On November 20, 2010, Graduation speech delivered by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED, 2010 PTM Fellow, Passing The Mantle Clergy and Lay Institute, University of Southern California School of Religion and Civic Culture, in Los Angeles, CA.
Long Beach CalGRIP Advisory Council Proposed Youth Violence Strategic PlanL_Hollie
This proposed LBGRIP Strategic Plan to address youth violence citywide was drafted by the Violence Prevention Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Lydia Hollie, JD/MAED, as a part of the grant deliverables for Long Beach CalGRIP Grant I, was initially presented to the LBGRIP Advisory Council at its June 13, 2010 meeting. After input had been received from the LBGRIP Advisory Council, final draft was completed on September 10, 2010. The Revised Draft Plan was submitted to and received by the Long Beach City Council on July 5, 2011, thereby releasing it for public distribution for research purposes.
Chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED, the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Task Force, in collaboration with the Long Beach Weed and Seed Program Steering Committee, spearheaded efforts that led to the acquisition of $400,000 for the Long Beach Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Project. This project was designed to address critical unmet community needs necessary to effectively address growing youth andgang violence through a youth-centered, community-wide approach. Project efforts are expected to reduce violent crimes, decrease the number of gang-related offenses, and thereby increase self-esteem and self-worth. In April 2008, the California Governor's Office awarded $400,000 to the city of Long Beach to advance these efforts. In February 2009, the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Task Force transitioned into the Long Beach CalGRIP Advisory Council with direct oversight of fund allocations and program outcomes.
Long Beach CalGRIP Advisory Council Proposed Youth Violence Strategic PlanL_Hollie
This proposed LBGRIP Strategic Plan to address youth violence citywide was drafted by the Violence Prevention Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Lydia Hollie, JD/MAED, as a part of the grant deliverables for Long Beach CalGRIP Grant I, was initially presented to the LBGRIP Advisory Council at its June 13, 2010 meeting. After input had been received from the LBGRIP Advisory Council, final draft was completed on September 10, 2010. The Revised Draft Plan was submitted to and received by the Long Beach City Council on July 5, 2011, thereby releasing it for public distribution for research purposes.
Chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED, the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Task Force, in collaboration with the Long Beach Weed and Seed Program Steering Committee, spearheaded efforts that led to the acquisition of $400,000 for the Long Beach Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Project. This project was designed to address critical unmet community needs necessary to effectively address growing youth andgang violence through a youth-centered, community-wide approach. Project efforts are expected to reduce violent crimes, decrease the number of gang-related offenses, and thereby increase self-esteem and self-worth. In April 2008, the California Governor's Office awarded $400,000 to the city of Long Beach to advance these efforts. In February 2009, the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Task Force transitioned into the Long Beach CalGRIP Advisory Council with direct oversight of fund allocations and program outcomes.
Martin luther king’s dream did not include children imprisoned for lifeL_Hollie
Published by GreaterLongBeach.com on January 17, 2012, in commemoration of Dr. King's birthday, Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED, questions what would Martin Luther King, Jr. think about life incarceration for the nation's children?
Fiscal Year 2007 City of Long Beach Weed and Seed Communities ApplicationL_Hollie
This is the city of Long Beach Weed and Seed Program application spearheaded by the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force (chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED). Over 45 community members, civic, business, and education leaders, and city staff engaged in a six-month application process (June 2006-December 2006). That level of civic engagement reflect a real-time example of true collaboration. This application was submitted and administered by the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. On August 4, 2007, the funding cycle for 2007-2012 was initially awarded for $1 million, divided equally between law enforcement and the community. The nationwide competition was fierce with over 200 jurisdictional applications submitted. However, Long Beach was one of the 38 cities that received funding.
An Interim Report and Re-examination and of the Problem of Youth and Gang Vi...L_Hollie
On November 4, 2003, the City of Long Beach Human Relations Commission (HRC), chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED and principal writer, presented an Interim Report and Re-examination of the Problems of Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long Beach.The report reflected the impacts that youth violence has on the quality of life for youth and human relations in the city.The report was approved by the community leadership, the Long Beach Police Department, unanimously adopted by the City Council, and implemented.
