Able:Forum on Income Inequality in the Bay Area with Congresswoman Jackie Speier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/10/14
Communications Manager
Able Works
650.328.1890
laura@able.is

Able:Forums presents: 
‘Does A Rising Tide Really Lift All Boats?’

Local non-profit hosts discussion on financial inclusion in the Silicon Valley

East Palo Alto, CA: On Friday September 12th, Able Works is hosting a forum discussion around creating solutions for an economically inclusive society. This event will take place at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center at 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, with an hors d’oeuvres reception starting at 6:00 pm and the Forum beginning at 7:00 pm.

This will be a vital and relevant discussion about the cost of living and opportunities for the working poor and middle class to thrive in the Bay Area. Our goal is to have a proactive and positive discussion on ways individuals and corporations can play a role in ensuring everyone can gain access to the opportunities our region creates.

For this year’s event we've convened a group of leaders and influencers from across sectors including Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

“I am excited to participate in this discussion because it focuses on solutions,” said Congresswoman Speier. “We know that the unemployment rates in some Silicon Valley communities are as much as twice as high as in San Mateo County. That inequity must be addressed to lift all boats and I am convinced we have the brain power in Silicon Valley to come up with solutions.”

You won’t want to miss this important discussion. Reserve your seat today: www.able.is/ableforums

About Able Works: Able Works is an East Palo Alto based non-profit organization that seeks to eradicate systemic and generational poverty in Silicon Valley’s historically under-resourced communities. Our strategy is threefold: we expose the mind through training, labs and workshops; we engage the heart through cohorts, mental health counseling and family support; and we empower the hands through access to jobs, housing and resources.

Utilizing this strategy, Able Works manages two programs, FutureProfits for high school students and LiveAble for young adults (ages 18-30), to help them prepare for their futures and bring about economic self-sufficiency. Visit http://www.able.is for more information.

Open Position at Able Works - FutureProfits Program Manager

Able Works Job Description

Title: FutureProfits Program Manager
Reports to: Director of Impact
Supervisory Responsibility: FutureProfits Program Assistant and Volunteers
Hours: 40 hours per week
Compensation: $39k to $47k DOE, employer paid health, dental and vision insurance, Simple IRA retirement plan with partial employer match, paid time off (sick days) and vacation
Starting Date: November 2014

Position Summary:

Able Works is a non-profit organization based in East Palo Alto, CA. Our vision is to live in a society where every individual has the ability to fulfill his or her greatest human potential. Our mission is to equip individuals with financial education, life skill and assets that enable one to live free from oppression and poverty. FutureProfits is a holistic youth program teaching under- resourced high school students life, decision-making and financial skills. The program serves over 500 students per week. The classes are taught in partnership with local schools, volunteers, churches and community-based organizations.

FutureProfits is a well-established program that has tremendous growth potential. The FutureProfits Program Manager will utilize vision, leadership, and innovation to insure successful operation of the program and the accomplishment of the goals set forth in Able’s strategic plan. The Program Manager will develop, strengthen, innovate and grow the current program. The Program Manager will insure the continuance of our culture of valuing, appreciating and empowering volunteers. The Program Manager will be expected to work closely with Director of Impact and the FutureProfits Program Assistant.

Primary Duties:

• Teach FutureProfits Classes
  
• Market and coordinate mentoring, labs and other out of class activities
  
• Manage classroom volunteers
  o Assist with recruitment
  o Volunteer communication
  o Assist with volunteer training
  
• Work with Program Assistant and Communications Manager to recruit, train, manage and communicate with current and future volunteers
• Other tasks as required
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent work experience
  
• Ability and desire to be entrepreneurial and visionary
  
• Basic understanding of banking and money management
  

• Understanding of the unique conditions under-resourced students encounter in their daily lives
  
• Confidant and outgoing with an ability to inspire, communicate with and manage volunteers
  
• Ability to represent FutureProfits program to local schools and community partners
  
• Fingerprint clearances
  
• Familiar with Mac OS and Microsoft Office Suite Programs
  
• Organizational and administrative capabilities

Preferences:

• Spanish language proficiency
  
• Prior experience in working with under-served youth
  
• Minority applicants are strongly encouraged to apply
• Familiar with iMovie or Final Cut Pro, Wordpress, Salesforce database
  For more information about Able Works, please visit www.able.is. 
  

To Apply: Email resume and cover letter to john@able.is. No hard copies or phone calls. In cover letter please explain the specific reasons you believe you are qualified for this position. Do not email generic cover letters.

