September

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Festival of Faiths and Cultures
On Saturday, September 6, 2008 Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls participated in the Annual Festival of Faiths and Cultures event at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Beleville, IL.  During this event Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls had a booth were visitors were able to make their very own peace poles.  Participants were able to decorate their poles with the phrase “may peace prevail on earth” in several different languages.  When finished participates were instructed to put their poles in their own gardens to symbolize how they will work towards peace.  This was a wonderful event to bring people together to enjoy music, food and family fun.

Click Here for Pictures!

August

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Opening the Eyes of Students and Faculty to the Reality of Poverty
On Tuesday, August 19, 2008 students from Washington University participated in a Community Action Agency Poverty Simulation.  With over 70 students and faculty participating in the poverty simulation, they soon found out how difficult it was to meet the one goal; pay the bills.  After students and faculty completed the simulation, they had a debriefing where they were given statistics of poverty in St. Louis.  Students were also given options on ways they could get involved to help change the issue of poverty.  Special thanks to Natalie Kress and Stephanie Kurtzman of Washington University!

Sunday, August 16, 2008
Outdoor Fun in the Sun: Ivory Perry Park Back to School Fun Fair  
On Sunday, August 16, 2008 Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls co sponsored the 4th Annual Ivory Perry Park Back to School Fun Fair in partnership with Alderman Frank Williamson and the West End Neighborhood Association.  The event took place at Ivory Perry Park.  Wellness vendors provided community resources and health screenings.  The vendors present were, Healthy Kids Express Asthma Program, Kids Under Twenty One, Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, Drug- Free Marshals, Abraham’s Children Project, St. Louis City Health Department (lead screening and education), and the Office of Minority Health. To keep the children active and entertained, Time For Fun provided safe and fun activities that promoted physical activity and BeBe the Clown Productions provided face painting.  DJ Angela Newsome kept the party jumpin, while volunteers distributed complimentary hotdogs and bottled water. At the end of the event Alderman Frank Williamson, support staff and volunteers distributed 300 backpacks filled with schools supplies. 

Click Here for Pictures!

July

SLICE WEEK 4 July 21-25, 2008
Youth of Various Faith Groups Join Together to Revitalize Lydia’s House & Gravois Park
During the final week of SLICE (St. Louis Interfaith Community Exploration), nearly 30 youth from Covenant Presbyterian Church, Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, and from Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) united to work together on Lydia’s House and Gravois Park.  Lydia’s House provides transitional housing for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence.  The youth helped to paint doors, trash cans, and picnic tables.  They also helped with laundry and organization.  The youth then helped to revive Gravois Park, a local Weed and Seed area.  Operation Weed and Seed works with parks in underserved, high-crime neighborhoods to prevent and reduce drug abuse, violence, and gang activity. The youth helped by mulching trees, picking up litter and cleaning the restrooms.  Overall, the groups did an amazing job at both sites.  Special thanks to the alderman and other community leaders that helped make this project possible. 

Click Here for Pictures!

Saturday, July 12, 2008
1st Annual Back to School Health Fair for Northside Team Ministry
On Saturday, July 12, 2008 Interfaith Partnership/ Faith Beyond Walls partnered with Northside Team Ministry for the 1st Annual WISE STEPS Back to School Health Fair & Rally.  The outdoor event took place on the blocked off 19th street.  Wellness vendors lined both sides of the street, as food vendors provided complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and snow cones for the entire family. Time for Fun provided safe and fun activities for children that promoted physical activity.  Operation Food Search engaged the children in a game of food and nutrition bingo.  BeBe the Clown Productions provided face painting for the children. Grace Hill provided blood pressure screenings for seniors and adults. St. Louis City Department of Health provided lead screenings for children. In addition, the St. Louis City Fire Department, and other vendors such as Mercy Care Plus, Office of Minority Health, Children’s Advocacy Services, American Heart Association, the Healthy Kids Express Asthma Program and Cardinal Glennon were in attendance to share community resources and health information.  DJ G, with My New Life Music, provided inspirational music.  In total we were able to successfully serve over 150 children and their families by providing health education, health screenings, and school supplies.  Next year the 2nd Annual event will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2009.

Click Here for Pictures!