February 2007 Archive of News and Musings

Friday, February 23, 2007
Introducing...Bagwashi Circles
 
I’m excited to share news of a dynamic new program enhancement! BHA has always helped homeless single moms get back on their feet and move from crisis and instability to self-sufficiency and permanent housing.

One challenge we’ve wanted to address, though, is the lack of a healthy support system that many of our women experience. Therefore, a stated goal for our program in 2007 is to Increase Positive Bonds by helping BHA participants find/develop a system of supportive, healthy, two-way relationships.

We're doing so through a creative new initiative called Bagwashi Circles. Bagwashi (bah-GWAH-shee) is a word in the Tonga language of Africa that means family; literally "those who help one another". Check out our new Bagwashi Circles page to read about this dynamic effort to surround our participants with friendship and support.

We've hired a new staff member, Jennifer Rash, to implement this new program enhancement. Jennifer writes the following about her work:

The vision for Bagwashi Circles was born from our own brainstorming over challenges our participants face, along with experience gleaned from other mentoring programs and the “Circles” initiatives in the restorative justice movement that aim to support ex-offenders transition back to the community. In all these instances, there is a family or individual needing support and accountability to overcome adversity and attain stability.

In essence, Bagwashi Circles are a cooperative relationship in which both participants of our program and Bagwashi Circle participants can benefit from the development of a meaningful and supportive friendship. Through their Bagwashi Circle, BHA participants will have a friend to turn to; someone who will listen and care and be able to meet some very specific needs like childcare or transportation. Bagwashi Circle participants will be able to practice acts of compassion and service while also growing in the area of friendship, in some cases with someone whose life experiences and/or cultural background differs from their own. This allows for us to practice the ministry of reconciliation and peace that Jesus offered while he was here on earth.

Currently I am in the formation stage of this program, working on vision and a training curriculum. As the Bagwashi Coordinator, I would love an opportunity to speak with churches and other organizations of people who wish to be able to develop a relationship with a family in need. Your partnership can make a significant difference in the lives of these struggling families. This is one way for us to help break the cycle of poverty and give families a chance to build a future with hope.

We look forward to sharing more about this new initiative. If you have questions or if you’re interested in starting or joining a Bagwashi Circle, please contact me at jrash@bha-pa.org or (717) 233-6016.

- Jennifer Rash

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (2/23/2007 4:36:05 PM | link)

Friday, February 09, 2007
Start Dusting Off Your Clubs
 
We now have details and a registration brochure available for the 5th Annual BHA Golf Tournament, to be held May 19, 2007 at ParLine Golf Course in Elizabethtown.

The entry fee is $70 per person ($280 for a team of four) for 18 holes of golf with cart, including men/women/team skill prizes, door prizes, silent auction, course refreshments, and catered full-course dinner.

Event and Hole Sponsorship opportunities are available to individuals and businesses, and detailed on our Events page.

For more details, to register, or to sponsor, download the tournament brochure (PDF 1.02mb)...or contact Josh Stroup, Event Coordinator, to have one mailed to you: (717) 545-1472 or jstroup3@comcast.net.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (2/9/2007 4:11:02 PM | link)

Wednesday, February 07, 2007
BHA Workday -- February 10
 
Our next BHA Work Day is this Saturday, February 10, from 8:30am to 11:30am. We've got a variety of work projects lined up.

If you can help, give our Property Manager Dennis Saylor a call at (717) 233-6016, or e-mail him at dsaylor@bha-pa.org, so that he can properly prepare for the amount of volunteers joining us. Thanks for your consideration.

Posted by Steve Schwartz   (2/7/2007 3:59:52 PM | link)

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