Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association HOPE IN ACTION Winter 2018 ■ Volume 38 ■ Number 2 Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells Dear friends, CHAIR Paula Jacobson Over two years ago on May 24, 2016, MIFA held a facilitated town VICE CHAIR hall meeting composed of MIFA stakeholders and community leaders Ken Jones as the first of a series of conversations about MIFA’s 50th anniver- SECRETARY & LEGAL COUNSEL Aarti Bowman sary. Discussions continued with our board, special committees, staff, TREASURER and one-on-one talks with long-time supporters. The results were Gregory M. Duckett brimming with ideas about the importance of such an organizational Brett Grinder milestone, celebratory goals and how to effectively implement them, key messages, Milton Lovell Margaret McLean and best of all inspiration, anticipation, and excitement. Ashley Boggs Robilio Our recent anniversary events successfully increased public awareness attracting new Dr. Stephen Cook and diverse audiences, celebrated what’s unique about MIFA, took a lively look at the Lucia Crenshaw Sara Hall past and toward the future, and provided opportunities for service and support. Maria Leggett Our trio of signature events included CommUNITY Days, an unparalleled city-wide Ted Miller Catherine Muscari service effort; the unveiling of an historical marker on our front grounds at Legacy Day; Gretchen Wollert McLennon and, finally, a spectacular sold-out Golden Gala. Norma J. Oliver Carl Person But even with this ambitious array of events, we felt something was missing. We felt it Danish Siddiqui was important to mark this occasion in a fashion similar to what our founders did for our Joe Stewart community back in 1968 — by providing ways to connect and serve. Tish Towns Rabbi Bess Wohlner Therefore, we proudly introduced a new online resource: MIFA Center for CommUNITY. Dr. Walker Wright On this content-rich site you can discover how we can transform ourselves and build Scott Young community. Please visit the site — community.mifa.org — and share it with others. Sally Jones Heinz PRESIDENT & CEO Finally, thanks to all who joined us for our jubilee year celebrations and who continue Hope in Action staff to support our work. James Seacat EDITOR [email protected] (901) 529- 4544 Terri Jones Sally Jones Heinz, PRESIDENT & CEO DESIGNER ON THE COVER: MIFA's 2018 Holiday card 2 Winter 2018 mifa.org • (901) 527-0208 OUR VISION: Uniting the community through service. Seasonal giving, year-round impact For Shelia and Mark Bolden, the holidays are always a struggle. Providing the basics like food, healthcare, and utilities for their children is tough enough, much less buying gifts to mark the season. When their youngest son developed a chronic respiratory condition requiring costly medica- tion, they had to choose between his medical care or paying rent for their modest apartment. MIFA Emergency Services provided rental assistance to prevent eviction and connected them with wrap-around services to defray the costs of their son’s ongoing treatment. You can help families like the Boldens and help at-risk seniors by giving a gift using our Home for the Holidays digital catalog, Holiday Cards . The catalog offers giving options at a mifa.org/holidaycatalog suggested donation $10 time when it’s important to share our joys and gifts with those who have less. Send us your recipient list and our volunteers will handwrite your personal message, Honor friends, family, or business associates with a gift that address each card, and drop them in the mail. supports our vulnerable neighbors. An acknowledgement will be This year’s distinctive card cover design is by sent to those you’re honoring with your gift. Memphis artist Leslie Barron. There are giving choices that represent a week of hot meals for a homebound senior, a night in an emergency shelter for a family in EASY ORDERING need, utility assistance for a family experiencing an unexpected VISIT: mifa.org/holidaycatalog crisis, and more. CALL: (901) 529- 4544 Also, you’ll find opportunities for workplace giving and for donating care package items delivered to seniors on Christmas morning along with their meals on wheels. OUR MISSION: Supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis through high- impact programs. Winter 2018 3 ’S JUBIL IFA EE M Y E 8 A 1 0 R 2 5 Introducing Community.MIFA.org MIFA’s anniversary gift to the greater Memphis area is MIFA Center for CommUNITY, a new interactive website about serving together to build community. MIFA Center for CommUNITY connects volunteers with service opportunities and helps them understand why service matters. The website’s objective embodies our founders’ aspirations back in 1968 and our vision today: uniting the community through service. The site features training tools, testimonials from volunteers, and an easy-to-use calendar of events. It includes