Present: Jessica, Liz, Monica, Rich Boyd, Kryss Chupp, Jan Lugibihl, Kevin Vincent, Jan Wiebe

Purpose: this was the first of some special meetings to take a look at the vision of the Pilsen MVS Unit in preparation for discussions with Lincoln United Methodist Church about sponsorship. The meeting opened with pizza!

Agenda:

1) Overview of Agenda (2)

2) Worship/Reflection (15)

3) "Where have we come from?" (10)

- a timeline showing significant events in the life of the unit since its formation in 1981 to the present included the names of many VSers and their placement agencies

- a newsprint list highlighted characteristics of the community and the unit as it was originally envisioned in a proposal from 1981.

- 3 miles square

- 80,000 people

- low-income neighborhood

- port of entry for new immigrants

- many community agencies responding to problems of:

- high unemployment (over 50% for youth)

- run-down housing (inexpensive)

- high drop-out rate (30-60%)

- gang rivalries

- large population of young kids and youth

- community agencies go beyond social services to address social justice issues

- volunteers should expect that public actions are used to protest social injustice

- 2 Mennonite churches in Pilsen at that time

- volunteers:

- preferably bi-lingual (not exclusively)

- prefer 2 year commitments

- faith orientation: 'radical Christians committed to social change"

- have one volunteer coordinate "special projects," possibly with international focus

- formed in the context of a funding crisis, the Pilsen unit was seen as: "providing immediate

staff support while survival schemes are developed by the agencies."

4) "Where are we now?" (25)

- small groups were asked to draw a picture of the community that the Pilsen unit serves

- during report backs, a number of similarities and observations emerged in the drawings:

- alot of the current connections happen outside the neighborhood of Pilsen

- lots of energy is spent in getting to the places of connection

5) Wrap up (10)

- evaluation: +'s were visual aids, worship, review of history, creativity (drawing), eating together, place, sticking to time; -'s were the noise from the rehearsal was distracting, we were missing at least 4 people.

- next meeting: regularly scheduled meeting except that it will be at Agape House and start at 5:30 for sc members and 6:00 for pizza. We will continue the next steps of the process.