By Dominika Hanson
According to research from the Little Rock Congregations Study, Little Rock residents have identified racial disparity and K-12 education as top issues in our community. CityChurch Network has been working towards innovative solutions by uniting churches and sharing best-practice ideas in connecting with families through church-school partnerships. Through the added stress of the pandemic, CityChurch Network has been hard at work with its Vital Families in Schools Initiative. More churches than ever are joining together to help strengthen families through church-school partnerships in Little Rock.
The Vital Families in Schools Initiative’s focus is to mobilize more churches and deepen efforts in serving schools through family support, student mentoring, and family-to-family connections. During pandemic limitations, students and their mentors meet virtually on Zoom, CityChurch Network encouraged churches to have their mentors meet virtually on Zoom with students, shining a light on things at home. Now that schools are opening up, the opportunities for in-person mentoring are increasing as well. There remain advantages to mentoring over Zoom, however – increasing the number of mentors who can serve from a church and allowing the mentors to get to interact with the families more closely.
CityChurch Network unites different denominations and people of different backgrounds from all around the Greater Little Rock area. This assists in greater community impact by churches and continues to increase racial reconciliation in our city. Relationships are being built, which empowers people of color within our community.
Bringing congregations and leaders together for the benefit of the community is part of CityChurch’s vision. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. has been a vital part of our network over the years, and this is what he had to say:
“My internal ‘why’ when we were elected back in 2018 was to do all that I can to unite the city of Little Rock. Move with us from being disconnected to connected. …CityChurch Network has that same internal ‘why.’”
To date, 27 Little Rock churches are participating, each partnering with one or more schools. CityChurch Network’s leadership team and church clergy leaders then help to connect students and their families with mentor families within their school’s matched church. This is helpful when families are needing extra support or a listening ear, or even to get together for a barbecue or celebration. Children receive help with schoolwork and achieve a genuine connection with their church mentors.
Student mentoring helps Little Rock students who need it most,
“(Mentoring) is one of the reasons I feel like I’m the best father I could possibly be and the best husband I could possibly be. It’s one of the reasons I feel like it is my responsibility to be the mentor that I can be for our youth today.”
Travis Harris, Student Pastor at Central Church of Christ, McClellan High School Graduate
The CityChurch Network sees a future of Little Rock where every student reads at grade level and there is a dramatic increase in the high school graduation rate. We see our racial disparity and social justice issues wane and we see everyone working towards the betterment of the community. Research supports that families are vital to the success of their children and the flourishing of communities. This begins in the home with one child, one family, one church, and one school at a time.
“Research continues to confirm that family brokenness, education and racial inequality are big issues facing our cities. CityChurch Network is seeking to unite churches in initiatives informed by research, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and focused for greater impact.”
Ray Williams, CityChurch Network Team Leader
CityChurch Network’s Vital Families Initiative encompasses the village it takes to raise a child, and we are fortunate this village is Little Rock.
To learn more about the Vital Families initiatives or see how you or your church can get involved, contact Ray Williams at rwilliams@citychurchar.org or go to CityChurchAR.org.