Knox Youth Centre

Though I haven't been commenting for the last couple of days about my "literacy project," I haven't stopped thinking about it. I have actually been trying to network with those I know and then contact those I don't know, but who are presently working in complimentary fields or projects. My excitement builds!

I spoke with the Executive director of the United Way today about the project. She is an amazing person with whom I have worked "complimentarily" when she was still involved in the Calgary Board of Education. She is still very active in public education, but in a very different context. She was not only excited about the project, but will put me in touch with the various agencies whose work I would be supporting through this action. I can become part of the conversations that result in service provision. I thank her so much for her support.

I also had lunch today with a good friend who works with the Calgary Board of Education. He works closely with the board of Trustees as well as the Chief Superintendent. He made some very useful and practical suggestions and still provided lots of encouragement. He's the one who suggested the name "Knox Youth Centre." It makes sense to me. He also knows my strengths as well as my challenges. He knows that someone has to get me out of the big picture and into the details or this will never happen. He helped me see which details needed most attention and how I still need to focus on my nemesis: quantitative research data. His wisdom is so appreciated.

So I am developing a proposal to present - on paper - to the stakeholders, the potential sponsors, my employers, and other interested parties. This step must not be forgotten. Otherwise the space will not be available.

So I am off to do the nitty gritty.

Getting Started

This is really fascinating! I have been trying to get myself in contact with agencies or people who might be able to assist in beginning the project here at the church. Everyone I talk to at the church gets really excited by the idea. I think we'll easily have the necessary hardware to start. There seems to be no opposition to the idea of homeless youths coming to this facility. I haven't had anyone particularly try dissuade me. I can say that the worse reaction - which I do not think is anything but realistic - came in the form of advising me to consider, first, a pilot project with a few kids before expanding very far. This makes a lot of sense to me.

Where I have had difficulty is getting people to return my calls. When I get someone on the phone, I have no trouble getting them excited. However, it has been difficult to get people on the phone.

I will persevere! Anyone have any suggestions?

Where do I get help if I need it in Calgary?

I was just looking at the Calgary Children's Initiative site on the web to try to see what they are about. Without commenting on what I learned, I did find that they list available services and links to them on their site. The page where the links are listed in alphabetical order is here.

Some of the ones listed have me confused as to why they are there, but someone obviously thought they would be useful to SOMEONE. Others will take you to the home page of an organization and then you will have to find what you are looking for within the site. All the same, I figured that it is important to know where to go for help if you want it. Being healthy, having some level of sanity, and being able to find your own support are helpful if you want to develop a sense of spirituality.

I am still trying to get this conversation out to those who might want to join. I am going to send it out to the mailing list I developed here at my work. This is SO LIMITED, that I hope any visitors will help spread the word and send the link to their friends. Feel free to do so!

Namaste!

In the beginning.....

In the beginning, I wish there had been more light!

I am just beginning my new job as child and youth coordinator here at Knox United Church in Calgary. I have been a member of this church for about 20 years. I have found it a wonderful home in which I can explore and develop my sense of spirituality. At the same time, I have watched children grow and leave the congregation - at least leave the activity they once exercised within this community. I am aware of some of the reasons and will try to respond to what I have been told as well as try to figure out whether my hypotheses are accurate.

What this is will hopefully help respond to some of those concerns. I am hoping that this blog can gather some of the people who might come to Knox, but who are not yet coming, or who have changed from this place. I invite you to participate. Perhaps we can use this to start a conversation and an exploration into how we can make this church more responsive to youth. The church should be a place where youth feel safe, feel at home, feel like they are valued, honoured, respected, and where they have a voice.

If you are wondering about the "Huda Hakawi" aspect of this.....

I hated the idea of going to "Sunday School" when I was a child. I rejected it even more strongly as an adolescent. This is why I refuse to see my job as a director of Sunday School.

When I was an adolescent, I was far more involved with trying to figure out who I was, what I believed, where I was going, and what I wanted to do in my future. There were few places for me to go to explore that. I was lucky. I met some very radical thinkers. These people were also people of ACTION. Incidentally, they were involved with my church. They were NOT, however, people who "preached" to me or my friends. They were not, what we referred to as "bible thumpers." They did challenge us to think and feel.

I am hoping to be more like these mentors of my past. So "Huda Hakawi" is what I am trying to establish as a child and youth program at Knox. Huda Hakawi is simply "Who the heck are we?" written to seem like something else. It does, however, signal people that my aim is to take direction from the youth or children who become a part of what we do.

So:

Who are you?
Who do you want to be?
How do you want to become those people?
What role do you want?
What do you want to do?

I open the conversation to anyone who wants to participate. You don't need to be connected to our church or any church. You don't need to actually come to be physically present. I only ask you to join in the discussion. Let's see where it leads.

Who am I targeting?

• Youth: 13 - 25.
• Preferably near Calgary Alberta, but you don't have to be to engage in this discussion.
• You likely are Christian or your family is so, but let's not limit this space to those who are Christian. Let's share who we are and get to know more about the diversity of the world. My daughter describes herself as not believing in anything. I would not close her from this conversation. She might have the questions and comments that stimulate real thought and growth.
  
• Someone who is exploring their spirituality. Someone who wants to grow in her/his spirituality. Someone who wants to know themselves as a spiritual being.
• Someone who doesn't mind "being in the process of growing".

I will not pretend to have the answers to all questions. I know that I am still growing in my own spirituality. I don't even know if I will have any answers to questions. I will, however, commit to exploring with you.

So, Who am I?

• Staff Associate coordinating Children and Youth at Knox United Church.
• Part of Knox United Church in Calgary Alberta
• A former teacher and public school administrator
• a father of two
• Dr. Dan (this link will take you to my facebook page. You can get lots of info - likely more than you want.)

So let's see where we go. Please feel free to join in!