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Positive influences are key to ending poverty, program director says
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
Published on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008
Charly Murphy is reaching back to help pull children and their families out of the cycle of poverty that he was once a part of.
''I grew up with eight siblings. My father was involved with drugs. We didn't have a lot of money, but my mother could stretch small resources and do a lot. Doing a lot with a little is what she was good at,'' said Murphy, 31. ''I can say, when I look back, that the potential negative influences outweighed the potential positive influences in my community, school and upbringing a hundred to one. I believe that the more we can balance those influences out, the more likely a kid is to choose a positive influence.''
Twenty years ago, Murphy found positive guidance at a suburban church that was reaching out to neighborhoods in the city.
Now, Murphy, who still lives in the North Hill neighborhood where he grew up, is working to provide positive role models to inner-city children and their families as director of Urban Connection Ministries. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to break the cycle of generational poverty through relationship building and education.
The ministry started five years ago as an outreach of Maranatha Bible Church in Spring
field Township. It is now an independent ministry that still receives support from Maranatha and other local churches.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, the ministry sends a bus into Southeast Akron to pick up children and take them to a program where they connect with a consistent mentor and work on character- and morality-building exercises. They also go on field trips.
''Our tagline is 'connecting the disconnected,' because we are trying to connect the kids and their families to people who can help them maintain positive attitudes and a sense of community,'' Murphy said. ''We want to connect them with positive role models and educational opportunities.''
In addition to the mentorship program, the ministry offers such opportunities as a community garden, a breakfast program, neighborhood Bible studies, financial counseling and parenting education.
The ministry's Kids United initiative brings suburban and urban youth together and focuses on teaching a biblical culture of values, character and acceptance of others. Its Teen Connection program allows teens to explore their faith and values.
Family Connection builds relationships between suburban and urban families. School Connection provides school supplies and learning materials to students and helps teachers educate effectively. Mentors are also available through the school program.
Urban Connection has partnered with Akron's Barrett Academy for more than two years. Jacquelynn Hogue, the guidance counselor at Barrett, said the ministry has been an incredible asset.
''You name it, they do it. Whenever I have a family in need of something, I call and Urban Connection does what it can to help,'' Hogue said. ''They have provided thousands upon thousands of pounds of food, school uniforms, furniture. They have chaperoned on field trips, provided buses for field trips, fed the teachers and families at interim report card pickup, sponsored a mother-daughter tea for our girls. I could go on and on. They just do so much.''
Barrett was selected for adoption by the ministry because more than 99 percent of its students are on the free lunch program. The kindergarten-to-fifth grade school also has a significant number of students with special needs. The ministry also has a parenting partnership with Voris Community Learning Center.
Urban Connection offers training and curriculum to other churches and organizations involved in urban ministry.
''One of the things I like about Urban Connection is that it helps the kids that are most likely to fall through the cracks,'' said Eula Roberts, one of the ministry's mentors and volunteers. ''The ministry is effective because it goes into the home, into the neighborhood and into the schools.''
Urban Connection uses Jackson Park Ministries in Charlotte, N.C., as a model. The North Carolina ministry was established in 1985. In the early years, the group fed neighborhood children and incorporated mentoring, Bible study and recreation. Today, the ministry has five apartment buildings for families in its transitional housing program.
The 12- to 15-month program provides spiritual guidance and provides training for employment, parenting and financial stability.
Murphy said he envisions the day when Urban Connection can provide a transitional housing program.
A new program pays students $44 a month to tutor younger children, under the supervision of certified teachers. The program is a way to help teenagers with job opportunities, to teach them a good work ethic and to encourage them to reinvest in their community.
The local ministry runs on donations from churches, businesses, organizations and individuals. It does not have its own facility but uses space when needed at partner churches, ministries and schools. Its mailing address is at Maranatha's office building, 2410 Massillon Road, Akron, 44312.
For information or to volunteer or donate to the ministry, call 330-431-1220 or visit http://www.akronmentor.com.
''We have a great range of volunteer opportunities, from a one-time commitment to a daily commitment. We can plug you in wherever you want to be,'' Murphy said. ''We will do whatever it takes to help get people out of poverty.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Charly Murphy is reaching back to help pull children and their families out of the cycle of poverty that he was once a part of.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 04:47 PM, 11/22/2008
Keep up the good work Charly!!! We Love You!!!