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The Vocation and Mission of the Religion TeacherMann Rentoy
Presented by EMMANUEL M. RENTOY
President & Executive Director
Center for the 4th & 5th Rs Asia
This is part of the Series on SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
www.characterconferences.com
About Mann Rentoy
A lecturer from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), he has taught for more than 30 years.
He is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where he earned a double-degree in AB Journalism and AB Literature, an MA in Creative Writing, and a PhD in Literature.
He was the Founding Executive Director of Westbridge School in Iloilo City. He was in the first batch of graduates of PAREF Southridge School, where he also taught for 15 years, occupying various posts including Principal of Intermediate School, Vice-Principal of High School and Department Head of Religion. As Moderator of “The Ridge”, the official publication of Southridge, he won 9 trophies from the Catholic Mass Media Awards including the first ever Hall of Fame for Student Publication, for winning as the best campus paper in the country for four consecutive years.
He is the Founding Executive Director of “Character Education Partnership Philippines”, or CEP Philippines, an international affiliate of CEP in Washington, DC, USA. As Founder of CEP Philippines, he has been invited to speak all over the country, as well as in Washington D.C., San Diego, California, USA, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also serves as the Founding President of Center for 4th and 5th Rs (Respect & Responsibility) Asia, otherwise known as the Thomas Lickona Institute for Asia. He is probably the most visible advocate of character formation in the country, having spoken to hundreds of schools and universities around the Philippines.
Email us at catalystpds@gmail.com
www.characterconferences.com
Martin luther king’s dream did not include children imprisoned for lifeL_Hollie
Published by GreaterLongBeach.com on January 17, 2012, in commemoration of Dr. King's birthday, Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED, questions what would Martin Luther King, Jr. think about life incarceration for the nation's children?
Fiscal Year 2007 City of Long Beach Weed and Seed Communities ApplicationL_Hollie
This is the city of Long Beach Weed and Seed Program application spearheaded by the Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force (chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED). Over 45 community members, civic, business, and education leaders, and city staff engaged in a six-month application process (June 2006-December 2006). That level of civic engagement reflect a real-time example of true collaboration. This application was submitted and administered by the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. On August 4, 2007, the funding cycle for 2007-2012 was initially awarded for $1 million, divided equally between law enforcement and the community. The nationwide competition was fierce with over 200 jurisdictional applications submitted. However, Long Beach was one of the 38 cities that received funding.
An Interim Report and Re-examination and of the Problem of Youth and Gang Vi...L_Hollie
On November 4, 2003, the City of Long Beach Human Relations Commission (HRC), chaired by Lydia A. Hollie, JD/MAED and principal writer, presented an Interim Report and Re-examination of the Problems of Youth and Gang Violence in the City of Long Beach.The report reflected the impacts that youth violence has on the quality of life for youth and human relations in the city.The report was approved by the community leadership, the Long Beach Police Department, unanimously adopted by the City Council, and implemented.
arguments for and against abortion. - GCSE Religious Studies .... ≫ Legalization of Abortion Free Essay Sample on Samploon.com. Abortion should be illegal - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy .... Abortion Essay - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics) - Marked .... Abortion is a very controversial issue. - GCSE Religious Studies .... Trump pushes anti-abortion agenda to build culture that 'cherishes innocent life'. Abortion Arguement - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics .... A Discursive Essay on Abortion - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy .... Abortion essays - College Homework Help and Online Tutoring.. The majority of Americans support abortion access.. I had an abortion. Why is none of your business. - The Washington Post. Want to reduce abortion rates? Give parents money. - The Washington Post. Abortion poll: Most against fetal heartbeat laws, closing of clinics. Alabama passes bill banning abortion - BBC News. Questions surface as states pass abortion laws. Group launches site to help women self-induce abortions at home, citing .... 635711897809053841-AP-Abortion-Restrictions.jpg?width=2382&height=1346 .... Abortion rate at lowest level since 1973. Abortion laws: How different states use 'heartbeat' bills, Roe v. Wade. Worldwide, an estimated 25 million unsafe abortions occur each year. Abortion Essay - Document in A Level and IB Religious Studies. Abortion essay - A-Level Modern Foreign Languages - Marked by Teachers.com. Essay Writer for All Kinds of Papers - good thesis statement for being .... Sample Essay Abortion. Write my essay - discursive essay for and against abortion - 2017/10/10. Abortion essays against - writefiction581.web.fc2.com. Essay For Abortion. People against abortion essays - writinggroups319.web.fc2.com. Abortion Essays Free. Buy Essay Online - abortions essays - libdriastate.web.fc2.com. Argument essay about abortion facts - writersdoubt.web.fc2.com. abortion intro paragraph. Thesis Statements Examples For Argumentative Essays Against Abortion Essay On Abortion Against
The Vocation and Mission of the Religion TeacherMann Rentoy
Presented by EMMANUEL M. RENTOY
President & Executive Director
Center for the 4th & 5th Rs Asia
This is part of the Series on SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
www.characterconferences.com
About Mann Rentoy
A lecturer from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), he has taught for more than 30 years.
