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'All Our Children' rolls out nationwide as the 2009-10 school year kicks off
"Most Episcopal congregations are in sight of a school," said the Rev. Matthew Heyd, director of faith and action for Trinity Wall Street, who helped develop All Our Children, an education program operated with the Diocese of New York that partners churches and schools to improve communities.
Trinity will host an informational conference call September 15 at noon EDT to kick off national support for All Our Children. In July, General Convention adopted a resolution that encourages all Episcopalians to give 40 hours a year in service to schools, each parish to form a public school partnership and for the Episcopal Church to advocate for equitable schools.
"It's one of those efforts that is simply done, but has tremendous impact," said Bishop Catherine S. Roskam, suffragan bishop in the Diocese of New York. "I was encouraged by the response at General Convention, and I hope this will become a program of the whole church. The premise is simple: Every Episcopalian gives 40 hours a year in support of public education. We all can do 40 hours even in a [economic] downturn through direct service, tutoring advocacy and teacher support … it all makes a difference."
The All Our Children model demonstrates how to become active in grooming the next generation of leaders. The conference call will include information about how the program works, how to initiate a school partnership, and success stories from pilot programs in the Diocese of New York, which began in 2008 with nine churches.
"It is impossible to transform society without paying attention to our children," Heyd said. "And something all of us can do is become involved in local public schools in ways that introduce us to the possibilities and struggles that almost all schools face."
In the South Bronx, Misión San Juan Bautista runs the Peace Zone program, which offers a safe haven from life on the streets and teaches about conflict resolution and alternatives to violence. Staff at Trinity Wall Street tutor students at a neighboring high school in earth sciences and global studies. Grace Church in Nyack works with middle school students to help them understand their individual learning styles.
Not all volunteers work directly with students; some advocate for education reform, others tend community gardens, some tutor and some play chess. It's every kind of parish working with every kind of school, Heyd said.
"It's about supporting the whole child," he said. "We want people to be able to read and write, think, sing and dance … to be whole people; what God called us to be."
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