It is wonderful that downtown New Haven is compact. It is unnecessary to make choices about which event to support when it is possible to do almost all.
Olde Blue, at the Colony Inn, provided the setting for New Haven Family Alliance to honor Rev. Frederick “Jerry” Streets He is one of the most unassuming and gracious members of the clergy in the region; as the first African-American and the first Baptist to hold the position of chaplain of Yale University, he may be one of the most respected Baptist preachers and scholars in the country. Preaching in the New Milennium is his latest scholarly offering, an anthology of sermons at the University that chronicles the past and present nature of religious life at that institution.
On hand to welcome guests was Barbara Tinney , executive director, with her staff and members of the agency’s board of directors. Spotted among the early arrivals were Sheila Allen Bell (New Haven’s administrator of social services), Alderwoman Shirley Ellis-West , Erika Lee (WTNH-Channel 8) and Dan Santos (Crest Lincoln Mercury).
A few short blocks away, and keeping with the theme of humility, the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven was hosting a “Community Conversation” at Christ Church’s Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen. The room was peppered with social service agency staff members and some of their clients counterbalanced with those representing the donor segment. While no solicitation was intended, there could not have been more effective demonstrations of the impact that the agencies have had on the lives of those they serve. If what those who give want are “measurable results,” they certainly got some. The ever gracious Laura Berry, the executive vice president of the Foundation, welcomed the assemblage to the conversations to be facilitated by Charlie Pillsbury in his role as executive director of Community Mediation’s Dialogue Project. Steve Koch , newly appointed assistant director and Reed Smith (at center in photo) of the Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (Dialogue’s sponsoring partner) were also participants along with Rachel Herema ; working for CMI, she is specifically charged with managing this initiative. David Schaefer (attorney and Foundation board member) and Barbara Pearce (realtor and incoming chairman of the board of the Foundation when she steps down as chair of the United Way) chatted with staffers Angel Fernandez , Lee Cruz, Lynn Andrewsen and President and CEO Will Ginsberg. Herrick Jackson, Peter Curtis, and Lindy Gold were among the representatives wearing multiple hats as philanthropists, volunteers and their own agency affiliations. The star of the evening was Laura Barry’s daughter, Elizabeth, a high school student at Choate. Although she is taking a course in community (aka “noblesse oblige”), she could be teaching it — what a standout. She is certainly earning a lot more than course credits. She gave us hope that we are replaceable and the work will be sustained.
To the question, do we ever get tired? A resounding “NO.” This energizing. All of this stimulating activity is for —¬¶ — ¬¶you know — ¬¶..“The Greater Good”!