We’re looking for partners for 2009
City Gates: Guarding a Generation
“Closing the gates to destruction,
Opening the gates to goodness”
Guarding the gates of our hearts, homes, schools, churches, organizations, businesses and neighborhoods
The Rock of Escape is seeking partners for an outreach called City Gates: Guarding A Generation, an Atlanta initiative for 2009 challenging youth and their parents to examine what is coming within the gates of our hearts, homes, schools, churches, businesses, organizations, and neighborhoods.
Since 2003, The Rock of Escape has been working within Atlanta high schools to encourage and equip young people to change their character to achieve positive life outcomes. We have had good results with many of the young people we serve. But as you know the burden is heavy and we know we can’t do it alone.
Students are back in school. Teachers are teaching and administrators disciplining, but the forces that threaten to destroy our young people are still at work. At the end of the school year, some parents and public agencies will try to hold the schools accountable for what the students didn’t learn and some students will be facing various other dilemmas. This is not just a school problem, it is everybody’s problem. It’s a community problem and a problem to be solved at home.
City Gates: Guarding A Generation and its partners will reach thousands of students and families citywide by generating media coverage, organizing volunteers, presenting community events, and most importantly covering a generation. We have started contacting potential partners to help us encourage each other in creative ways to protect the gates of our hearts, homes, schools, churches, businesses, organizations, and neighborhoods.
Every person and group is an important partner in this initiative. We are looking for partners who display trust and care for people in spirit, mind and body. We need your help to encourage youth and adults to develop solid and consistent character that leads to great life outcomes. Together, we can all grow in character.
While the campaign will present some specific ways you can participate, keep in mind that this is a community effort and we don’t have all the answers. Your calendar may already include activities we could make known to youth and parents who otherwise would not hear about them.
We look forward to speaking with you soon to discuss ways you can take a prominent role in the campaign. In the meantime, if you have any questions, contact me at 404-281-1858 or rockofescape@yahoo.com.
City Gates: Guarding A Generation
Partnership Facts
Problem: The crisis in our generation is rooted in belief and behavior – a Crisis of Character.
Goal: The overall goal is to promote and model good character to better life outcomes among youth and adults.
Method: The methods for solving the problem will vary from one group to another, but the solution involves everyone.
Outcomes: City Gates will increase awareness and examination of what is coming within the gates of our hearts, homes, schools, churches, organizations, businesses, and neighborhoods. The outcome will be increased measures to make these places attractive to others because of the joy, life and vision expressed there.
Today, too much of the work of character education has been transferred from homes to the schools. Character education “involves teaching children about basic human values including honesty, kindness, generosity, courage, freedom, equality, and respect. The goal is to raise children to become morally responsible, self-disciplined citizens. Problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution are important parts of developing moral character. Through role playing and discussions, students [youth and parents] can see that their decisions affect other people and things.”
Change Your Character, Change Your Destiny
By Christopher Weaver
Board Member, The Rock of Escape
What is missing in the lives of many youth and adults alike?
In one impacting word: character.
The Rock of Escape creative youth development organization is burdened by the call to nourish youth educationally, physically, spiritually, relationally, and economically.
We must understand that what is missing in the lives of our youth in the 21st century is intentional character development. The level of responsibility that will be attained by our youth will be ultimately determined by the level of character they possess. God will not give them anything that their character cannot support.
The Rock of Escape and our partners are dedicated to ensuring that a generation of boys and young men are equipped with the character to influence an ever changing society. “Character shapes what we think and how we act”
What is character? One definition states that character is a significant visual mark or symbol. In a world seemingly overtaken by darkness, there are a number of young men and women who are being raised up to be sources of hope in the midst of chaos. They are the future leaders who are being forged in humility, clothed with courage, and engraved with the character to do what is right. For it is in their hearts where dreams will be birthed and visions revealed. If their lives are not forged without a foundation of character, their leadership will lack
positive significance.
Gratefully, many in our generation want to be nourished so they can teach others a better way. Their character will be the sledgehammer for shaping other's destiny. Their character will be the image that inspires a generation to desire meaningfulness.
We must remember that character is not something that can be sought or acquired. It has to be developed. Helen Keller said character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Character: This is who we are diligently working to be solid and consistent
The Rock of Escape: Reaching for Greatness:
Our Guiding Principles
- Each One Counts: We make connections to impart
life principles.
- Willing to Serve: We take joy in serving those who are
willing to change.
- Love in Action: We see a vision of a better life for those
we serve.
- Outreach: We build relationships to empower others in
their conditions.
- Time to Give: We spend our greatest resources purposefully.
- Collaboration: We help others achieve with the support
of partners.
- Passionate: We use our time, talent, treasure and
influence purposefully.
- Volunteer Leadership: We encourage initiative, with integrity and respect.
- Communications: We take every opportunity to
celebrate life change.
The Rock of Escape was part of the Maximum Impact, an awesome volunteer outreach to people living around the Fulton Industrial Blvd/I-20 area. The day included free food, clothes, T-shirts, Sandals, Groceries and health and housing assessments. Pictured clockwise: Youth Volunteers from Poplar Spring United Methodist Church (one wearing the Keep South Fulton Beautiful mascot attire); actress Tabitha Christopher; youth basketball challenge; (center) “Mighty Five Commissioner Emma I. Darnell; and (bottom, left) Maximum Impact founder Drew Sewell of CKS Packaging, Inc. and event coordinator Lewis Autor. The event drew some 300 volunteers to show the impact of love coming to people in need.
