internships, with coaching toward
effective employment.
To become the primary
distributor of food and clothing to residents of Lakewood Heights and reaching
out to South Fulton county as well.
The Strategy of AIM
In 2003 AIM was organized to become a faith-based initiative
with 501c3 compliance with intent to better meet the long term needs of the
community we serve. In 2004 we will seek financial support through foundations,
trusts, businesses, corporations, and governmental organizations to better
provide the community needs in Southeast Atlanta. We seek to minister to the
whole child. When we reach the children we unleash wonderful potential in the
community. When we reach children we prevent needless trauma in their lives.
When we reach children we reach the nation. Our strategy is to make a long-term
commitment to the children and youth in South Fulton, directing them around the
potholes of childhood and hostile culture within adolescence, and instilling
concern for and involvement in their community.
Our Values
We are called to the inner-city.
We are committed to a wholistic approach to ministry.
We will work in partnership with others.
We will respond to the needs of the community we are based
in.
We seek to empower others to play a role in the
transformation taking place.
We are pioneers and seek innovative solutions to the problems
of the community.
We seek to follow Christ’s example to break down the walls of
racism, sexism, and classism with human dignity and personal respect.
We strive to be students of and sensitive to cross cultural
development.
Our Purpose
We desire each child to grow in wisdom and stature, and in
favor with God and man.
Our Objective is to address the following aspects of
growth:
Heart
(Emotions and Will) Providing a supportive environment in which youth will
develop as morally wise and emotionally strong leaders.
Soul
(Spiritual) Providing a spiritually nurturing environment in which youth
will develop into disciples of Jesus Christ.
Strength
(Physical) Providing opportunities for healthy physical growth and
development of future leaders
Mind
(Intellectual, Educational,
Occupational) Providing an intellectually stimulating environment in which
youth will achieve appropriate academic and occupational potential
Neighbor
(Social, Community) Developing young leaders who are concerned for and involved
in serving their community.
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The Problems In
The Inner-city
Problem 1 –
At Risk Youth
Research done at an urban primary care clinic in New Haven,
CT including 88% African- American young ladies from 12 to 20 revealed the
following traumatic events:
85.5% experienced community
violence
67.7 heard about friend or family homicide
55.5% witnessed shootings
38.9% witnessed stabbings
36% used weapons
32% witnessed physical abuse at home
30% experienced sexual abuse
outside the home
24% had been arrested
20% had spent time in jail
10% had been raped
The research revealed the high probability of full or partial
post-traumatic stress disorder with accompanying problems of depression,
substance abuse, failure in or suspension from school, and a pattern of arrests.
The research article stated, “Urban, inner-city youths are exposed to “chronic
and endemic” violence.”
Probable outcomes are substance abuse, adolescent sexuality, involvement with
youth gangs which increases the possibility of violence, and dropping out of
school because of parenthood or repetitive suspensions.
Problem 2 –
Poverty in Southeast Atlanta
On July 1, 2002 the US Census
Bureau stated that the population of Georgia was 8,560,310 with numbers based
upon March 1999 information stating that 1,087,118 in Georgia lived in poverty.
The largest concentration of poverty is focused in South Fulton County with
128,363 living in poverty. The Atlanta Housing Authority states there are 31
low-income public housing developments inside Atlanta’s 285 perimeter.
“In
October 2002 while returning in the evening from an outing on the AIM bus, with
35 kids, there was a sound like firecrackers to my suburban ear. The immediate
response of the every kid was to drop to the floor of the bus. I was the only
person left standing. That evening was my introduction to the normalcy of young
children living at risk in the inner-city of Atlanta.”
by Bo Davenport, Director of AIM. TOP
Atlanta
Inner-city Ministry
Plan of
Action
Since 1989 Atlanta Inner-city Ministry has established
ourselves in the urban community of Atlanta. Our future Plan of Action is to
more specifically address the urban problems within Atlanta’s community with the
following ministries:
-
S.A.Y.
Yes: Center of Youth Development
-
Life
Skills Center
-
Food
and Clothing Distribution Center
-
Pre-school Center
Atlanta Inner-city Ministry began as a ministry to children
and youth. Therefore the first Action Point for future ministry will remain
consistent to our beginnings, by focusing on “at risk” youth with the beginning
of an After School Center. Our goal is to begin operation of an after school
center during the school calendar of Fulton County School System starting in
2004-2005.
The Mission of the Center for Youth Development is to provide
a safe atmosphere of acceptance for young people which supports the learning
process, allows recreational activities, builds on individual strengths,
encourages leadership in the community, and instills hope for the future. The
Center for Youth Development will present urban parents safe and cost effective
childcare with mentoring opportunities for school aged children.
AIM has targeted the beginning
of S.A.Y. (Save America’s Youth) Yes: Center of Youth Development with the
2004-2005 school year from 3:00 to 6:00. The goal is to begin January 2005 with
a Monday/ Tuesday/ Wednesday program with 25 young people with expansion to a 5
day program by the end of the school year.
