The Youth Connect Initiative (“YCI”) is a program designed to provide options, resources and education for disconnected students between the ages of 16 and 24. More than 200,000 youth in our city have dropped out of school and are unemployed and with the unstable economy, there is significant risk of these numbers doubling. While there are many factors that contribute to this level of disconnection in our City, our mandate is to ensure that all people have access to the knowledge and skills that they need so that they won’t perish. (Hosea 4:6).

The YCI program is open to any student who desires to participate and will include GED preparation, vocational counseling, independent living skills, job referrals, internships, opportunities for community service and personal counseling. The program is designed to operate throughout the academic year and will be offered free to participants.

The Adult Education and Resource Center (“AERC”) is a program designed to provide options, opportunities, resources and education for adults. With the progression of the so-called recession, many of our community members have found themselves out of work with very few options. Two of every ten residents in our community are out of work, or facing imminent layoff. A frightening number of these adults do not have a high school education, which is the barest minimum needed to qualify for many positions.

We also have learners in our immediate vicinity who struggle with the English Language. Through the AERC, we will achieve several outcomes. First, we want to provide adults with a comfortable environment where they may acquire the skills and knowledge that they will need to take and pass the high school equivalency examination. We will also hold ESL classes for learners who need more intensive instruction in English language comprehension. Next, we want to equip our learners with the skills that they need to compete in an ever changing technological environment by providing computer literacy, typing and software training workshops. We want to position our learners for advancement by offering job preparation workshops and referral services. We will enhance our learners’ living skills by providing home economics and budgeting courses and will link them to other services that our organization provides.

As the program progresses, we will seek to provide more comprehensive services that our community members need that will position them for increase and promotion. The AERC will be a year-long program and we will provide opportunities for graduates to return as instructors and peer counselors so that the learning bridge can continue to grow and reach as many participants as possible.

The Theophile Youth Leadership Council (“TYLC”) is a program designed to provide a safe haven for teens with options for community service, academic enrichment, college preparation and social development. We have all heard of instances of gang violence in the most recent weeks. Gangs such as the Bloods, the Crips, SMM (Sex, Money, Murder) and the ABG (Anybody Can Get-It) have resurfaced and have stepped up their recruitment efforts among middle and high school youth. With the financial crisis that the City is experiencing, many local youth groups have lost their funding or have had to scale back their programming efforts so much that they have lost the interest of their youth. The gangs are providing a solution and local non-profits are competing for their attention.

Through TYLC, we intend to provide programs and activities that will attract and engage the minds of our teen population. Designed to serve students in grades 7 to 12, TYLC will provide academic enrichment activities such as computer training, tutoring and test preparation; college readiness activities such as fairs and college tours; community service activities that will help them gain the necessary service hours needed to graduate; recreational activities such as dance, basketball and games club that allow teens to expend their natural energies while learning sportsmanship and leadership skills; social activities such as movie nights, trips and games night to keep them out of harms way during critical out-of-school time hours and to expose them to other like minded youth.

Members of TYLC will also be mentored by members of the community who have achieved their professional goals and prepared for summer and part-time employment through our job readiness component. Finally, our youth will also learn valuable living skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and money management. The TYLC will operate on a year-long basis and members can return every year for as long as they’d like.

The Theophile Music and Arts Program (“TMAP”) is a program that provides very low-cost instruction in music and arts for youth and adults. Our offerings currently include basic instruction in keyboarding, piano, voice, flute, drumming and violin and we are looking to expand to include more programs. All of our classes are taught by qualified and skilled instructors and our goal is to reach as many young children as possible to pique their interest in music programming. As our program continues to grow, our intent is to provide opportunities for performance, competition and scholarship to all of our young musicians and artists.

The Theophile Food Bank and Cooking Program (“FBCP”) is an important effort that we are seeking to expand. FBCP will not only provide necessary aid to families who are in need of non-perishable goods and supplies, but we will also endeavor to teach families how to prepare meals that are healthy and inexpensive for their families. Historically, our food bank and cooking programs have met with great support and interest, but we have had to drastically scale down our efforts due to lack of funding. It is our intent to have this program fully operational again before the end of 2010.

