News
Cindy, AmeriCorps Team Member with Community enCompass, is now facilitating a limited, socially distant version of a “food for health” class called “Fresh Conversations” for residents of Jefferson Towers.
The residents’ reasons for attending the class are many: some come to learn about food as medicine, some to get new recipes and exchange tips, some for the safe socializing with a “support group” feel.
The COVID-19 crisis has had an unjust impact on our neighbors in core-city Muskegon, especially for neighbors who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained , and Employed).
Increased wage loss, food insecurity, and unemployment are on the rise. Many neighbors have seen their work hours reduced. Some are on a fixed income that doesn't leave room for the unexpected nature of sudden school closings or rising grocery costs. For many even a short stretch of unemployment will put them too far behind in rent to catch up.
Below are some ways Community enCompass will walk alongside our neighbors whose lives have been upended by this crisis. We need YOUR help to support our neighbors during this difficult time!
Dear Neighbors,
In these uncertain times, Community enCompass’ priority is to continue to be neighbor. While “being neighbor” will look different over the coming weeks and months, you can be assured that we are fully operational and working together (while practicing social distancing!) to come up with creative solutions for how to continue to engage our community.
“I just wanted to say that this was one of THE BEST fund-raiser and educational events that we have EVER attended! I didn’t even know that it existed!” Our annual “Taste & See” Event marks the transition between these two seasons, and as such, we want to take one last look back, to savor what was tasted and seen at this year's event.
When our board and staff attempt to identify the reason why Community enCompass exists, we end up with phrases like “Neighborhood Transformation,” and “SHALOM in the City.” Lofty dreams for a rag-tag team of people who are often stumbling towards good. The year-end process of digging through data always makes me wonder..... how will we know once we’ve arrived? How will we know when our neighborhoods have been transformed and we taste SHALOM?
Dozens of neighborhood teenagers spent their summers doing internships through the Youth Empowerment Project. The PAID internships created an opportunity of high school students to gain experience in the fields of youth work, agriculture, construction, and gardening, building interpersonal skills and developing their resumes
