History of The Every Neighborhood Partnership
In September of 2002, a group of city leaders began a program that connected The Well Community Church and New Harvest Community Churches to Susan B. Anthony and Webster Elementary Schools.
The primary purpose of the program was to provide an outlet where the kids at the schools could interact with positive role models during the weekend. It also provided an opportunity for the volunteers of these two churches to build relationships with the students.
As they spent more time in these communities they noticed two specific issues. First, the test scores of the students were consistently in the bottom end of all the elementary schools in Fresno Unified. Secondly, the percentage of residents living at or below the poverty line in these areas was higher than most communities in the city.
What originally began as a small sports program evolved into one that addressed these issues and included one-on-one mentoring, classroom volunteering and community outreach events. Volunteers from the church got more connected to the neighborhood, discovering many opportunities to be involved in the lives of the people.
Every Neighborhood Partnership was formed in January 2008 with a desire to see this program duplicated throughout the city.
Together, with one purpose, we can be part of the solution to unify our city, reduce crime, anchor families with moral values and develop academic excellence for our city’s future leaders.
"Seek the welfare of the city . . . for if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:7