He is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) where he earned a double-degree in AB Journalism and AB Literature, an MA in Creative Writing, and a PhD in Literature.
He was the Founding Executive Director of Westbridge School in Iloilo City. He was in the first batch of graduates of PAREF Southridge School, where he also taught for 15 years, occupying various posts including Principal of Intermediate School, Vice-Principal of High School and Department Head of Religion. As Moderator of “The Ridge”, the official publication of Southridge, he won 9 trophies from the Catholic Mass Media Awards including the first ever Hall of Fame for Student Publication, for winning as the best campus paper in the country for four consecutive years.
He is the Founding Executive Director of “Character Education Partnership Philippines”, or CEP Philippines, an international affiliate of CEP in Washington, DC, USA. As Founder of CEP Philippines, he has been invited to speak all over the country, as well as in Washington D.C., San Diego, California, USA, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also serves as the Founding President of Center for 4th and 5th Rs (Respect & Responsibility) Asia, otherwise known as the Thomas Lickona Institute for Asia. He is probably the most visible advocate of character formation in the country, having spoken to hundreds of schools and universities around the Philippines.
Email us at catalystpds@gmail.com
www.characterconferences.com
Culturally responsive education must be highly valued among educators, policy-makers and families. This slide-share comes from an assignment at Western Governors University as an undergraduate in their Special Education (K-12) and Elementary Education (K-8) program.
Cross Cultural Communication Barriers Free Essay Example. Cross-cultural communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... Cross Cultural Communication. Cross Cultural Communication. The Lewis Model and the Differences .... (PDF) Understanding cross-cultural communication. 101-Cross cultural communication. Sample essay on cross cultural management. ≫ Cross-Cultural Communication in Professional Level Free Essay Sample .... (PDF) Cross-Cultural Communication. Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies. Cross Cultural Essay | PDF | Nonverbal Communication | Negotiation. Essay The Discourse Analysis | Cross Cultural Communication | Stereotypes. Essay barriers in cross cultural communications. Short Essay on Importance of Intercultural Awareness in the Workplace .... Cross Cultural Communication – College Essay Example | StudyHippo.com. Cross cultural communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... Cross Cultural Management Essay | Essay on Cross Cultural Management .... Cross Cultural Perspectives on Business - PHDessay.com. Cross-Cultural Communication | Essay Sample for Free. ⇉Avoiding Misunderstanding in Cross-Cultural Communication Essay .... Read «Cross-Cultural Communication» Essay Sample for Free at .... Essay barriers in cross cultural communication in 2021 | Cross cultural .... 'cross cultural communication' on SlideShare. Cross Cultural Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well .... Custom Academic Paper Writing Services - intercultural communication .... ≫ My Service Learning Experience in Cross Cultural Communication Free .... Cross-Cultural Communication and Understanding. Tips for Successful Cross Cultural Communication.docx | Conversation .... Cross-cultural Communication Research Paper Example | Topics and Well .... Research on communication(Cross cultural and Corporate).
