1. Starr, TX
2. East Carroll, LA
3. Zavala, TX
4. Shannon, SD
5. Owsley, KY
6. Ziebach, SD
7. Maverick, TX
8. Holmes, MS
9. Todd, SD
10. Willacy, TX
11. Dimmit, TX
12. Phillips, AR
13. Hidalgo, TX
14. Sharkey, MS
15. Lee, AR
16. Sunflower, MS
17. McCreary, KY
18. Perry, AL
19. Presidio, TX
20. Buffalo, SD
Together
for Hope Principles
Principles/Guidelines
Christ-centered. We will be positive reflections
of Christ, bringing a spirit of hope, grace, and opportunity.
We will be biblically-based, focusing on reconciliation –
people to God and people to people.
Holistic. Our approach will be comprehensive in nature,
selective in execution, and mindful of the feelings of people
in the local communities.
Local Participation. We will engage participation
that represents the entire community. We will learn the history
of the community and value the unique gifts and contributions
that those in the community bring to the table. Collective
decision-making will be the basis for community resolution
and implementation. This will involve public discussion that
is free and open to all interested persons and will be designed
to lead to citizen empowerment and civic action to enhance
quality of life.
Local Asset-Based Development. We will be advocates
for economic and social change that will strengthen the opportunities
for those living in the focal counties, including leadership
from within the community. We will encourage all community
members to realize their abilities, share their resources
to help each other, become effective advocates for their communities,
and be able to continue development on self-sustaining basis.
Learning. We will be learners, listening to those
from the community and those who have served in the midst
of the community in the days before our commitment to these
counties and communities. We will hear what the people want
to accomplish and apply sound, trusted methods along with
innovation to help us to be co-learners/teachers on the way
toward transformation.
Partnerships. We will be partnership-based, working
with the local state or regional CBF structures, as well as
with other appropriate groups, such as nonprofit organizations,
faith communities, schools, and government. We will encourage
broad-based relationships out of the understanding that the
combined capacities of all agencies, institutions, and organizations
will be amplified by working together. We will pursue the
involvement of churches and individuals for this initiative
through volunteerism, informal agreements, and formal agreements
as an expression of their mission commitment to the marginalized
within our nation.
Long-term. Our commitment will be long-term, staying
until the quality of life in these focal counties is improved
and community people are successfully managing their own quality
of life.
Contributions & Focus. We will realize we cannot
be all things to all people, but we will help as many as we
can to become more self-sufficient. As a result, we will focus
our activities on the most neglected and most responsive in
ways that help fill a niche, even as we remember the whole
community and environment. Our primary activities will be
in the areas of collaboration, advocacy, prayer, education,
reconciliation, volunteer mobilization, and resource development.
In all things we will seek to bear faithful witness to the
Good News of Jesus Christ.
