Journey Notes #2 Are you ready for your blessings?

​Peace be unto you!
This month’s theme is                     
“Are you ready for your blessings? Are you ready for your miracle?”
– Chance the Rapper

​Spring is on its way. Transition is upon us in more ways than one. The city is planned to take ownership of the former Carver Center next month and new development is on its way in the city of Schenectady and especially in the Craig Street Corridor. 

​Looking back to move ahead
We have been working diligently on planning and community building. As of recent we have connected a few generations of activism and community leadership around the Carver Community Center and the Carver Health Center (which is now Hometown Health). We’ve gotten a chance to speak with Mainuna Mwaba who was on the steering committee who begun the ground work to found the Carver Health Center. We also learned of Mainuna’s mother Lee Tolland (originally Tismotha Tolland) who was one of the original founders and leaders of the Carver Community Center. Unbeknownst to us, Lee Tolland (Tismotha) is one of our current board member’s great grandmother on her father’s side (Raeshelle Frasier). Talk about generational resilience and connection with our ancestors and our home!

Building 101
At this time we are currently reviewing architectural proposals for preliminary design work for a revitalized Community Center at 700 Craig Street. We are very excited to enter in this phase of our development. This is sort of a nice complement to see someone else doing some hard work alongside of us to carry out our mission. 

​Fresh food in the neighborhood
As Spring is on its way, we are gearing up for gardening in the Capital Roots’ Garden on Craig and Wiley Street. We will be getting some hands on technical assistance from our Soul Fire Farm Family next month! We are looking to kick off a very small garden share this summer along with a pop up farmer’s market stand in the neighborhood, selling our fresh and very local produce.

Painting for a Purpose
I think it is about time we had another community fundraiser…don’t you? Our next fundraiser will be a Painting Fundraiser on Friday March 31st at 6:00pm at The Friendship House at 955 State Street. Tickets are $20. Refreshments and all materials will be provided and all guests will leave with their very own original painting! Register Here! www.eventbrite.com/e/painting-for-a-purpose-miracle-on-craig-st-fundraiser-tickets-32373850057?aff=es2

​Looking to get involved?
Our next meeting for Miracle on Craig Street is March 1st Wednesday at 6:30pm at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at 1055 Wendell Ave. We will be following up on tasks for our next fundraiser and creating/editing our agreements for collective work and responsibility and cooperative economics, the principles that guide this work. Meetings are open to all neighborhood and community residents. Refreshments and childcare are provided.


PLEASE NOTE: Persons employed at local organizations/institutions and persons who are not from the community but who would like to support our work are encouraged to schedule a different time to meet with organizers and/or community residents as our meeting time is a time for place based community building.


Gratitude
Special thanks to some of the people and elders who have been helping and supporting us throughout this process and whole heartedly believe and encourage us in this journey. We love and respect you very much! These people have consistently donated their time, money, expertise, knowledge, services, energy and much more to supporting us young folk!

-          Pastor Richard Parsons (State Street Presbyterian)


-          Rev Horace Sanders (Mt. Olivet Baptist Church)


-          Walter Simpkins (Community Fathers)


-          Leah Penniman and Soul Fire Family (Soul Fire Farm)


-          Dorian Wells (Community Loan Fund)


-          Erin Hundley (Red Door Beauty Studio)


-          Lorraine Priest (Friendship House)


Contact
Like our Facebook Page : www.facebook.com/miracle518
Mail: PO Box 357 Schenectady NY 12301
Phone 518-982-5050
Office: 1055 Wendell Ave Schenectady NY 12308 Hours Tues 1:00-3:00pm Thurs 3:00-6:00pm

Much Love, 
The Miracle Crew