Cross Cultural Communication Barriers Free Essay Example. Cross-cultural communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... Cross Cultural Communication. Cross Cultural Communication. The Lewis Model and the Differences .... (PDF) Understanding cross-cultural communication. 101-Cross cultural communication. Sample essay on cross cultural management. ≫ Cross-Cultural Communication in Professional Level Free Essay Sample .... (PDF) Cross-Cultural Communication. Cross-Cultural Communication Strategies. Cross Cultural Essay | PDF | Nonverbal Communication | Negotiation. Essay The Discourse Analysis | Cross Cultural Communication | Stereotypes. Essay barriers in cross cultural communications. Short Essay on Importance of Intercultural Awareness in the Workplace .... Cross Cultural Communication – College Essay Example | StudyHippo.com. Cross cultural communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... Cross Cultural Management Essay | Essay on Cross Cultural Management .... Cross Cultural Perspectives on Business - PHDessay.com. Cross-Cultural Communication | Essay Sample for Free. ⇉Avoiding Misunderstanding in Cross-Cultural Communication Essay .... Read «Cross-Cultural Communication» Essay Sample for Free at .... Essay barriers in cross cultural communication in 2021 | Cross cultural .... 'cross cultural communication' on SlideShare. Cross Cultural Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well .... Custom Academic Paper Writing Services - intercultural communication .... ≫ My Service Learning Experience in Cross Cultural Communication Free .... Cross-Cultural Communication and Understanding. Tips for Successful Cross Cultural Communication.docx | Conversation .... Cross-cultural Communication Research Paper Example | Topics and Well .... Research on communication(Cross cultural and
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1. 1
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
PASSING THE MANTLE (PTM) CLERGY AND LAY
INSTITUTE
USC SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND CIVIC CULTURE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
GRADUATION SPEECH BY:
LYDIA A. HOLLIE, JD, MAED
2010 PTM FELLOW
2. 2
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
PASSING THE MANTLE (PTM) CLERGY AND LAY INSTITUTE
USC SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND CIVIC CULTURE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
GRADUATION SPEECH BY:
LYDIA A. HOLLIE, JD, MAED
2010 PTM FELLOW
Good Afternoon,
Foremost, I give honor to God, and thank him for His Son, Jesus Christ, who
gave His life so that I may life abundantly.
Congratulations PTM Class of 2010! In the spirit of friendship, family, and
community service, let us always be mindful to “never underestimate the power of our
actions…with one small gesture we can change a person’s life. God puts us all of in
each others lives to impact one another in some way.” We were joined together to
struggle and achieve a new milestone in our lives so that His will is done on earth as it
is in heaven. Today’s graduation ceremony is the embodiment of this declaration.
Admittedly, upon receiving word from Rev. Mark Whitlock of my selection as one
of the speakers came as a complete surprise because I imagined someone other myself
standing before you. Thank you, my fellow graduates, for honoring me as your
graduation speaker today.
We are sincerely grateful to our families and friends for their encouragement
while we have labored to acquire the knowledge and skill-set that are vital to repairing
the fragile social fabric that weaves our communities together. Thank you being our
support system and cheering us on until we reached this day of graduation. After today,
the real work begins and your support and encouragement will be needed more than
3. 3
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
ever before.
We honor and are profoundly grateful to ("Speak Truth to Power") Rev. Dr. Cecil
"Chip" Murray, (Think Strategically and Walk with Boldness), Rev. Mark Whitlock,
(Raise Your Prophetic Voice to Advocate Public Policy Change) Rev. Eugene Williams,
and (Build Your Organization on a Solid Foundation) Rev. Frank Jackson. Thank you
for your visionary, transformational leadership with the establishment of the Passing
The Mantle (PTM) Clergy and Lay Leadership Institute. Also, we thank the USC School
of Religion and Civic Culture for providing the ideal environment in which PTM Fellows
are not only educated at a state of the art campus, but are welcomed members of the
USC community. Many thanks to The James Irvine Foundation for its incredibly
generous financial support so that the next generation of the agents of beneficial
change are fully prepared to address social, economic, and environmental justice issues
in their respective communities. Most especially, the graduates are truly grateful for Ms.
Sumaya Abubaker, a phenomenal woman, who expertly managed all the administrative
obligations and tasks associated with PTM. Sumaya, you have been the glue which
has held all of us together. Each of you are responsible for making this day possible.
