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The Center for Urban Education Ministries Seven Year Summary Report: 2006-2013 Introduction “Wheat Ridge’s The Center for Urban Education Ministries (CUEM or the Center) leadership and began as the dream of a few dedicated urban educators and sense of strategy philanthropists seeking to support those involved in urban ministry. helped the CUEM Charles and Mary Gundelach, Les Bayer, Richard Engebrecht and Mel hone its strategic Kieschnick were instrumental in the establishment of the Center at place in the future Concordia University, Bronxville, NY in the fall of 1980. For over 20 provisions for years, the Center provided resources through workshops and print Christian urban resources for urban Lutheran educators throughout the U.S. Due to education.” various circumstances, the Center ceased operations at Concordia. Dr. Shirley Roels After much discussion between Wheat Ridge leadership, Mary Former Director, Gundelach and Mel Kieschnick, the CUEM was reborn in 2006 as an The Van Lunen initiative of Wheat Ridge Ministries. Over the past seven years the Center at Calvin Center has been reestablished and has continued the visionary work College of its original founders. This work has been both exciting and challenging for the CUEM. Through generous grants from donors and foundations, the Center has embarked upon a journey of discovery, sharing insights with the larger Lutheran and faith‐based communities, and striving to give hope to Lutherans serving in urban education ministries.
The CUEM’s Relationship to Wheat Ridge Ministries
When Wheat Ridge Ministries agreed to re‐launch the CUEM in 2006, the original goal was to help the CUEM establish itself as either an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or reside within another faith‐based organization dedicated to urban Lutheran education. It was estimated that it would take five to seven years for this goal to be realized. Due to a unique interest in urban schools by Lutheran Social Services of New York, Wheat Ridge and LSSNY entered into a collaborative period of ministry in the summer of 2013. LSSNY and Wheat Ridge have established a memorandum of understanding detailing plans and goals to ensure the ongoing impact of the CUEM. The new home of the CUEM on the web is: www.centerforurbaned.org. -1-
CUEM Mission: The mission of the Center is to seed the development of innovative and effective Christian education ministries that nurture health and hope in urban communities in the name of the healing Christ. CUEM Vision: CUEM is known as the place where people gather to share resources, form connections and incubate new ideas around urban faith‐led or faith‐based education. Goals and Desired Impact: The CUEM has the ability to impact the face of Lutheran urban education by realizing these goals: Lutheran educators and congregations will be aware of and implement new and varied models of urban education, effectively closing the achievement gap. Interested constituents, colleges, schools, funders, experts will work together to elicit desired changes in urban education. Lutheran educators in the public and private system will be affirmed and supported. There will be an increase in the number of sustainable, high quality Lutheran‐led schools in the major cities of the United States. Congregations will engage with their school communities in new and innovative ways. The impact will be a sustainable network of Lutheran‐led urban education ministries which bring hope and healing to the children and families of our cities, helping to break the cycle of poverty in poor urban communities, thereby bringing health and hope in the name of the healing Christ.
Impact of the CUEM: 2006-2013 The Charlie Project One of the major undertakings of the Center was and continues to be the Charlie Project. Initiated in the fall of 2008 following a meeting hosted by Wheat Ridge’s CUEM of Lutheran foundations concerned over the large number of failing urban Lutheran schools, the ultimate goal of the Charlie Project is to create a cadre of quality, flourishing and sustainable Lutheran‐led schools. These schools will be built on the legacy of the dedicated work of Lutheran school leaders and will ensure that future generations of urban children and their families have access to faith‐led education that strengthens their lives and prepares them for their futures. -2-
The first phase of the project, Model Creation and Discernment, explored existing school models and networks nationally and designed a model that would reflect Lutherans’ unique role in urban education. Phase I spanned from fall 2008 to spring 2009, and involved interviews and meetings with over 150 educators and experts in order to discover best practices. From the work in Phase I, we identified our most significant contribution to be the development and implementation of a sustainable new model for urban Lutheran education. Phase I accomplishments included: Developed relationships with a community of “The Center paved the way with practitioners and thought‐leaders from across the research through the Charlie country who could play roles in the Charlie Project Project and developed a as educational innovators. prototype of what needs to be Broadened the conversation to encompass other in place to begin or maintain a disciplines. So often education is a silo; to develop successful Lutheran‐led a new model, it becomes essential to incorporate education project.” ideas from a variety of different sectors including real estate, community development, public health, Jim Handrich and environment. Former Headmaster, Hong Kong Analyzed a set of models for faith‐based and public International School education reform, including the small‐school
movement, charter schools, national educational intermediaries, service‐learning, and community schools. Developed a model with the overarching objective of providing a high‐quality choice for families seeking a Lutheran option based on three core elements: academic rigor, Christ‐centered education and service, and fiscal sustainability. Through our multitude of conversations, the Charlie Project offered a beacon of hope for communities seeking a sustainable model of urban Lutheran education.