For more information about Able Works and FutureProfits, please visit www.able.is. 

Are immigrants ruining the American church? 

As the political parties wage a battle of immigration, in many under-resourced communities there remains a hidden phenomenon: immigrant churches are changing the American religious landscape. For example, East Palo Alto has a large 800 to 1000 member bi-lingual, immigrant Latino Pentecostal church led by the charismatic pastor, Bishop Joe Prado. The church has doubled in the past five years. They have an active youth ministry, a clear process for developing leaders, a 40% rate of members active in small groups, visible engagement in the community and a welcoming, open spirit. They seem to be unable to keep people away.  Another immigrant church, St. Francis of Assisi, led by an understated but passionate pastor, Fr. Lawrence Goode, is actively engaged in social change. Also with a large and active congregation of well over 1500 members, St. Francis members can be seen engaging the community on a number of issues including housing, job creation and providing relief services. Arguably, these churches are some of the most dynamic in our region. But almost completely unrecognized by pastors from 'across the freeway'. Are we disregarding these churches at our own peril? 

As a contrast, I recently went to a regional pastor's gathering at a large tech company. There were about 180 pastors and leaders in attendance, all discussing the idea of 'saving the Bay'. The group was overwhelmingly Anglo and male. There was a scattering of Asians, no Pacific Islanders (that I could see), a couple of Latinos and one or two African Americans. While the discussion was sincere, honest and likewise passionate, it felt more like a resourced and wealthy Church wringing it's hands over their dwindling impact in a post-modern and post-Christian society. I truly applaud the effort for unity in the Christian church in the region, but I have a nagging suspicion that this sincere effort is 'missing the boat'. Perhaps some of these leaders should be actively engaged in learning from pastors such as Bishop Prado and Fr. Goode, who's congregations are transforming their city with the catalytic nature of the Gospel of Christ. It struck me that the dominant culture church should be 'sitting at the feet' of these impoverished, immigrant churches. They are reaching the community and transforming the culture in ways that are reminiscent of the first century church in Jerusalem.  

While recently reading for a class at Fuller, I was really encouraged by the article in Ryan Bolger's book "The Gospel After Christendom, New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions" (Baker Academic: 2012). On P. 119 Oscar Garcia-Johnson states, 

"I argue that the Christian vitality of the Global South is bouncing back to the Global North in the vessels of immigrant communities. Perhaps the big surprise for many classical Christian structures, centered on the North, is that the immigrant communities are now the carriers of the leading energy for missions and religious transformation." 

As a minister and community developer, this is exciting to me. It's what I encounter in my community and many others around the nation. 

I contend that dominant culture churches, like the one I attend, should rethink our attitude toward immigrant and urban churches. One role we should embrace, as folks with access to tremendous resources, is to fan the flame of congregations such as the Apostolic Assembly of East Palo Alto or St. Francis. I suspect that that that can be found making a difference in every under-resouced community in the US. By serving them it might save our own communities. 

Our role, however, is much deeper than providing finances and volunteers. It's more important than that. Simply providing resources is in many ways the easiest part and allows us to stay in the position of power. Maybe there is a better way. Perhaps it's, in humility, 'sitting at their feet,'  of these effective and sometimes disregarded leaders, allowing them teach us about community transformation and passion for the extension of God's love to the world?    

When I see the disconnect around the issue of immigration, and the dominant culture church's lack of engagement on the issue, I sometimes wonder if we are 'cutting off our nose to spite our face.' By standing against immigration reform, are we standing against the seeds of revival that just might redeem and save our nation? 

Is the immigrant we deport the next Billy Graham or D.L. Moody? 

Does anyone read blogs anymore?

A number of years ago I used to blog a ton. You can still see my old blog, Norcalurban, here. I wrote there for about four years and chronicled important things like the opening of the credit union in East Palo Alto to the death of my friend Max Torres. When Max died I sort of lost steam and let the blog go dormant.

Lately, I've been feeling the need to write more. It might just be a passing fad like parachute pants and neon green shirts. Lately I've been growing restless and concerned about a number of things. Housing and gentrification, economic inequality, income disparity, immigration, mass incarceration... All of these are major issues that seem to be growing in intensity. These are important times. The last five years have seen seismic shifts in the American economy. We have lots to talk about.

So, here I am. Some weeks I'll blog a few times, other weeks not as all. I'll announce on Facebook and Twitter and through the Able website. Let me know your thoughts... if anyone reads blogs anymore...