Volunteer Opportunities
SAY Yes will need mentors at a ratio of 1 mentor per 5
children. The mentor will need to connect with the young people EACH day
(meaning a daily commitment is required). SAY Yes will need volunteers
each day per week (unless the volunteer is willing to volunteer more often) in
the following areas:
Bus
driver Snack Volunteer
Recreation Leader Bible Club Leader Reading
Tutor Homework Tutor
Practical Living Leader
Computer Lab Leader
Crafts Leader
Financial Cost Involved with S.A.Y. Yes: Center
for Youth Development
Atlanta Inner-city Ministry will provide the facility at no
cost to S.A.Y. Yes. The facility allows 4 classrooms, a kitchen/ snack area, a
large meeting room, with space marked for outdoor activities. The actual cost
includes a full-time salary for the Director; and 3 part-time salaries for staff
who will help provide the needed mentoring for 15 students.
Thusfar AIM has raised
$10,000.00 of the $38,000.00 necessary to begin S.A.Y. Yes.
Life
Skills Center
The Mission of the Life Skills Center is to provide adults
lifelong learning, to build on individual strengths and team work, equip adults
for entry into the enterprise of work, to teach a successful plan of action, and
instill hope for the future. The Life Skills Center is a comprehensive program
for adults to equipping individuals for personal independence, family and
community leadership opportunities, fundamental life skills, and, a life plan
including a financial plan of action toward productive employment. Life Skills
is designed for unemployed and underemployed adults desiring to succeed in life.
Life Skills will offer 2 classes each year which last for 12 weeks. Life Skills
includes the following each week: educational enrichment (GED, basic computer
training, etc); Life Plan Development; Group Counseling; Individual Counseling;
Recovery / Support Groups; and Spiritual Development. Additionally, Life Skills
will direct participants through a 10 week Job Internship with food allowance
and an after-care program for participants with assistance in job placement.
Life Skills Overview
Life Skills Center begins
July 11, 2005 and ends September 30, 2005. Life Skills Job Internship begins
October 10, 2005 and ends December 23,2005. TOP
Food and
Clothing Distribution Center
The Mission of the Food and Clothing Distribution Center is
to assist those who find themselves unable to provide their immediate basic
needs of life with dignity and respect. When possible the Mission will include
educating the individual about recovery or support groups that are available and
attempting to instill hope in the midst of a transitional period of life, and
encouraging reconnection to family or other community networks. The Food and
Clothing Distribution Center will be an expansion of the existing program to
provide for the immediate needs for the homeless, unemployed, and under-employed
with food and clothing and other home and basic needs. A potential facility is
available on Lakewood Avenue which is adjacent to the AIM facility on 1966
Lakewood Terrace which would serve this need.
Presently, AIM is open for food distribution and other basic
life needs every Wednesday from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Our only requirements for
services are a valid ID and their own transportation to and from the facility
(the AIM facility is on Marta’s bus route).
A goal is to increase the days of operation to Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday with Tuesday and Thursday used for cleaning and
re-stocking the facility.
A goal is to increase volunteerism to 3 to 4 volunteers each
day of operation.
A goal is to acquire a truck to allow “pick ups” from
churches, schools, corporations, and community businesses.
A goal is to acquire a better facility for operation because
the space allowed in the present AIM facility is very limited.
A goal is to hire an individual to operate the Food and
Clothing Distribution Center.
AIM does seek individuals,
churches, corporations, and community organizations for support volunteerism as
well as making financial contribution or providing “gifts in kind”, which will
be used toward purchasing food, clothing, and paying operation expenses.
The Food and Clothing Distribution Center will enable the
community to be aware of hunger related issues as well as feeding people at risk
of hunger. Our philosophy is to provide quality and caring service with a
consistent and equitable distribution our given resources to each person walking
through our door. It is our belief that service offered in the manner will
increase the self-worth and dignity of the each person. Our motivation, as a
faith-based organization, are the words of Jesus Christ who told His followers “Depart
from me … for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me nothing to drink … I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the
least of these, you did not do for me.”
Capital Campaign $175,000
The plan in
2005 is to acquire the adjoining property on Lakewood Avenue which is in front
of the present facility on 1966 Lakewood Terrace SE.
The purchase
is needed for several reasons:
-
The purchase would provide
space to expand the Food and Clothing Distribution Center to full-time
operation with the existing “store front” space in the building.
-
The purchase would provide
large meeting room with small kitchen and bathroom to accommodate the
operation of the Life Skills Center.
-
The purchase would provide
two small “one room” apartments which would be used for transitional
housing. Additionally, the apartments would allow shower facilities for the
many visiting campaign groups and service teams who presently must make
other arrangements.
-
The purchase would provide
direct access to Lakewood Avenue because Lakewood Terrace is a one way
street which makes direct access difficult
-
The purchase would provide
several additional parking spaces directly across from the present facility.
-
The purchase would provide
future direct access for facility expansion on the unused portion of land,
which is just over 1 acre in size, on Lakewood Terrace.
The cost of
the property is $125.000 with $50,000 needed for repairs and improvements on the
property to be able to operate the Food and Clothing Distribution Center, Life
Skills Center, and short-term housing for over-night service teams.
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