| Human Relations Day supports community ministries by John W. Coleman Jr. UMConnection Staff  Emory UMC in Washington, D.C., is trying to undo public apathy and alienation caused by 25 years of broken promises and disappointments in its Brightwood community, according to the Rev. Joseph Daniels, pastor. That means spending time meeting with neighbors, business owners and public officials, organizing and attending community events, and developing and implementing strategies for change. Shepherding a vibrant, growing, 400-member congregation with expanding ministries leaves Daniels little time for such community-building activities. Thats why he relies on the help and constant presence of the churchs community developer, Sherwin Benjamin. The Community Developers Program is funded by the offering received annually in United Methodist churches on Human Relations Day, observed on the Sunday before the national celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. Established by the General Board of Global Ministries in 1968, the program supports innovative outreach efforts of churches in disadvantaged and neglected racial-ethnic minority communities. Its goal is to help those churches partner with local residents, leaders, businesses and institutions to help bring justice, wholeness, economic opportunity and self-determination to their neighborhoods through systemic change and community development. Clearly, this program was made to order for Emory UMC, which has sought for six years to redevelop its section of the Georgia Avenue corridor, working through its affiliated, non-profit community development corporation, Emory Beacon of Light, Inc. The CDC offers temporary housing to homeless families in the Lighthouse, the churchs former parsonage, located next door. Meanwhile, the Emory Beacon of Light, as part of a shalom zone partnership, collaborates with other area churches and human service agencies to provide additional housing and services for a growing homeless population and after-school programs, while planning future community development initiatives. The inadequate supply of decent, affordable housing, a depressed economic environment with meager businesses doing just enough to get by, and rampant crime and illegal drug trafficking are just some of the problems crying out for attention in this area, according to Benjamin. Like Daniels, Benjamin spent time as a youth in this neighborhood, two miles north of historic Howard University. It was a more vital, family-oriented place back then. Both are working to make it so once again. Benjamin helped organize Emorys annual International Day festival and Help the Homeless walk-a-thon in September, in his first month of work there. A partnership with the Fannie Mae Foundation, the walk-a-thon drew 200 participants and much community support. Now he cooperates with other current and potential partners, including two Episcopal churches and a Jewish CDC known as YACHAD Hebrew for together to identify and develop properties for temporary and permanent housing for homeless families, along with a dine-in restaurant and other businesses needed by the community. Moreover, Emory already a multi-ethnic church comprising about a dozen nationalities is collaborating with agencies to develop outreach ministries including worship services, parenting and language classes, and legal aid for immigrants to serve the growing number of Hispanic-Latino residents moving into its community. Benjamin is also learning community-organizing strategies from Washington Interfaith Network, a citywide alliance of churches and other grassroots groups that lobbies public officials for community improvements and fair treatment. The network seeks to build solidarity among community stakeholders, while using voter education, public hearings and rallies, and negotiation, to bring about systemic change. Emory is involved in the networks efforts to persuade Mayor Anthony Williams to invest $200 million in neighborhood redevelopment, much of it slated for Georgia Avenue. Emory Church is trying to bring a sense of wholeness, peace and comfort to this community, to make it more safe and inviting for young people and families, said Benjamin. We can do this by building relationships and creating housing, businesses and jobs. Daniels is especially thankful to the Community Developers Program. It allows us to put someone like Sherwin on the streets every day that people can see and recognize by name, he said. With more than 800 churches in Washington, D.C., its important to be in constant relationship with the community in order to remain relevant to the people who live there. | 
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