"Thanks for Giving" Celebration Set at West Dumas Family Life Center

               Happening Now- The Launch of our GoFundMe for Redevelopment the West Dumas Community Family Life Center

gofundme.com/uq6fadvq

                                            

2015 City PRIDE “Thanks for Giving” Awards and Festival Day—

November 14th West Dumas Community Family Life Center

12noon-3pm | 501 West Bowles| Dumas, AR| 71639

The Happenings:

A Celebration of Delta Creativity, Music, Arts, Food, Families and more is on the way. 2015 City PRIDE “Thanks for Giving” Festival Day is just around the corner— It is the 10th year of the Annual “Thanks for Giving” Celebration now with the added City PRIDE boys and girls and youth and young adult features.

This event motivates youth and young adults to go forth with their dreams and goals in pursuit of their God-ordained careers as they continue in school or enter the workforce. The awards segment has awarded over 10 leaders and businesses who have given much to the community and we say to them- ‘Thanks for Giving” with a special award.

The festival brings the city together and attracts persons from across to Delta to come and celebrate City P.R.I.D.E.- Positive Results in Dumas- Everyday. Past Festival Days have brought over 1,000 persons to the West Dumas Community Family Life Center Festival Days. Here is a list of some of the highlights in the works:

Ø Positive Awards to Youth and Young Adults; includes talent and creative contest for youth and aspiring creative talents to win scholarships with “earn while you learn” benefits.

Ø 2015 Mentor/Leadership/Service Awards to Proven Leaders of Service

Ø Literacy and Book Fair

Ø College Recruitment Fair

Ø Workforce Empowerment Zone with Job Opportunities

Ø Holiday Vendor Expo- Inviting small businesses and startup businesses to bring a table of goods to “show and sell” just in time for the holiday gifts.

Ø A “Taste of the Churches” Yes- their love and holiday joy but also ‘a taste of great holiday food showcasing their best recipes and cooks’

LAST YEAR IN REVIEW

2014 Annual “Thanks For Giving” Celebration

A Taste of New Orleans Returns to Dumas for Thanksgiving

 Saying “thanks for giving” to God and to volunteers in a gathering with community, family, food and fellowship with a taste of New Orleans sampled into a traditional holiday menu will be the happenings this Saturday, November 15th from 11am-2pm, at the West Dumas Community Family Life Center located at 501 West Bowles St in Dumas.Also returning is the community “Taste of the Churches” where participating churches bring a table of food decorated in their festive creative design and everyone gets to get a “taste of the churches.”  A barn-fire styled station will be set up for youth to get their “hugs and hot dogs” and roasted marshmallows.

Pastor Charles Johnson of Way Maker Ministries, New Orleans, Louisiana will deliver the official “Thanks for Giving” keynote address and he will bring deep-fried Cajun turkeys which will be served up with homemade soups and chili.  City P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Results in Dumas-Everyday), HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith and Way Maker Ministries of New Orleans and local ministries will also present the 2014 “Thanks For Giving” Awards and the final community food distribution of the year which includes special gifts of household goods to include toiletries, health and beauty products and food items just in time for the Thanksgiving meal. A special visit from the SNAP program will feature Ms. Lynn Sudderth, SNAP Outreach Field Manager. The SNAP Outreach Field Manager works with under served populations who are eligible for SNAP benefits but are currently not enrolled, trains agencies and volunteers to help eligible individuals apply for SNAP benefits.

The awards ceremony will take place at 1pm and one of the recipients will be Mayor James Berry who was instrumental in helping to launch City P.R.I.D.E.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations/contributions are requested and will be received to assist with the ongoing food service and outreach efforts for 2015.

Note:  In case of extreme cold we will be at HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith located at 224 Walnut at Waterman in Dumas- please stop by the Life Center prior to proceeding to HMC).

Sunday's In The Summer- City P.R.I.D.E. Moves Forward

                                    Who We Are-What We Do
                                                 Welcome to Dumas/Desha- AR

 A new America calls for new initiatives. After months of careful and prayerful preparation, City PRIDE arrives in Dumas and Desha County. P.R.I.D.E. is the acronym for "Positive Results in Dumas Every Day" and expands to Positive Results in Desha Every Day and will have a greater impact when it reaches Positive Results in (the) Delta and in DC Every Day.

The word pride has two connotations most often conveyed.  One is the pride of arrogance, the other, the pride of dignity and honor.  City PRIDE focuses on the latter.  It derives its strength from a people/population that works together in principles of love, unity, non-violence, humility in partnerships with community organizations including but not limited to churches, schools, colleges, governmental agencies and media networks.

Happening Now... 

Sunday's In The Summer

What's is there to do in Dumas, AR this Summer?  HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith,  the program partner for City P.R.I.D.E.  does not confess to know all the happenings but we do want to do our part.

To get started, here's what we are doing from our church location, HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith

Beginning Sunday, July 6, HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith start their new summer ministry and worship schedule.  “Sunday’s in the Summer” is the theme and includes other programs and opportunities lined up for the summer.  

8:30am-8:45:  The Cathedral Café- Hour of Power opens with a continental breakfast.  

8:45am — 9:45am: The “Hour of Power— Worship and Teaching Service” takes place in the Cathedral Cafe.  

9:45am-10am: HMC leads a national prayer call with the National Day of Prayer Task Force and the morning service concludes.  Any person desiring prayer can call in at:

712.432.0075 and enter the passcode 4961322# and receive prayer.

HMC also has a Wednesday 4pm–5pm Community Bible Study and both Sunday and Wednesday services are open to the entire community and everyone is welcome. 

CITY P.R.I.D.E.   

Check back weekly for our opening event with Hug's and Hot Dog's.   This is always a great time for some good old-fashioned hot dogs with games and hugs to top it off.   This year we will add some special food  and household product give-a-ways.

