wfn.org | Disciples take part in volunteer summit

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

Date: May 22, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-32

    INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Three Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) members were among the 4,000
participants in the recent "President's Summit for
America's Future."

    Saundra Bryant, Los Angeles, Calif., the Rev.
Kaye Edwards, Indianapolis, and the Rev. Brenda
Cardwell, Suitland, Md., journeyed to Philadelphia
to take part in the national salute to
volunteerism. 

    Bryant is executive director of All Peoples
Christian Center in LA. An active laywoman and
member of All Peoples Christian Church, she also
is first vice moderator of the Disciples General
Assembly. A long record of volunteer service with
United Way led to Bryant's selection as a summit
participant.

    Edwards is an associate for children's and
family ministries for the Disciples' Homeland
Ministries division and attended the gathering as
a denominational representative. Cardwell, pastor
of Pilgrimage Christian Church in Suitland,
represented the National Council of Churches.
Pilgrimage operates an NCC-funded "Safe Place"
project for children and youth threatened by
violence in the Washington, D.C., suburb.

    The overall goal for the summit was to
enhance the quality of life for youth by community
involvement and citizen service. Planners want
citizens' groups and community organizations to be
able to provide "five fundamental resources for
children and youth": ongoing relationships between
youth and caring adults; safe places and
structured activities before and after school;
marketable skill development through education;
improved health services; and youth volunteer
opportunities.

    "Through specific, measurable commitments
toward these goals from individual organizations
from every sector in America, and through
community initiatives, the aim is to turn the tide
for America's youth," said summit organizers. 

    The summit "confirmed that we were on the
right track," said Cardwell. Her congregation just
needs to continue strengthening its ministries.
The event also provided opportunities to identify
resources to begin that task, she added.  

    Several national non-profit and corporate
entities have already made commitments of
resources and/or volunteers, including
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, LensCrafters
and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

     The Rev. Kaye Edwards hailed the event as a
"way of holding corporations responsible for the
welfare of children and young people." If the
commitments of the summit are carried out it will
be a tremendous opportunity to affect the lives of
America's youth, she added.

    Retired General Colin Powell was chairperson
of the first-time event, which was organized at
the initiative of the Corporation for National
Service and the Points of Light Foundation. Other
national non-profit organizations also were
partners in the effort.  

    Funding for the summit was provided by the
Pew Charitable Trusts and the W.K. Kellogg, David
and Lucile Packard, Robert Wood Johnson, and Ewing
Marion Kauffman foundations. 

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DISCNEWS - inbox for Disciples News Service, Office of Communication, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986 Indianapolis, IN 46206, tele. (317) 635-3100, (DISCNEWS@ecunet.org) Wilma Shuffitt, News and Information Assistant; (CWILLIS@oc.disciples.org) Cliff Willis, Director of News and Information; (CMILLER@oc.disciples.org) Executive Director