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In 1986, while pastoring the First Christian Church of Lynwood, we discovered was a community suffering profound, agonizing needs; a community ravaged by gangs, drugs and violence. We began to explore how we could use the resources of our congregation to impact the downward spiral of our community.
The answer was to create, in partnership with the City of Lynwood, the first Project IMPACT Center at the First Christian Church.
All of us at Project IMPACT are inspired by faith to engage in practical action. We believe that communities can and will reduce levels of violence through self and community empowerment. To that end, Project IMPACT leaders and staff develop and put into practice processes that enable individuals to take action to control and improve their lives.
Through the offering of five core services: tutoring, counseling, job training and placement, parent education and mentoring, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation of lives and families.
But no one can do it alone. Project IMPACT has created a successful model for bringing together diverse people and resources to reduce hopelessness and build reconciliation. Working together with others we are reweaving the social fabric of our communities.
The Vision of Project IMPACT is to implement a nationally-recognized, best-practices model of reconciliation that reduces youth violence in the most "at-risk" communities across the United States. We envision a future where... Churches of all faith backgrounds work intentionally to build capacity among their members to meet the challenges of today's youth.
Community organizations work hand in hand with members of churches to offer hope, opportunity and support for the dreams of needy children, youth and families.
Our work results in new knowledge and tools for community betterment and people development. Children find hope in the future, and life is no longer meaning-less to them.