The Work Begins...

Submitted by Ryan Dowell Baum on June 11, 2007 - 9:38pm.

Hi. I'm Ryan. I just completed my second year of seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. I'm in care as a minister-in-formation with the First Congregational Church of Oakland of the United Church of Christ, and I'm on the adventure of my life learning what it takes to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, Love incarnate, in 21st-century America.

This summer, I'll begin a year-long project of learning and loving the City of Oakland and her people, exploring their needs, wants and dreams for the community and working to figure out how a rookie minister like me can be of service in making them a reality. This Monday, June 11th, I'll begin an eight-week Beatitudes Society Fellowship with Oakland Community Organizations (OCO), the local affiliate of PICO, a nation-wide faith-based community organizing network, where I'll be working in the area of homicide and violence reduction in the neighborhood of West Oakland.

After the summer job with OCO, I'll take the month of August off to get married, enjoy my honeymoon, and start making a home with my wife-to-be, Molly.

When I return in September, I'll continue my work in Oakland to provide pastoral care and nonviolence training to youth caught in cycles of violence. My primary mentor will be Rev. Lynice Pinkard, associate pastor of my church, who has nearly two decades of experience in urban ministry and homicide reduction, and is a long-time resident of West Oakland. In addition to West Oakland, I'll begin work in the Fruitvale neighborhood in conjunction with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service and Rev. Sally Juarez of the High Street Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Juarez has been working to implement Oakland's Project Mosaic, which tackles the transformation of Oakland piece by piece through the creation of a broad range of human services that emphasize programs for youth and families. The emphasis on youth and young adults stems from the belief that many young people in Oakland are 1) alienated from mainstream culture, 2) lack an optimistic vision of their own futures 3) are seeking a sense of personal identity and power 4) do not always have options or the knowledge of existing options to meet their needs, either materially, socially or emotionally and 5) the schools, stripped of most extracurricular activities, are unable to provide students with engaging, creative outlets. These factors combine to leave young people vulnerable to involvement with gangs and the drug culture that is thriving in our midst. Some youth are involved in these negative activities; all are affected by them.

Oakland’s Project Mosaic will call upon the faith community by invitation, and will also work with neighborhood schools, neighborhood associations, the recreation centers and other youth organizations that exist in specific neighborhoods, and the neighborhood business community. Working in a coordinated effort, these separate institutions and entities will provide the renewing human services needed to transform Oakland from a city plagued by violence into a model city of cooperation and peace.

I look forward to being one small piece in the mosaic as God uses my work, little-by-little, to transform me and the city I will serve.

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