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

Purpose: this was the second 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/Recap Last Meeting (10)

2) Worship/Meditation (15)

- included a guided meditation which took us each to a peaceful place where a path led up to a house with a sign that said Pilsen MVS Unit; we had "conversations" with unit members, support committee, church members, etc. about the unit; powerful, catalytic lead into our next task!

3) "Where are we going?" (45)

- in small groups, people shared their visions for the unit and recorded them on newsprint

- clarification questions were asked and disagreements noted

- each group chose an animal or object that symbolized their list of ideas

- everyone re-joined the large group for report backs

4) Prioritizing Our Visions (10)

- each person received 3 sticker dots to identify their priorities among all the "visions" listed; the following list of "VS in the Year 2000" is in order according to the number of dots received:

******All VSers in partnership with organization working at underlying causes of injustice

*****Commitment to community within unit and outside of unit (their causes become ours i.e. UIC moving in)

***Children's Program staffed by at least a 1/2 time person with more attention to community outreach

***A safe place to face life's struggles

**All VSers speaking some Spanish

*VSers involved in anti-racism, non-violence, opposing gentrification, confronting anti-immigrant policies, resurrection housing/St. Pius church

*Being nieghbors

*Unity among VSers

*Support systems for VSers -- people of same age

*A variety of places for souls to go to be fed

-VSers all work within Pilsen

-deeply rooted yet flexible to change

-no VS house in 3 years

-service as lifestyle going beyond placements

-racial/ethnic diversity

-lots of green plants, ivy around the house

-people from community in VS & SC

-people brought up in Pilsen as part of unit

-in & out of neighbors houses more

-longer-term volunteers (more than 2yrs)

-contact with all ages

-diverse talents, different jobs

-connection to St. Pius church towards justice work

-outdoor space to go to on a regular basis (with more than 6 trees)

-VSers excited about work they are doing because there is a vision and are tackling tough issues

-support from many sources including neigh-borhood, local Mennos, LUMC

-VSers working 30 hours a week maximum in order to build energy for community relations

-positions attract recent college grads and match their interests

5) Wrap up (10)

- evaluation: +'s were worship/guided meditation, lack of distraction/noise

- next meeting: Monday, June 16; Agape House; 6:30; no food; we will address the question of what the unit needs from a supporting faith community.