Wesley Center of Austin receives grant,
does community survey, hires director
By Dionisio Salazar
Founder
The Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development, a faith-based organization serving the Dove Springs community in Austin, has received a $750,000 “Communities Empowering Youth” grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant from the department’s Administration for Children and Families is for three years.
The funding is from the Compassion Capital Fund. This fund supports faith- and community-based initiatives seeking to improve the lives of children, youth and families.
Grant funds will be used to build the capacity of five community partners in organizational development, program development, leadership development and community engagement.
The core community partners who will receive support from the grant include Wesley Center, River City Youth Foundation, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Advance and the Southeast Austin Corner Alliance of Neighbors.
These organizations have agreed to work together to form a Dove Springs Community Partnership dedicated to alleviating juvenile violence, gang activity and child abuse and neglect.
As the partnership develops, other community partners, such as neighborhood schools, churches, government agencies, businesses and community residents, will be invited to participate in a comprehensive collaboration to make the Dove Springs community a better place to live.
Youths and parents will play a very important role in this partnership.
”The grant will serve as a great resource for bringing the Dove Springs community together in a strategic and comprehensive way to solve problems and improve conditions,” said Dionisio Salazar, founder and former director of the Wesley Center.
An early requirement of the grant is a comprehensive community assessment on gang activity, juvenile violence and child abuse. This assessment will be conducted from January to June.
Youths and parents will be trained to conduct “study circles” or “platicas” with other youths and community residents on relevant topics.
In addition to gaining a better understanding of local issues and challenges, these community conversations will help to identify assets and resources that can strengthen the community.
The Wesley Center recently hired a new executive director to head up this community-building project. The Rev. Andrew Hernandez, an ordained minister of The United Methodist Church, will serve as the leader of the Wesley Center as well as the community partnership.
Hernandez is a nationally recognized leader on Latino politics. He organized and led the 21st Century Leadership Center at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio for five years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in leadership and community development work.
Salazar is leaving the director position with the center to serve as an assistant general secretary at the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. He will help to oversee the mission agency’s Latino ministries work in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
For more information on the Wesley Center, please refer to http://www.wesleycenterofaustin.org.
Founder
The Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development, a faith-based organization serving the Dove Springs community in Austin, has received a $750,000 “Communities Empowering Youth” grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant from the department’s Administration for Children and Families is for three years.
The funding is from the Compassion Capital Fund. This fund supports faith- and community-based initiatives seeking to improve the lives of children, youth and families.
Grant funds will be used to build the capacity of five community partners in organizational development, program development, leadership development and community engagement.
The core community partners who will receive support from the grant include Wesley Center, River City Youth Foundation, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Advance and the Southeast Austin Corner Alliance of Neighbors.
These organizations have agreed to work together to form a Dove Springs Community Partnership dedicated to alleviating juvenile violence, gang activity and child abuse and neglect.
As the partnership develops, other community partners, such as neighborhood schools, churches, government agencies, businesses and community residents, will be invited to participate in a comprehensive collaboration to make the Dove Springs community a better place to live.
Youths and parents will play a very important role in this partnership.
”The grant will serve as a great resource for bringing the Dove Springs community together in a strategic and comprehensive way to solve problems and improve conditions,” said Dionisio Salazar, founder and former director of the Wesley Center.
An early requirement of the grant is a comprehensive community assessment on gang activity, juvenile violence and child abuse. This assessment will be conducted from January to June.
Youths and parents will be trained to conduct “study circles” or “platicas” with other youths and community residents on relevant topics.
In addition to gaining a better understanding of local issues and challenges, these community conversations will help to identify assets and resources that can strengthen the community.
The Wesley Center recently hired a new executive director to head up this community-building project. The Rev. Andrew Hernandez, an ordained minister of The United Methodist Church, will serve as the leader of the Wesley Center as well as the community partnership.
Hernandez is a nationally recognized leader on Latino politics. He organized and led the 21st Century Leadership Center at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio for five years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in leadership and community development work.
Salazar is leaving the director position with the center to serve as an assistant general secretary at the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City. He will help to oversee the mission agency’s Latino ministries work in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
For more information on the Wesley Center, please refer to http://www.wesleycenterofaustin.org.