Phase II included meetings in seven U.S. cities (Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Seattle and Baltimore) in order to gauge the appetite of Lutheran leaders to see which area might be suited to test a new model of Lutheran school. Planning in Minneapolis, while not resulting in a school, did result in a greater focus on what enterprises would best benefit the community. Redeemer Lutheran Church is now operating a non‐profit bike shop run by youth, one of the enterprises discussed in early stages of our meetings. It also led to a creative use of housing space related to urban leadership development. Work in Los Angeles has been ongoing for the past three years. We are hopeful that the New City Charter Schools, led by a group from New City Parish, will be launched in September 2014. The school will be located in the poorest performing school district in California. In New York, discussions are ongoing about how Lutherans can best reach out to underserved communities through education. In St. Louis, two Lutheran‐led charter schools have opened in the past five years, with several more in the planning stages. A full Charlie Project report is available at www.centerforurbaned.org/the‐charlie‐project -3-
While the initial Charlie Project research suggested that “a new model” of school would be developed, the reality that unfolded over the next few years revealed more of a set of key principles and practices as opposed to just “one way” to do Lutheran education. The Charlie Project has opened minds and helped make others aware of possibilities. The Center stands as a knowledge broker to those who wish to continue serving urban children and families with a quality faith‐led program. We see Lutherans in urban areas bringing health and hope through new models of Christian education. This is happening not only through traditional Lutheran schools, but through embracing a multitude of ways to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children and families. We see this happening in charter schools with before‐ and after‐school programming, where there are school choice dollars available, and where parents pay tuition based on sliding scales. For quality Christian education to exist in urban areas, Lutheran leaders must possess an openness to new, innovative ways to operate organizations that offer Christian education to the community. Thank you to Joy Anderson and Jackie VanderBrug of Criterion Institute for their excellent consultation during the first two years of the Charlie Project. Their commitment and experience brought creative energy and organization at a key time in the project’s development.
Summits
One of the outgrowths of the Charlie Project was the need to convene leaders with openness to pursuing new models of Lutheran education. The first urban summit, held in May 2011, gathered a small group of urban educators, administrators and funders for two days of discussion on challenges, opportunities and successful models for urban education. At the initial summit, participants expressed a “The Center provided the desire to meet annually around topics of interest to urban opportunity to network and educators. As one participant stated, “This is one of the only become acquainted with places that I can meet educators facing the same unique people I may otherwise challenges I’m facing – it’s important to be together.” Each year never have met. As a result, since that initial meeting a summit has been held, co‐sponsored with help from some of by a local Lutheran foundation. White papers were distributed these people and their following each of the summits and can be accessed at models, the St. Louis area www.wheatridge.org/cuem. has some of the most flourishing charter and 2011: “Best Practices Summit” in partnership with the wrap‐around Lutheran Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation (CLEF), Chicago, IL education.” 2012: “Innovative Configurations: Helping Faith‐Based Ann Vazquez Universities and Urban Ministries Implement Effective President/CEO, Lutheran Educational Practices” in partnership with the Siebert Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis Foundation, Brookfield, WI -4-
2013: “Reimagining Lutheran Impact on Education for the 21st Century: How to Engage Your Community through Quality, Innovative After‐School Programs” in partnership with the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO Topics for future summits may include: School consolidations and mergers Community engaged schools – university collaborations Schools that change the heart – transforming lives through faith and spirituality The vocation of education Growth models Highest performing urban faith based schools – Closing the achievement gap Models for special needs students
Kieschnick Lecture Series