Thank you all for being a stellar of example of why obedience is truly greater than
sacrifice.
What is the significance of Passing The Mantle in our lives? The significance of PTM is
demonstrative on three levels: The Mantle, Educational Experience, and Mentor
Relationships.
“Understanding The Mantle.“ In Strong's concordance, the Hebrew word
"addehreth" is a cloak made of fur or fine material, for example, a prophet's garment.
The etymology, or root, of addehreth is noble one, mighty, excellent, glorious, goodly,
gallant. The English equivalent is "mantle", garment, goodly, and robe. Dictionary.com
indicates that a synonym for mantle is cover or covering. And in Merriam-Webster,
"mantle" is defined as a loose, sleeveless garment worn over other clothes; a cloak.
4. 4
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
This reference also represents Mantle to be a figurative cover symbolizing preeminence
or authority. So, we have the covering to walk in the authority passed on to us by our
elders who are the righteous sons of God.
The PTM Educational Experience. The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Romans
12:2, "and be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.” As I reflected upon on the PTM experience, I realize that Reverends Murray,
Whitlock, Williams, and Jackson created an environment specifically designed to initiate
the process of renewing our minds and spirit through which transformational change is
accomplished.
Our collective memory vividly recalls the weeklong residential experience where
we were served and nourished with excellent classes, including, outstanding thought-
provoking lectures on civic engagement, policy advocacy, and other social, economic,
and environmental justice issues, small group collaborations, whole class discussions,
the daily walking exercise from our housing facility to Davidson Hall, and the morning
praises as well as the nightly fellowship and revivals held at The Chapel. Of course, the
meticulously prepared and delicious meals and refreshments were the perfect
compliment to our learning experience during the Institute.
Albert Einstein concluded, "You can't solve a problem from the same
consciousness that created it." Brainstorming and formulating new thoughts and
examining modern day solutions to age-old problems were particularly demanding. Yet,
since this summer in July, we forged ahead reminded by the immortal words of the
venerable Frederick Douglass, "where there is no struggle, there is no progress."
Indeed, as a result of PTM’s process of renewal we have entered into a zone of
heightened awareness and a deepened consciousness for each of us.
And The Mentor Relationship. Mentoring factored prominently throughout the
Institute, both on and off campus. The open door policy of the Institute's leadership was
key to building our competence and confidence to persevere through the Institute’s
5. 5
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
curriculum to completion. Accessibility to the knowledge, wisdom, and salient advice of
the Revs. Murray, Whitlock, Williams, Jackson, and Najuna Smith-Pollard have been
pivotal to crystallizing our focus and fine-tuning our concepts and proposals for systems
and policy change.
Life’s Equation
Today, we have reached another milestone in our lives and it has been
simultaneously exciting and life-affirming. As a result of PTM, we are ready, willing, and
fully capable to continue this journey of civic engagement and policy advocacy with the
confidence and the ability to think with greater depth and breadth about how to
effectively reconfigure of our communities in a lasting and meaningful way.
And we will do so through study and scholarship, servant-leadership, and
community service. These core principles are variables in “Life's Equation, which is,
The Events in Our Lives plus How we Respond to those Events equals The Outcome.”
As servant-leaders, each of us can reflect on the myriad of events in our respective
communities, how we have responded, and what were the outcomes.
The Event in My Life. In my Central Long Beach community where the
population is approximately 46,000, 34% live below the federal poverty level where the
annual median household income for a family of four is $21,000, and 52% of this
community subsists on $15,000 a year or less. Fifty-five percent have not completed
high school and only 9 percent are high school graduates. For decades, this area
suffered with the notoriety of having the highest violent crime rates in the city of Long
Beach. For ten years, I attended funerals, watched others enter the jail and prison
system, and observed the devastation on the family and neighborhoods where crime
scenes were a regular occurrence.