For more information and how you can get involved please email hmcministries@aol.com or call 870.623.8179

Recent Happenings...
Spring Break and Time to... "Getup, Cleanup, Lift-up”

It's time to get moving- Fundraising for summer fun and projects.$5 Bumper Stickers and $15 PRIDE T-shirts help get us started. Bumper Stickers are free gifts  for those parking at the West Dumas Family Life Center and want to donate to the redevelopment efforts and to youth who are picking up some pocket change for the projects being planned for them this summer. 
Following the Day of Empowerment with Dr. Michael R. Twyman, Director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Institute on Race and Ethnicity, with the forum focusing on diversity and community development last month at the Dumas Community Center, on Saturday March 22, 2014, City P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Results in Dumas-Everyday), Day of Empowerment Series hits the streets at the West Dumas Community Family Life Center.   The theme of the weekend is “Starting at Home— Getup, Cleanup, Lift-up,” and focuses on getting the areas around the West Dumas Community Life Center cleaned up... challenging the entire community to ‘getup’ and as we all ‘lift up’ one another as we lift up our heads in community pride and in thanksgiving to God.

  The action steps outlined at the forum focused on doing outreach in preparation for the spring and summer activities.  Activities will include distribution of food in association with the Arkansas Food Bank, cleanup in the park, surveys for youth and young adults who are looking for summer employment and educational opportunities and the release of the City P.R.I.D.E. Youth Empowerment Initiative. The City P.R.I.D.E. t-shirts will be modeled for the first time throughout the weekend at various community events.

 The event is being presented by HMC-Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith, The College of Aspiring Artists and Way Maker Ministries. 

 Persons and organizations who want to team up with City P.R.I.D.E. may call 870.377.1955. The conference and luncheon is free but donations are desired and appreciated.

Dr. Michael R. Twyman, Director of the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity Keynotes at City P.R.I.D.E. DOE

Happening Now- 

Dr. Michael R. Twyman, Director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Institute on Race and Ethnicity, will be the Keynote Speaker and Panelist for the City P.R.I.D.E. Day of Empowerment (DOE).  The event is scheduled at two locations.  From 8am-9am, a one-hour prayer and praise celebration focusing on prayers for the city, county and nation will take place at HMC located at 228 Waterman Street and at 10am the Forum/Luncheon will convene at the Dumas Community City located at 18 Belmont Drive. 

Here's what the University of Arkansas is saying about our work...

http://ualr.edu/race-ethnicity/2015/06/01/dumas-citizens-work-to-improve-community/

Note:  City P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Results in Dumas-Everyday... also expands to… Positive Results in Desha- the Delta and in DC- Everyday)
Details at:  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-pride-doe-days-of-empowerment-2014-opening-session-tickets-10545035485

DOE: Days of Empowerment Kickoff by HMC-Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith

On Saturday February 22, 2014, City P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Results in Dumas-Every Day), HMC- Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith, The College of Aspiring Artists, Way Maker Ministries of New Orleans and DCA- Delta Citizens Alliance of Greenville, MS are teaming up with local ministries, businesses and individuals in Dumas and in Desha county to present the opening session of City P.R.I.D.E.  Days of Empowerment (DOE) is the expansion initiative of the program that began with a monthly serving of a community meal along with the distribution of food and necessity items to families across the region.

 
Dr. Michael R. Twyman, Director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Institute on Race and Ethnicity, will be the Keynote Speaker and Panelist for the Day of Empowerment (DOE).  The event is scheduled at two locations.  From 8am-9am, a one-hour prayer and praise celebration focusing on prayers for the city, county and nation will take place at HMC located at 228 Waterman Street and at 10am the Forum/Luncheon will convene at the Dumas Community City located at 18 Belmont Drive.  

 During the forum, panelists from within the city and county and from across the state will focus on topics to include:  Education- A New Way Forward, Diversity and Race Relations, Community-Based Mentoring, The Creative Economy and Wealth Creation, The Role of the Church in the New America and Healthy and Prosperous Living. Pastor Charles L. Johnson of Way Maker Ministries of New Orleans, Louisiana and Mr. Larry Williams of DCA-Delta Citizens Alliance of Greenville, Mississippi will lead in the panel discussions promoting their joint venture efforts with Arkansas programs and initiatives.  Other panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.  A special report on poverty reduction and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will come from the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus along with a first-look at their upcoming conference at the Clinton Presidential Center.  

 Last year the conference took place on June 29^th and brought together city officials, state and national leaders who toured Dumas and parts of Desha County with the goal of staying connected and working towards greater advancements in spiritual, social and economy advancements for all residents. This year City P.R.I.D.E. will add an array of programs ranging from food services, health and wellness concepts, scholarship vouchers from The College of Aspiring Artists and new developments inside the creative economy that promise to add P.R.I.D.E. and opportunities to many persons in Dumas and Desha and the Delta.   In 2013 over 1,000 persons were served through City P.R.I.D.E.

“We began with meal and food distribution but we know that providing what is needed to improve the total spiritual, mental and physical needs in the community is what ministry and community service must do in order to be effective in transforming lives.   We are also very much aware of the reports from the USDA and the Arkansas Department of Human Services, etc., that convey that there are tens of thousands of seniors and persons in Arkansas who are food insecure in that they don’t have enough to eat or are at the risk of going hungry.  City P.R.I.D.E. is at work saying that we along with others are producing… Positive Results In Dumas- Everyday.”  (Rev. Arthur L. Hunt, Jr., D.D., Senior Pastor, HMC)

Persons and organizations who want to team up with City P.R.I.D.E. may call 870.623.8179. The conference and luncheon is free but donations are desired and appreciated.