On May 16 the Neighborhood Resource Center, an organization promoting the development and growth of neighborhood associations in Albany, awarded Tom McPheeters the Thomas J. Senchyna Neighborhood Service Award, a well-deserved accolade for his more than 30 years of activism in Albany.  Prominently mentioned were his role in ARISE with local hiring from stressed neighborhoods for the Albany school facilities revitalization, and similar efforts with the proposed Albany Convention Center, in addition to his roles leading fundraising for the Grand Street Community Arts Center, and a neighborhood affordable housing program on Grand Street.  Mentioned were his unique blend of vision, creativity, perseverance and strategic planning, to which we could add his keen reporter’s sense of the political winds. Congratulations, Tom!!
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Regional Clergy Holy Ground Gathering
Thursday May 11, 2006 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, after a concerted effort by ARISE clergy at outreach and invitation, 30 pastors and leaders showed up for ARISE's very exciting and successful clergy meeting on Holy Ground,
including 14 guest congregations and 4 political leaders representing all three counties.  The purpose of the gathering was for clergy and public officials to learn about the ARISE Holy Ground Campaign which will take place June 24 in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy.

The goal is 5 people from each of 20 member and 30 guest organizations, which is, potentially, 250 people committing on June 10 to a door-to-door listening presence in poor neighborhoods throughout the Capital District.   This has the potential to be the most powerful action ARISE has yet done, with press, powerful visibility in the neighborhoods which need hope, stronger relationships with city and county officials, and terrific recruitment potential for new member congregations.

Mayors Jennings and Tutunjian have agreed to do July Summits following our walks.  Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino sent a representative and a letter of support.  Schenectady County Legislature Chair Susan Savage sent Legislator Philip Fields to signal her support.

There were 4 new Catholic guests, 5 new Presbyterian guests, 4 African American pastors, and Imam Kobeisy from the Islamic Center of the Capital District.

Between this event, the clergy breakfasts that have been going on, and the Catholic Charities covenant, ARISE now has the potential to involve over 20 member congregations and 30 guest congregations in the Holy Ground walks: 50 congregations total!
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Schenectady ARISE church fellowship dinner - May 5, 2006
Organizations represented:  Emmanuel-Friedens Church, First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, Friendship Baptist Church, Iglesia de Dios, Mt. Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, Sacred Heart/St. Columba Church, State Street Presbyterian Church, Vale Community Organization.

Approximately 25 people from eight ARISE churches came together for a potluck dinner for food, fellowship, and to share stories and ideas about what their churches are doing out in the community and beyond.  The projects described were varied, from free computer classes, to nursing home visits, to “Green Sanctuary” energy conservation, smart growth, to awards for high school kids who work to provide a safe place so that no violence is done to kids because of their sexual orientation, to working with Alzheimer patients, to providing safe drinking water for villages in the third world, to fundraising for various causes.  One activity, prison ministry, stood out, however, because so many of the churches at the dinner work in that area.  

It is hoped that these ARISE Schenectady churches will find more ways to share experiences with each other in the future, and perhaps work together on common interest projects such as prison ministry.
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Albany ARISE church fellowship dinner -Wednesday, May 10
Organizations represented:  Albany Lutheran Cluster, Altamont Reformed Church, Artists’ All-Faith Center, Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition, Christ the King RCC, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, Holy Family RCC, Interfaith Alliance, Trinity United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The evening focus was on food, fellowship, and sharing ideas one to one.  Many of the same types of church activities as the Schenectady dinner surfaced, such as prison ministry.  Having formed new bonds of friendship, subsequent meetings will be more productive of group ideas.
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Sunday, May 21, Deb Baumes, Rebecca Sheffer and Paula Simpson hawked hotdogs outside Grossman’s Bargain Outlet as a fundraiser for ARISE, and to further spread the word about who we are and the work we do.  It was not a huge money maker, but they did get the word out.

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Upcoming events
Thursday, June 1 Rensselaer ARISE Church Fellowship Dinner, 5:30-7 PM

Thursday, June 1, Gamaliel Clergy Caucus Meeting in Chicago, to be attended by ARISE Representative Rev. Stan Skinner.

Monday, June 5, special discussion of Jay Gallagher’s book on Albany politics “The Politics of Decline,” at Westminster Presbyterian, sponsored by the Regional Renewal Task Force, 7-8:30 PM

Thursday, June 8, Clergy Caucus meeting at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1-2:30PM (2nd Thursday of each month)

Saturday, June 10, Holy Ground Training, Emmanuel Friedens Church, 9:30AM-noon.

Monday, June 19, Regional Renewal Task Force meeting at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany (3rd Monday of each month) 7-8:30PM; Jay Gallagher will attend to discuss his book on New York politics

Tuesday, June 20, Youth & Education Task Force Meeting @ Westminster Presbyterian, 1-2PM

Saturday, June 24 Holy Ground Walks in three cities, 11AM- 2PM.

Wednesday, June 28, Corporate Breakfast, 7:30-9AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, July 11, ARISE Board Meeting, Westminster Presbyterian Church (usually the 1st Tuesday - alternate months at Emmanuel Friedens in Schenectady and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany) 7-8:30PM

July 21-22, NY State Thruway Alliance training for 60 from around the state at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albany, noon Friday to noon  Saturday.