The inspirational Cesar Chavez reminds us that "we cannot seek achievement
for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...Our
ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their
6. 6
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
sakes and for our own." This observation lies at the heart of civic engagement which
Professor Thomas Ehrlich, a senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching, defines as "working to make a difference in the civic life of
our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and
motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community,
through both political and non-political processes." He goes on to say that, "A morally
and civically responsible individual recognizes himself or herself as a member of the a
larger social fabric and therefore consider social problems to be at least partly his or her
own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic dimensions of issues, to
make and justify informed moral and civic judgments, and to take action when
appropriate."
How did I Respond to the Events in My Community? My response was driven by
the realization that I have a moral and ethical responsibility to make a difference in the
quality of life in my community. Since 2002, my role in civic engagement in Long Beach
has been as a relentless advocate for effective and humane approaches to address
youth and gang violence prevention and intervention, specifically in the area of building
community capacity and empowering its members to work collaboratively to make a
qualitative difference in their collective civic lives. During my tenure as Chair of the city's
Human Relations Commission, a comprehensive report on the problem of youth and
gang violence was written, approved by the community leadership, including the Long
Beach Police Department, and unanimously adopted by the Long Beach City Council in
2003. That report called for a community based, multi-agency collaborative and the
Long Beach Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Task Force was established in 2004,
and for the three years, formalized and strengthened police-community relations. In
August 2007, the Task Force birthed the Long Beach Weed and Seed Program whose
Steering Committee envisions "Establishing Model Communities, One Neighborhood at
a Time." This Program was awarded $1 million divided equally between law
enforcement and the community over a 5-year period , and its community-based, multi-
7. 7
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
agency Steering Committee has budgetary oversight of the expenditure of these funds.
Programmatic strategic planning lay the foundation for building the program's capacity
to navigate a paradigm shift from conventional approaches to 21st century public safety
restructuring, including, family engagement and violence prevention, workforce
development and reentry, neighborhood restoration, and targeted law enforcement and
community policing.
What has been the Outcome? Since its inception, the Long Beach Weed and
Seed Program collaborative over the past two years has: (1) achieved a 27% drop in
violent crime, (2) a reduction in gang activity and truancy citations, (3) built a
Community Peace Garden while strengthening intergenerational relationships between
our youth and community elders, (5) conducted periodic community assessments for
comprehensive planning; (6) incubated parent empowerment workshops in English,
Khmer, and Spanish as well as a Youth Development Program and (7) in March 2010,
our site was one of nine nationwide to be awarded a technical assistance grant by the
USDOJ 2010 Reentry Employment Initiative to receive in-depth training and technical
assistance with the development of a Comprehensive Reentry Services Strategic Plan
designed to aid reentrants in making a seamless transition back to the community,
which will be used as a model for citywide implementation.
Reflecting of Passing The Mantle
Based on the teachings of PTM, I understand and I am fully persuaded that
public service is a ministry of the highest calling, and it is the epitome of servant-
visionary leadership, boldness, compassion, and humility. Revs. Murray, Whitlock,
Williams, and Jackson exemplified these characteristics. As representatives of the
Passing The Mantle Institute, these men are servant-visionary leaders in action. They
work together in common union with others to serve the community’s best interests
while simultaneously envisioning and moving toward the ultimate destination. And they
8. 8
Passing The Mantle Institute Graduation Speech
USC School of Religion and Civic Culture/November 10, 2010
have prepared us to be an example of those same quality traits in our respective
communities. As a leader in our community, we become a choreographer and facilitator
that seek to orchestrate a symphonic, harmonious, and holistic approach to developing
the human infrastructure in an ever-changing world. We are a beacon of hope and light
that shines through daily hardships and brightens the lives of others around us. PTM
has prepared and expects us to use our leadership to inform, educate, encourage,
empower, and help our communities evolve into a magnet where people will be drawn
to come and live, work, visit, or worship because the environment is growing, thriving,
and prospering. Our community is waiting on us and it places its future in our hands.
Conclusion
Finally, my fellow graduates as we continue our journey let us align ourselves
with II Timothy 1:7, "for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and
a sound mind." Now that we have received The Mantle, we shall walk in the
preeminence of our authority, listen with our prophetic ears, raise our prophetic voices,
speak truth to power with boldness and courage, and bring peace and prosperity to the
masses. We thank God for Passing The Mantle.
Again, congratulations and may God bless each of you in your present and future
endeavors.