HEALTH & KIDS FAIR

APRIL 27, 2013

@ 11am-2pm

HOSTED & SPONSORED BY

HARAMBEE MINISTRIES

IN COLLABORATION

With

USC MEDICAL BRIGADES

&

The City of  Pasadena

A WALKABLE CITY

Harambee Ministries

1609 Navarro

Pasadena, CA. 91103

For more information please call: 626-798-7431

2013 Health and Kids Fair-Flyer (1)

PASADENA — In impoverished, gang-plagued Northwest Pasadena, the corner of Howard Street and Navarro Avenue is–perhaps–the most troubled spot of all.

For years, the intersection has been notorious as a mecca for drug dealers and gangbangers who hang around a tiny corner market–dubbed “the drug store.” The area has been a flash point for confrontations between angry youths and police, who say it is a constant struggle to stay on top.

It is at this same location that John Perkins, 62, and his wife, Vera Mae, 59, chose to make their last stand after more than two decades of working in black communities in their native Mississippi.

In 1982, the civil rights activists founded the Harambee Christian Family Center at Howard and Navarro to provide free educational and recreational programs for children who might otherwise be hanging around on the streets.

Now a thriving local institution, the center was carved into the worn-down neighborhood with sheer determination. Along the way, John Perkins faced threats and intimidation from drug dealers who did not want him encroaching on their fertile turf.

“Early on, it was a life or death struggle as to whether the Harambee Center would be driven out, or whether it was going to establish a toehold,” Pasadena Mayor Rick Cole said, adding that Perkins “has shown tremendous tenacity.”

Named for a Swahili word that means “let’s get together and push,” the center offers day care and a summer camp, with supervised study and tutoring, music and computer classes, sports, arts and crafts, field trips, and camp-outs.

Harambee also includes a solid dose of Christian instruction, which, Perkins stresses, focuses on instilling “moral values, not a complete religious structure.” The goal: to help young people succeed and become productive citizens with options other than lives of drugs and crime.

The well-tended center complex, which includes four neat white bungalows, stands in stark contrast to the dilapidated buildings nearby. There is no indication that the bungalows were slum housing before John and Vera Mae Perkins bought and rehabilitated them.

“We are trying to create an environment where young folks can be inspired to do more than survive,” John Perkins said.

Perkins stands as an inspiring example. He was abandoned by his sharecropper father after his mother died when he was 7 months old. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, who had 17 children of her own. Perkins quit school in third grade to help farm his grandmother’s land, but he taught himself to read as an adult.

After his ordination as a Baptist minister in 1959, Perkins spent 20 years in his home state helping develop day-care centers, business enterprises and education programs. Intending to retire, the couple moved to Pasadena in 1982. But when Perkins saw the problems in the neighborhood, he knew his work wasn’t done.

Harambee’s formula of social services and spirituality has won numerous accolades.

“So many efforts in our society make an artificial division between the spirit and material things, like a roof over the head,” Cole said. Perkins has “taken a long view,” the mayor continued. “He is committed to reaching people when rthey are young and working with them over a long period of time.”

Steve Klein, community outreach director at Lake Avenue Congregational Church, which provides volunteer tutors and financial support for Harambee, said most of the center’s children “would just be bored and would have nothing to do. If they (the Perkinses) pulled out or stopped, I don’t know who would replace what they are doing.”

By making the neighborhood their own, the Perkinses–who live just a few doors from the center in a home bought from an alleged drug dealer–hope to encourage other adults, who they say “are afraid and fearful” to reclaim the streets.

Harambee works closely with police, fire and other city officials. And John Perkins has lobbied them for more resources. He encouraged the city to send building code enforcers to check notorious drug houses. And he organized a Neighborhood Watch group whose members have testified against drug dealers.

Frustrated by black leaders long on words but unwilling to fight in the trenches, Perkins said he is trying to “stand up for responsibility and discipline” daily and to provide “on-site leadership.”

It hasn’t been easy. In its early days, the center was firebombed twice. Police once warned Perkins there was a contract out on his life. However, the minister “was courageous enough not to be intimidated,” Cole said. “He gained a lot of respect from those on the wrong side of the law, showing them that he answered to a higher law.”

The center still has windows broken frequently, but Harambee is now a respected driving force. Some gang members even call the Perkinses “grandpa” and “grandma.”

“I want to provide what I missed out on, ” John Perkins explained. “I want to do parenting–parenting other people’s kids.”

Perkins noted that a recent survey found that 84% of the neighborhood’s families have no father living in the home. “If you didn’t have a mother that you thought loved you or a father that you thought loved you, your life wouldn’t feel meaningful,” he said. “We want to give them a reference of love and concern.”

