By: Jocelyn Grant, Education and Volunteer Director

Is it the middle of July already? 

2020 has literally consisted of New Year’s Day, quarantine, and summer. 

As the school year quickly approaches, it is quite clear that this year will be unlike any other before it. The proposal of our local school district reopening, with guidelines from our state governor’s office, further solidifies decisions to take all precautions to maintain the health and safety of our students. 

RICH Kids Enrichment Program is our primary fall youth program at South Street and will continue to serve the families and students of Summit Lake, South Akron, and beyond. 

The RICH Kids Team will continue our Virtual and Visitation series into Fall 2020 to maintain engagement with our students and families. We will also continue school supply, grocery, and general needs delivery to help remove any barriers that may hinder our students’ abilities to learn and thrive. 

Volunteer tutors will continue to support our students via virtual engagement and serve in small groups on outdoor visitation days. We will continue to carefully observe all COVID-19 safety guidelines as issued by our local city and state officials.

Our primary goal is to continue to work against the learning loss that many students are experiencing, and help our students pivot and develop new learning skills that incorporate the tech tools of our day. This is a rough time for all, but it is a time for courage and advancement as well. 

In any time of adversity, we learn not only who we are, but what we can be. 

As we move toward a unique change in the way our students learn, let us be their constant encouragement and support. Let them see us clear hurdles we couldn’t before. Our leaning into new transitions could be the lesson that births bravery and boldness in the generations to come. They are watching!

Please pray with us as you think through what students need during this season. God knows and holds the future for every child, and we are trusting His sovereignty as students and staff get back to school. Thank you!

Summit Lake and Kenmore are two neighboring communities with different histories, demographics, and stories. 

One defining difference is race: Summit Lake is a majority black community, and Kenmore is a majority white community. Both neighborhoods have a range of diverse residents, but the majority population is often the representation of the community. 

The adjoined high school has recently brought the community’s young people together, as has the completed Summit Lake Loop Trail for many residents …

And not a moment too soon. Today, especially, there is a need and real value in furthering our own understanding of race, systemic racism, and equity. 

The faith community has been a leader in the work of restoration and reconciliation — for which we are very grateful! 

Please take a few moments to watch two videos addressing race and systemic racism from community leaders and pastors — many of whom live and lead in Kenmore or Summit Lake!

1. “Connection vs. Collision” featuring:

Pastor Lori Porter from Summit Lake,

Kemp Boyd from Kenmore, who coaches the Kenmore-Garfield Rams, and

Jocelyn Grant from South Street Ministries, serving youth in both communities! 

1. Goss Memorial Church:

Pastor Kevin Burkholder from Goss Memorial Church in Kenmore, and

Pastor Brandon File, who led a church in the Summit Lake community for some time.

Both pastors were the recipients of the Love Akron Fowler-Larson award for efforts they made in bringing their two congregations together — one from Summit Lake, the other from Kenmore!

Enjoy these videos, and let’s continue growing together in grace!

ACROSS THE LAKE is a new initiative of South Street Ministries to connect the east and west sides of Summit Lake … to explore the social and racial histories in our communities … and to renew a future vision for our neighborhoods. 

By: Donovan Harris 

Each individual pursuing reentry has a unique incarceration experience that requires different remedies to ensure a successful transition back into the community.

It’s understandable that current services for formerly incarcerated people are not heavily concerned with addressing the personal trauma of incarceration to the individual need. But focusing on this dynamic is one of the most effective ways to assist people with restoration upon release.

It is necessary to explore the process followed by returning citizens who have successfully navigated the bumpy road of reintegration to gain a better understanding of what a person truly needs as opposed to what statistics and data suggests. 

Discussing the changes a person goes through mentally, physically, and emotionally as they return to a life that in many cases didn’t exist before incarceration is imperative to truly restoring citizens to the community.

Men and women are being released from a merciless, concealed environment — where certain behaviors and coping mechanisms are absolutely necessary for physical and mental survival — into a world where these behaviors are frowned upon and oftentimes punished, which can facilitate a difficult period of adjustment. 

An individual who completes a sentence of 15 years in this environment is prone to be mentally scarred and somewhat emotionally incapable of functioning for any significant period of time once returned to the free world.

Imagine being in a situation for 15 years where a box of snack cakes and a bag of chips could be the reason you lose your life, or the cause for you to take the life of another. How do you feel that this kind of environment would affect your mental state? 

When your reality is to exist in a place where the slightest challenge to your personal well-being must be addressed and handled in a swift, straightforward, usually aggressive, sometimes violent way, your ability to properly deal with challenging situations in open society become skewed.

Taking into consideration the unforgiving circumstances by which one must live during a period of incarceration — from the moment one enters prison to the moment they exit — provides a better understanding of the root cause for the inability of many individuals to successfully reenter society. 

People returning to free society deserve to be afforded the basic necessities of life just like any person who has never been incarcerated. In order to improve and protect the safety of the public, those who are involved in reentry services must focus on the dynamic that is exclusive to people who have been incarcerated, which moves far beyond collective basic needs and into individual mental, emotional, and physical restoration.

Please help us welcome South Street’s new Case Manager for the Community Transition and State Opioid Response programs: Trish Eddy!  

We have the chance to work with the Summit County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board, and her job is to help connect returning citizens to mental health.

Trish says:

I have watched South Street Ministries for years. I believe in the work and ministry that South Street provides to the members of our community. I wanted to be a part of a ministry that supports and pours the love of Christ into the hearts of all. I am looking forward to creating new memories!

Trish describes herself as someone who means what she says and is “not afraid to be who I am.” In addition, “I love sharing love with others, and my absolute favorite thing to do is laugh!!”

We are excited Trish has joined our team — we look forward to all the ways God will be working through her. 

Join a commitment to justice …

The movement toward equity and equality …

Discover resources to become more informed and educated …

Enter a time of self-examination and growth …

All through South Street’s “Embodied Cause: Black Lives Matter” initiative!

We invite you to experience personal development, discipleship, and transformation in the pursuit of racial reconciliation. It is Kingdom work that is needed and necessary!

Click here to connect with us today!