Community Empowerment (DRAFT)
Last Updated on April 6, 2023 by Rocklyn Clarke
Empowering Our Communities
At Life Church we are committed to empowering our communities!
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)
This web page outlines a proposal to develop resources to give believers the tools they need to help empower their communities.
Purpose
- Provide believers with strategies and tactics for helping our communities to address their needs.
Product
- Hope!
- Strategies – A set of approaches based on a big picture understanding of the political environment that affects our communities.
- Tactics – Short term actions that help to achieve community empowerment strategies.
- Tools – Videos and web pages that help community members to effectively engage the political process.
Plan
What topics should the videos cover?
- How to run for elected office.
- How to be selected for appointed office.
- How to develop legislation, regulations, and other forms of public policy.
- How do I achieve a desired public policy outcome?
- One or more roadmaps for achieving the result.
- One or more success stories in which the result or a similar one was achieved.
How will we select the topics that the videos should cover?
- Survey community members to determine an initial set of community needs that might be addressed via political engagement.
Are there any models for the video content and format?
- The Bible Project – The many videos available from the Bible Project are a potential model for the types of videos we want to produce for this web site.
- America – Three Ring Government – Schoolhouse Rock – YouTube (00:02:58)
- I’m Just a Bill – Schoolhouse Rock – YouTube (00:03:03)
- How a bill really becomes a law: What Schoolhouse Rock missed – YouTube (00:01:37)
What will it cost to make the videos?
- ImagoPraise – This is a collection of videos of music written by Pastor Eva Clarke. While the videos are NOT offered as models for our community empowerment videos, they are a potentially useful point of reference since they include live action and animation and we have complete information about what it cost to produce them.
Political Resources
These links are potential sources for video topics.
- Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement
- How To Run For Office In Massachusetts
- Mass Alliance
- Run For Something
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Elections
- Teaching For Democracy Alliance
| Budget Item | Cost | |
| Executive Director | $60.000 | |
| Administrative Assistant | $40.000 | |
| Web Manager | ||
