2010 Mark 6 Listening Campaign

Here are the results of our 2010 Listening Campaign:

New Life Community Development Corporation 2010 Listening Campaign

[For additional info on the campaign or to participate, contact rsevilla@newlifefellowship.org]

In Mark 6, there’s a beautiful interplay between the identification of needs, the discovery of strengths and assets, the role of compassion and the role of the supernatural.

In the feeding of the 5000 (verses 30-44), Christ and his disciples are greeted by a crowd of thousands.  Christ feels compassion toward the people and begins to teach.  The disciples see that the people are in need of food.  The disciples suggest that the people be sent away.  Christ felt differently.

Christ wanted to keep everyone close by.  The disciples are empowered to address the need.  Assets within the community are discovered.  The God who provides is then acknowledged in a prayer of thanks and allowed to do the miraculous.

Lord willing, the listening campaign will also identify community needs, discovery assets and strengths, birth compassion, empower leaders and make room for the supernatural.

1. What is the Listening Campaign?

It is a 5-6 month period during which under around a few hundred people who either live, work or worship in Elmhurst will be interviewed and listened to by volunteers under the CDC.

2. What is it for?

The purpose will be to (a) hear the needs of the community (b) assess strengths of the people (c) build friendships with those we meet

3. What is the expected end?

The hope is to evaluate the findings and be able to answer the following questions:

(1) How do we better existing NL/ CDC programs in order to more relevant to Elmhurst life?

(2) What are new or existing programs / initiatives that we need to invest in to serve Elmhurst better?

(3) Who are some key people, businesses or organizations that we need to continue to partner with as we move forward?

Ancillary goals:

a) find Elmhurst volunteers to replenish Health Center brochures at predetermined locations.

4. How will it be orchestrated?

The campaign would start in January 2010.  Around 10 – 15 volunteer listeners will do the interviewing.  Each listener can interview as little or as many people as their schedule permits during the 4 month period.

After (or maybe during) each interview, an interview form would be filled out to document findings.

5. Who will be interviewed?

• Elmhurst residents of mixed incomes, ethnicities, ages
• Business owners
• Clergy
• School personnel
• Precinct personnel
• Community Board personnel
• Non-profit personnel

60% residents, 20% for-profit businesses, 20% organizations

50% New Lifers, 50% non-New Lifers

6. Who will participate?

A listening team will be formed prior to the formal launch of the campaign.  The following positions require filling:

• Listeners: able to perform at least 1 (or more) interview
• Transcriber: take interview sheets and type responses onto computer
• Data entry: tabulate, chart and graph responses
• Coordinator: book meeting room and meeting times at NL; email notices, announcements to team; match listener with speaker
• Recruiter: enlist volunteers for the campaign, find people willing to be interviewed
• Captain: perform work of recruiter plus track progress and make sure pool of interviewees is diverse

[For additional info on the campaign or to participate, contact rsevilla@newlifefellowship.org]