Two of the Perkinses’ eight children–Derek and Priscilla–are the center’s co-directors. They hope to open an elementary school in 1995 for the center’s children, many labeled discipline problems in the public schools. “Harvard minds with ghetto opportunities,” Derek said of the youths. “We want to make the scholarship of a private school available to them.”

John Perkins is by no means retired.

“I’m doing what it is I want to do,” he said. “I feel a sense of satisfaction. I can do this for the rest of my life.”

The sound of nearby music from Pasadena’s 31st annual Black History Parade floated through campus as friends stopped to buy tickets for A Taste of Harambee.

 The event was an opportunity to share the gift of food, music and community with people who have supported the school over the years. A delicious meal was served up by some of Harambee’s most talented cooks: Natalia Redmond made jambalaya…

James Ward made brisket, Reggie Stephens served barbeque ribs and Ericka Stephens offered cobbler. Pastor Mills tried out a new fryer for the fish.

The set up was swift with the help of many volunteers from the school…

…and from our community of supporters.

The event gave us an opportunity to demonstrate our connectedness – to bring people of different backgrounds together to share with and appreciate one another.

It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifice of those who came before us.  And what better way to come together than around food that feeds our soul?

“Soul food is all about making something out of nothing,” explained Harambee’s Executive Director/Principal, Harlan Redmond.  “It’s about using simple food and turning it into something special.  But that takes a lot of effort and a lot of love.”

Entertainment was provided by 4 the King and RemGee.

Many of the supplies – including the pinata – were purchased locally, a sign of the school’s commitment to the economic development of the neighborhood.

“We want to share what we have at Harambee with everybody,” explained Mr. Redmond.  “Our mission is to raise leaders for Pasadena and beyond.”

This years theme:

“Shaping Hearts and Developing Minds”
Proverbs 22:6

 

 

 

Your presence will be a gift to the children of NW Pasadena

 

 

Held at:

 

Church of Our Saviour

535 W Roses Road

San Gabriel, CA. 91775

A sneak preview of the evening:

Reception and Social Hour starts at 6pm
Dining experience furnished by the renowned caterers of roomforty
Honoree~ Don Thomas Founder of Young & Healthy
Keynote Speaker~Karen Hayes Filmmaker

The cost of this wonderful evening is only $100

 

 

Name:__________________________________

Contact Number:_______________________________

$100 x ____  tickets

$___________  total

Click this link to use our secure server to purchase your tickets.

For more information see below:

 Click on the “GIVE”  link at the top of page, then “Donate Online” option.  Click on the “Other” option tab to the next field, specify 2013 Benefit and the number of tickets (Example-2013 Benefit # of tickets)

If you have any questions please contact us at 626-798-7431

Harambee! Harambee! As explained to me by founder, John M. Perkins is used more as a cry for help. So when I say Harambee, I am reaching out to the community, our supporters at large to join in, as we continue to come together and push towards alleviating the burden of the social ills that exist in our community.

When John Perkins arrived 30 years ago, he responded to a crisis in Northwest Pasadena; he heard the cries for help that echoed throughout the streets. The cry for help was a plea for people to be able to live in a neighborhood that was free of drugs, crime, moral decay and murder. Through the collective effort of Dr. Perkins and his supporters, with God as the driving force for justice, transformation occurred in an unprecedented way. It is now safe to stand on the corner of Howard and Navarro, the location of the Harambee Preparatory School. Kids in the area do not have to fear what is coming around the corner. Because of Harambee, there is a place of refuge for those who desire to be free from the aforementioned ills in our society. The community is a better place after the response to that initial cry for help 30 years ago.

But today, 2012, there is a covert problem in the community that is in need of addressing… and that is fatherlessness. Fathers and positive male role models provide a multitude of protective factors against many issues facing the inner city.

When we think about all the problems we can solve in our society; when we think about all the ills that plague our community, it is evident that at the core of nearly all the issues is fatherlessness. From the high incarceration rate to gangs, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy and depression, fatherlessness is at the core of these ills. So in listening to the community, for us to champion the call of justice in Northwest Pasadena… these issues must be addressed from a Harambee perspective. We must come together and push toward nuclear families, jobs, quality-education and the like, so that the children in our community – who will soon be the adults in our community – will live a life of quality and dignity.

Due to the sacrifice that John Perkins and his supporters made over the past 30 years, lives have been changed. Now the journey into the next 30 years begins. There is no greater time than now to champion the cause of what the Bible says in James 1:27 as a pure sign of faith which is pleasing to God and that is, “to look after the widow and the fatherless”.