resources written by local experts about issues related to senior hunger, family homelessness, and interfaith relations. It also connects visitors to other sites for additional guided activities such as tips on talking to your children about homelessness. MIFA Center for CommUNITY is made possible by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis with support from Boyle Investment Company, H. W. Durham Foundation, and nexAir. Take a few minutes to visit community.mifa.org. 4 Winter 2018 mifa.org • (901) 527-0208 OUR VISION: Uniting the community through service. ’S JUBIL IFA EE M Y E 8 A 1 0 R 2 5 CommUNITY Days In a major six-day, county-wide event, over 1,000 volunteers from over 70 congregations and faith groups joined together for projects to unite and better our community. from left: Unity Church of Practical Christianity and Pema Karpo Buddist Meditation Center beautification; Cane Creek Baptist Church, St. Peter’s MBC, Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church, and Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church clean up Rose Hill Cemetary; Calvary Episcopal Church and St. James AME clean up and paint at St. James Church We came together for a Labor Day party in the Binghampton community Our members were excited to be a part of this tremendous with Temple Israel, Caritas Village, McMerton Gardens, and the Refugee and life altering encounter. I am so grateful for MIFA and its Empowerment Program and created a space where we could simply share vision brought to fruition of “uniting the community through a good meal and enjoy one another's company. We were intentional about service.” We accomplished this vision together as one com- the fact that there weren't "servers" and "those being served," but rather munity for its 50th anniversary, and we are geared up to we were all there, serving one another by being in community. continue uniting with our community for years to come! — Reverend Sara B. Dorrien-Christians, Idlewild Presbyterian Church — Tamara Pate, Communications Director, Breath of Life Christian Center OUR MISSION: Supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis through high- impact programs. Winter 2018 5 ’S JUBIL IFA EE M Y E 8 A 1 0 R 2 5 Legacy Day The unveiling of a historical marker at MIFA was the centerpiece of a tribute to MIFA’s founding and interfaith legacy. from left: Interfaith prayer - Rev. Walter Henry, Debbie Burch, Rev. Margaret Burnett, Imam Anwar Arafat, Pastor Bartholomew Orr, Rabbi Bess Wohlner, Dean Andy Andrews; detail of marker; Linda Marks, Fr. Nicholas Vieron, Barbara Newsom, Sally Jones Heinz The child MIFA would grow tall and strong and serve MIFA is the most important MIFA’s original and ongoing purpose is all its people, whether they worshiped in the Shadow institution in Memphis today. to help build a healthy, thriving community. of the Cross or near the Star of David or by some other — Congressman Steve Cohen The core value which that endeavor requires symbol. People from all across America would come is love — love of the best we can do and love to see how it was done and imitate our MIFA. of the best we can find in each other. — Father Nicholas Vieron, Pastor Emeritus, — Linda Marks Memphis Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church MIFA Inter-Faith and Community Outreach Officer 6 Winter 2018 mifa.org • (901) 527-0208 OUR VISION: Uniting the community through service. ’S JUBIL IFA EE M Y E 8 A 1 0 R 2 5 Golden Gala Over 600 friends enjoyed a sold-out jubilee celebration including dinner, live music, and inspiring presentations on MIFA’s founding, growth, and future. from left: Julia Allen, Barbara Wilson, Sara Holmes, Janice Vanderhaar, Sybil Tucker, Annette Bickers; Sally Jones Heinz, Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells, Norma Oliver, Lucia Whittemore Crenshaw, Sehrish Siddiqui; Charlie Nelson, Rev. Dr. Steve Montgomery, Barbara & Allie Prescott MIFA’s original and ongoing purpose is As we celebrate our jubilee year, a time for renewal and I hope our founders would be proud to see what to help build a healthy, thriving community. commitment to the work that we do, I pray for a renewal MIFA has become today. A professional social The core value which that endeavor requires of our mission — to come together to serve the most services agency with a focused mission — we support is love — love of the best we can do and love vulnerable among us, and to continue to model for our the independence of vulnerable seniors and families of the best we can find in each other. community, our nation, and our world true respect, true in crisis. We touch 50,000 people each year. — Linda Marks dignity, and true love for all people. — Sally Jones Heinz MIFA Inter-Faith and Community Outreach Officer — Reverend Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells MIFA President & CEO Chair, MIFA Board of Directors Rector, St.