The Theophile Vacation Bible School (“TVBS”) provides enriching programs during the summer for children ages 3-17. Operating five days a week throughout the summer, enrolled students participate not only in Bible studies and Christian stewardship, but in engaging athletic, academic and artistic activities that are delivered by certified and talented instructors. Students are also able to take part in special trips that expose them to all of the wonders that New York City has to offer. TVBS offers a comprehensive program and safe alternative to parents who work full-time. Members of our teen programs are able to volunteer at TVBS for valuable work experience and community service credit.

The Theophile Vacation Bible School (“TVBS”) provides enriching programs during the summer for children ages 3-17. Operating five days a week throughout the summer, enrolled students participate not only in Bible studies and Christian stewardship, but in engaging athletic, academic and artistic activities that are delivered by certified and talented instructors. Students are also able to take part in special trips that expose them to all of the wonders that New York City has to offer. TVBS offers a comprehensive program and safe alternative to parents who work full-time. Members of our teen programs are able to volunteer at TVBS for valuable work experience and community service credit.

The earthquake in Haiti is a monumental disaster.  The suffering is of epic proportion.  As every day passes people get sicker, more difficult to heal. And many die.  There is an urgent need for medical teams to enter the country.  Every minute makes a difference.

A medical team led by Dr. Seth Sherman, Dr. Gary Sherman, Dr. Mark Sherman, along with Dr. Michael McLean, Dr. Travis von Tobel, Dr. Dapeng Fan, Dr. Patrick Yost; and a Synthes surgical instrument representative, Mr. Perroit Mompremier, just returned from four days at a Haiti border town hospital in the Dominican Republic.

Go to the website.

Our Work in the Community Abroad

Operation Rebuild (“OR”) is our response to the devastation experienced by our brethren in Haiti. Since the tragedy we have been on the frontlines of support, providing the necessary funds and supplies to those hardest hit. We have engaged members of our Outreach Center and Church in this effort and have partnered with local organizations that are committed to helping us provide ongoing assistance. Members of our staff have traveled to Haiti to see the effects of the earthquake firsthand and have lent their time, talent and ability to assist where they could. To see the work that this ministry and its partners have done and continue to do in Haiti, please visit www.operationhopeforhaiti.wordpress.com.

We were able to finance the transport of an injured man, Feriel Monplaisr, to New York City for life-changing surgery, securing not only medical assistance but housing, clothing, food and resources for him and his brother Antoine Monplaisir. We support them with $ 800.00 per month. We will continue to support him throughout his recovery stage until he is well enough to return to his native land. In addition, we are currently supporting Elda Jean-Baptiste and two boys, Jerry and Michael who are also experiencing the devastating earthquake in Haiti. We support them with $ 500.00 per month.

In addition to providing continual support through donations of supplies to those most affected by this tragedy, we will also be expanding our current level of support to physically help with the rebuilding efforts.

For several years, the Outreach Center has provided support of approximately 120 children and 5 teachers in Haiti, providing with much needed access to education, food and health care.

Our long-term goal is to erect orphanages, schools and housing for those hardest hit, as well as training programs and resource centers to help restore them to a prosperous way of living. We have a large property in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti to build a school, hospital, rehabilitation center, and more.

How You Can Help

There is so much work that remains to be done on all levels and so we are soliciting the prayers and support of those who are compelled to lend a hand. In addition to financial donations of any kind, we stand in need of resources and professional expertise to help make the dreams of thousands of youth and families a reality both here and abroad.

We are prayerful that you will consider making a donation to support any or all of these initiatives. Any amount will bring us closer to our goals of keeping as many children out of harm’s way and to rebuilding people to build the Kingdom of God. As the Theophile Church in Christ is a 501(c)(3) organization, any funds donated are fully tax-exempt under the applicable Internal Revenue Code. We humbly look forward to partnering with you and thank you for what we believe will be a positive response to this proposal.