H.E.L.P. is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (I.A.F.), the oldest and largest national, congregation-based, community organizing network in the United States. Founded more than 60 years ago by Saul Alinsky, the I.A.F. works with more than 60 community organizations like H.E.L.P. across the United States, and in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa. These organizations have produced impressive results in training thousands of ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse leaders to take action on community, city, county and state issues.

WHAT DOES H.E.L.P. DO?

• H.E.L.P. is building a base of power so citizens can influence the institutions that affect their lives.
• H.E.L.P. engages congregation leaders in developing an agenda around issues that directly impact their lives, i.e. public schools, housing, youth, day care and transportation.
• H.E.L.P. identifies and trains new leaders in the skills of public life, i.e. identification of issues, meeting facilitation, research skills, techniques to mobilize people, and negotiation.

• Democracy is not merely voting but actively engaging in the public arena to solve challenges in our communities.
• The “Iron Rule”: Never do for others what they can do for themselves.
• Leaders are not born, but made.
• We believe in meeting face to face and developing the public relationships that are the glue of our society.
• We believe in building for power: power that is reciprocal, that is tempered by our religious traditions and power that creates a table that includes more people in the dynamics of public life.

• H.E.L.P. will work with the congregation to identify and develop new leaders.
• H.E.L.P. supports leaders in their efforts to effectively address the common, core issues that are impacting their lives and communities.
• H.E.L.P. will develop a diverse team of leaders to support the congregation’s internal development.

To learn more or get involved, speak to Rebecca MacNair-Semands or send an email to the church office.