“Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”
The story of Scripture is the story of a world made good, a world that is broken, a world that is being restored and will one day be renewed. Through the risen Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit, God is in the business of repairing what has been broken and rebuilding what has been torn down. This local missions weekend over November 11-13, we’ll look at some ways that sin has broken and taken apart metro Richmond, and how God and God’s people are at work in the rebuilding, to be the “ties that bind” broken communities back together again.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Guest Lecture with Shekinah Mitchell and Ted Elmore
Friday, November 11
7:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Coffee & Dessert
The story of Richmond is written in history books, but almost more accurately it's written in our streets and neighborhoods. As in many cities in the United States, results are often dictated by the color of your skin or the numbers in your zip code.
Join us on November 11th for a historical perspective on how infrastructure and policy have and can be used to divide people and increase inequities or to unite neighbors and help everyone flourish. Ted Elmore, Executive Director of Richmond BridgePark Foundation and Shekinah Mitchell, Director of the Piedmont Community Land Trust, will provide context and perspective around these issues and reflect on what unity and equity could look like in Richmond.
This conversation directly builds off the themes identified by Reverend Benjamin Campbell in his visit to Third in November 2019. Ted and Shekinah will show us specific examples of Rev. Campbell’s talk at work; and consider what we might do about it.
TED ELMORE:
Ted Elmore is passionate about design, urban spaces, celebrating the richness of Richmond, and bringing people together. After 15 years of practicing corporate finance law, he now leads the ambitious BridgePark project, a community effort to bring a unique gathering, connective, and educational space to the James River and downtown Richmond. Inspired by The High Line in New York City, BridgePark will be a symbol of Richmond's future and a new model for creating public space in America. Ted’s stewardship of this groundbreaking project has fostered community change long before a shovel hits the ground. In 2017, BridgePark expanded the equity lens and proposed footprint of BridgePark to focus on breaches in our cityscape created by years of racist planning and policy. In 2019, BridgePark also paired with urban planner, Shekinah Mitchell, in creating frameworks for equitable development of the project. Ted has served on the Board of Directors of The Gray Haven Project, Studio Two Three, and GroundworkRVA, was a founding director of Current Art Fair and Fall Line Fest, and is an Associate Member of the Virginia State Bar.
SHEKINAH MITCHELL
Shekinah Mitchell has 15 years of experience in comprehensive community development and currently serves as Executive Director of Piedmont Community Land Trust. She has worked within local, regional, statewide and national organizations including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Urban Hope RVA, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. As a consultant, Shekinah has led strategic planning, trainings, focus groups, and served as a facilitator for organizations and initiatives including Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents, VCU, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, Weissberg Foundation, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, and the East End Black Wealth Building Initiative. Shekinah has a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Radford University, and holds a certification in Racial and Intersectional Equity through Converge College. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from VCU where she partnered with BridgePark RVA to produce her plan on the concept of infra-sutures, elevating equitable physical development (housing, green space, commercial development, transportation infrastructure etc.) as a tool for physical, social, and economic connectivity and justice.
SATURDAY
On Saturday we'll take a closer look at our city through the eyes of some of our local missions partners and see how they are doing the work of "restoring the streets" we live in.
Urban Hope Bus Tour
Saturday, November 12
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Meet at Chimborazo Elementary School (3000 E. Marshall Street)
Bus will be a 44-seat school bus!
Want to learn more about the Church Hill community? Have you been thinking about affordable housing in our city and feel overwhelmed? Want to have some fun getting to know Urban Hope?
Come along on our Urban Hope Bus Tour! Join us as we tour the many facets of our neighborhood, share some history, celebrate our progress, and invite you to learn more about how Urban Hope is helping to create housing opportunities for low-income families in the East End.
Sunday
Come to worship as we welcome Dr. Amy Sherman, author of the recent book Agents of Flourishing. Amy has written eloquently about how followers of Jesus can use their vocations and gifts to join God in his work of repair and restoration of our communities.
8:45 and 11:00 AM: Amy will preach in both services.
10:00 AM: Amy will speak briefly about her new book in the Fellowship Hall. Agents of Flourishing will be available for sale.
SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Richmond’s Unhealed History - Ben Campbell
Color of Law - Richard Rothstein
5 Miles Away, A World Apart - James E. Ryan
Watch our Ben Campbell event from November 2019: Part 1 and Part 2