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Los Angeles-Tools for Transformation builds strong communities
To best serve young people and families, Vision L.A.’s partner churches and organizations must know what programs and services are available and how to connect them to those in need. That’s where Tools for Transformation comes in. Its training in leadership and network-building equip local leaders with the skills to develop ministries and pull together resources that can make a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. | |  |
| Church and community leaders can receive organizational and leadership training through Tools for Transformation. |
The newly formed Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) had a vision of a unified and active coalition, but limited experience in how to develop leadership and programming. Through a strategic and mutually beneficial partnership, Vision L.A. provided training on how to form a board of directors, followed by successive seminars on how to work effectively and build community development and ministry.
“Vision L.A./World Vision’s partnership with KCCD has enabled us to start our comprehensive training programs for the Korean churches much sooner than expected,” says Hyepin Im, president of KCCD. “Consistent with the way Vision L.A. and World Vision works with organizations, you came in early on in the development of our organization and made the investment to help our organization grow.”
Tools For Transformation helps not only the churches that benefit from training, but the communities—near and far—served by those congregations. An early sign of success was the KCCD’s quick response to the terrorist attack on New York City. The coalition raised more than $85,000 for Koreans and Korean-Americans who lost family members, jobs, and businesses when the World Trade Center was destroyed. The gift was distributed in individual grants through the World Vision American Families Assistance Fund SM (AFAF).
“That’s the two-fold benefit that comes from building communities that way,” explains Vision L.A. Executive Director Janice Martin. Networking and organizational skills learned from World Vision in Los Angeles helped the AFAF SM assist the Korean-American community on the other side of the country.
Building Strong Networks
Vision L.A. helps capable churches and church alliances to set up the infrastructure needed to deliver services to the communities they serve. Training topics include how to set develop boards, attain 501(c) (3) status, set goals, mobilize volun-teers, raise funds, build ministries, identify community resources and needs, and design programs. Although training creates capable leaders, World Vision continues to stand by its partners to provide technical assistance and consultation on programming, evaluation, and other needs.
The Hispanic Initiative also demonstrates how Tools for Transformation unites communities. Through the initiative, World Vision partners with determined pastors and community leaders who are working to create self-sustaining programs that serve the Hispanic population. Hispanic church leadership in Los Angeles and Southern California is tackling diverse issues that range from poverty to education and immigration, thanks in part to capacity-building and organizational training from Vision L.A. To build strong networks of faith, the initiative is developing leadership through community and economic development training, and related seminars.
The initiative also makes good use of donated essentials offered through The Storehouse of Vision L.A. Clothing, school supplies, and personal care items are used to build relationships and bridges between communities and the Church.
A partnership with AMEN, the Alianza de Ministerios Evangelicos Nacionales, adds to this exciting mix the resources and support of a nationwide alliance that represents more than 11 million Hispanic Christians in North American and the Caribbean.
Building Healthy Communities
 | | While leadership training is instrumental in building healthy communities, real community transformation also is spurred through the Vision L.A. Housing Loan Fund. This program helps nonprofit developers with pre-construction loans that are critical in funding building projects that provide much-needed low-income and affordable housing. A $100,000 loan to a nonprofit set up by Westminster Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles will leverage roughly $4.4 million to create affordable housing for 56 senior citizens in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. The Park Place Apartments in Van Nuys, thoroughly remodeled and rejuvenated, is another successful project, thanks to a $100,000 loan to the Foundation for Quality Housing Opportunity. The 140-unit apartment complex is home to mostly low-income families, and since its overhaul, it has become a center of healthy activity (after-school and tutoring programs, English-as-a-second-language classes, and exercise programs) for more than 450 tenants and their neighbors in the surrounding community. Park Place is a shining example of what vision and strategic partnerships can accomplish. The foundation has borrowed $100,000 from the Housing Loan Fund for pre-construction (architect fees, soil tests, environmental reports) costs on four projects and repaid those loans, creating a strong loan fund that can continue to serve those who are working to create affordable housing in Los Angeles. |
Pastors who minister to the Hispanic community are able to build strong networks with the assistance of Tools for Transformation training. | |
“It’s a great program. These loans give you the money to create the dream,” says Gary Braverman, the foundation’s vice president. So far the foundation he and his father Sy established has leveraged World Vision pre-construction loans into 294 units of low-income and affordable housing for families and seniors.
How You Can Help
• $6,000 provides a year’s worth of technical assistance to partner churches.
• $3,000 covers administrative costs for one 18-month Housing Loan Fund transaction.
• $500 allows four church or community leaders to attend a Tools for Transformation training follow-up workshop or seminar.
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| Vision Youth Help provide tutoring, life skills training, and a caring relationship to high-risk youth. | | ||
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| The Storehouse Provide school supplies, clothes, toys, household goods and building supplies for strengthening families,schools and neighborhoods. | | ||
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| Tools for Transformation Help provide the organizational, planning and leadership tools to transform a neighborhood. | | ||
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Read about the Tools for Transformation Program in our regional offices by clicking on the name below. |