The reestablishment of the Kieschnick lecture series, instituted in 1992 to honor the work and accomplishments of Dr. Melvin Kieschnick, has been a priority for CUEM. These lectures focus on emerging topics surrounding Christian urban education and are delivered by a variety of individuals working in the field of urban ministry. 2008: Chicago, IL – “Christ with the Children in the Metropolis,” Rev. Dr. Stephen Paul Bouman, Executive Director – Outreach and Congregational Mission, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “The Center has served as 2010: New Orleans, LA – “Lutheran Education and Lutherans a place and time for Educating,” Dr. Vernard Gant, Director – Urban Schools, professionals in our sector Association of Christian Schools International to convene and has also been valuable as a 2011: Cincinnati, OH – “Is There Hope in our Cities?” Marlene repository, a resource for Lund, Executive Director, CUEM at Wheat Ridge Ministries information.” 2011: Hong Kong – “Past and Future: Big Dreams, Deep Ann Vazquez Commitment, Abiding Faith,” Dr. Melvin Kieschnick President/CEO, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis 2012: Mequon, WI – “The Power of Partnership,” Peter C. Groff, Black Alliance for Educational Options 2013: Milwaukee, WI – “The Journey of Social Conscience: Putting Transformation at the Heart of Education” Marty Schmidt, Teacher of Humanities, Hong Kong International School Transcripts of each of these lectures can be accessed at www.wheatridge.org/cuem or www.centerforurbaned.org/kieschnick‐lecture‐series
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Partnerships There are a growing number of individuals and groups “The CUEM's work in shaping new who are concerned with the decline of faith based models, identifying key resources, education in our cities and who strive to share information and networking many Christian and best practices in order to stem the tide of decline. groups focused on Christian urban CUEM is in communication with many of these agencies education is valuable.” and individuals, sharing and learning from one another. These excellent partners are: Dr. Shirley Roels Former Director, The Van Lunen Concordia University Wisconsin (www.cuw.edu) Center at Calvin College Lutheran Education Association (www.lea.org) Van Lunen Institute (www.calvin.edu/vanlunen) Educational Enterprises Inc. (www.educationalenterprises.org) Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP Public Charter Schools) (www.kipp.org) Schools That Can Milwaukee (www.stcmilwaukee.org) Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation (CLEF) (www.goodnewsfund.org) Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (www.eleanational.org)
Public Presentations
CUEM has been and continues to be invited to share information and best practices on a variety of topics surrounding urban education. Presentations have been made at both local and national levels including conferences of the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, the Lutheran Education Association, the Greek Archdiocese of New York, Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation, the Lutheran Schools Association, and others. In August 2012, Marlene Lund, former Executive Director of Wheat Ridge Ministries’ Center for Urban Education, delivered the keynote address at the Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation Networking Conference. Read the speech and access the PowerPoint slides at www.wheatridge.org/MLund2012Keynote or www.centerforurbaned.org/resources/.
Funders
We extend a special thank you to our funders for their willingness to be the “first in” on this risk‐taking venture. Without their support, this important work would not be possible. While the challenges in urban Christian education are many, we have seen significant positive changes in the attitudes of Lutheran education leaders and in the practices around creating and sustaining quality schools. Major Funders Include: Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Jim Handrich Siebert Lutheran Foundation Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis Richard Van Lunen Charitable Foundation Mary Wiese Gundelach Doris and Jay Christopher Family Foundation We especially thank Mary Gundelach and Melvin Kieschnick for their vision and guidance and for encouraging and persuading Wheat Ridge to take on this important initiative. -6-
Advisory Council Sasha Elliot, Assistant Principal, Amber Charter School, New York, NY Steve Gerner, PhD, Director, Concordia University Wisconsin Urban Education Institute and Assistant Professor, School of Education Mary Gundelach, PhD, honoris causa, Concordia University Nebraska Retired Lutheran school administrator, philanthropist Jim Handrich, Klingenstein Fellow, Columbia University, Teachers College Former Headmaster, Hong Kong International School Kole Knueppel, Co‐founder and Managing Director, Schools That Can Milwaukee, WI Former Director, Wisconsin Lutheran’s Center for Urban Teaching Shirley Roels, PhD, Senior Advisor, Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), Grand Rapids, MI and former Director, The Van Lunen Center at Calvin College Brian Becker, Senior Vice President, Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, IL Marlene Lund, Executive Director, Center for Urban Education Ministries Emeritus Member: Melvin M. Kieschnick, PhD In 1991 the Lutheran Schools Association of New York recognized Dr. Melvin Kieschnick with its annual Educator of the Year Award. The citation included the descriptive words: Enricher, Encourager, Executive Par Excellence, Enabler, Example. Those carefully chosen words truly exemplify the life and ministry of Mel Kieschnick. Kieschnick’s ministry began in California and continued in Hong Kong, Michigan, St. Louis, New York, and after retirement back to California. In addition to serving as teacher and principal, his professional roles have included missionary to Hong Kong; Superintendent of Schools for the Michigan District; Executive Director for the Board for Parish Services; Vice President, Effectiveness Training; Executive Director of the Lutheran Schools Association of New York; and Staff Associate for the Center for Urban Education Ministries and Wheat Ridge Ministries. -7-
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