With that being said, what an amazing journey we have before us this 2012-2013 year. There has been a lot of transition and yet, God is still in control of the corner of Howard and Navarro. We have been blessed with another school year to do ministry/outreach and educate the young people and families in our community.

I am excited to announce that Harambee Preparatory has added 6th grade this year and 6 new missionary teachers with an array of abilities. Along with adding 6th grade this year, we also are happy to announce that all students will be taking electives such as: Spanish, Farsi, German, French, Inventions, Theatre, Karate and Art. Our school day is longer than the average day allowing us to incorporate these wonderful electives, which is a strength of each teacher instructing the class. Bible instruction is a part of every class with the focus on character and virtue development.

As I have shared with our parents, it is the desire of the Harambee staff for our students to graduate from our school well rounded spiritually, psychologically, academically and culturally. We want each student to be confident in his or her strengths so that they may stand out as leaders in their community.

Our after school program will be filled with percussion’s  tap dancing, ballet and tutoring. We are revamping the junior staff program, our outreach to teens in the community, to include career training and community service projects in addition to college prep.

We need you to join with us as a volunteer, intercessor and donor in continuing the call that God has for Harambee. Your prayers and support has literally sustained Harambee for 30 years. Now the mission continues and it is time for the second generation (Harambee 2.0) to lead and develop leaders in our community for the challenges that lie ahead in the future.

God Bless You!

Executive Director/Principal
Harambee Ministries
harlan@harambee.org

Click the link below for the actual letter

Letter From The Director

• Grades K-6th.
• Ideal student to teacher ratio (10 to 1).
• Christian environment.
• Character building.
• Specialized teaching tailored to each student.
• Credentialed Missionary Teachers.
• Over 15 years, combined teaching experience.

Since 1995, we have provided a nurturing and safety to children. Call to tour our campus! You won’t be disappointed. Contact us by email info@harambee.org or call us (626) 798-7431.

Then just remember to SWIPE your Rewards Card EVERY TIME  you shop!!!

Pick up your Food4Less Community Rewards Card at our main office located at:

1609 Navarro Pasadena, CA. 91103

For more information about the Food4Less Community Rewards Program, please click here:

Food4Less our identification number is:

NPO #92548

Click here for more information on the Ralphs Community Rewards Program:

Ralph’s our identification number is:

NPO #90587

For more information, contact us at 626.798.7431.

Thank you for your support!

Entertainment from our 2012 Summer Camp attendees, Junior Staff & Interns!!!

Food will be served.

To prepare for you,  please R.S.V.P no later than July 16th

call 626.798.7431 or email info@harambeministries.org

We look forward to seeing you!!

                My name is Caroline Efird, and I grew up in a state that sounds surprisingly similar to my first name. While I was born in the in the great State of Texas, the majority of my youthful years were spent in North Carolina. I am one of those rare cases of children who grow up in a loving and supportive home, and never lacked for love from my parents or extended family (I thank God for them every day!). In 2007, I graduated from Appalachian State University, with a BS in Elementary Education (K-6). Ministry and non-profit work were always a part of who I was in college, and I spent summers, spring breaks, and free time working with children, urban ministries, and non-profits in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and California (in fact, I spent 2 summers as an intern at Harambee Ministries).

Devotion to Harambee

God first opened the door for me to come to Harambee in the summer of 2006. I was a junior in college, and was learning about the importance of racial reconciliation and social justice. As an elementary education major, I wanted to spend my summer working with children, and thought that it would be a good experience to live and work in a community that would put me out of my comfort zone, and help me gain a deeper understanding into the lives of the students that I was about to be teaching. I had read Spencer Perkins and Chris Rice’s  book, More Than Equals, and I knew who John Perkins was, but before I came out to Harambee, I had no idea that he was the one who founded this organization. My sister-in-law’s church in Chapel Hill, NC, had done a short term missions to trip to Harambee over 10 years ago (and long before she and I had ever met). She knew that I wanted to spend my summer doing urban ministry and she gave me the website for Harambee. I applied for the summer internship position, accepted it, packed up my bags, and flew out to Los Angeles for the summer, not knowing a sole here when my plane landed. I spent two consecutive summers as a Summer Camp intern at Harambee, and then came back in 2010 to be the Summer Camp Principal. While here in 2010, I began to pray about moving to Howard & Navarro. Sure enough, the Lord answered, and brought me here to be on the staff. I am thrilled to labor along side of the committed men and women on staff, who seek to love God by loving this community, and helping reveal the redemptive and reconciling power of Christ’s love to the youth and families of Northwest Pasadena. I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for the future of His ministry here at Harambee!