These post provide ongoing opportunity to see what Trellis is up to and how we are supporting and connecting with organizations to help build stronger communities together.

Brooklyn Go & See*

Tamara Johnson from the Ingersoll Community Center inspiring the students about the beautiful efforts flowing out of the center into Fort Greene

The summer season in New York means that mission teams made up of eager high school and college students from around the country will descend upon the city.

Recently, Trellis had the opportunity to spend time with the Paris, TX Young Life crew to show them around Brooklyn. One of goals is to introduce them to organizations doing incredible work in serving at-risk populations. During our time with the leaders and teams, we were able to introduce them to

Recovery House of Worship - Here the Young Life crew were able to serve and hear from some of the folks benefiting from the supportive services provided at RHOW
Teen Challenge Brooklyn - We had the chance to join them for chapel and then hear powerful testimonies from a few of the lives transformed through this important ministry in the city
Ingersoll Community Center - On our last day with the team, we brought them to hear of the amazing work being done in Fort Greene through the center as they serve all ages in the community through a variety of grassroots programs

Beyond introducing them to these organizations and the beautiful people that make up and are blessed through their efforts, we were also able to help the students see the necessity and value of collaboration. Our heart is that beyond the exposure to these opportunities, they would be inspired to go back and see how these collaborative efforts could work back home.

The Faith Community and Restorative Justice

June 9th, Trellis was honored to participate in a panel discussion at Brooklyn Borough Hall, put on by Common Justice. This forum's goal was to equip and inspire the faith community in how to be involved in alternatives to incarceration and how to receive men and women moving back into the neighborhood after jail-time. It was a powerful time hearing stories from the panel and their experiences working on the ground with those facing and dealing with long prison sentences. This was also an amazing chance to hear from and get to know other churches and organizations like Healing Communities, with a desire for and active ministry in these areas.

Meeting Jesus in the Hood

60 plus kids singing about Jesus after hearing about the harm of retaliation from the Metro Kids team

Founded in 1980 in New York, Metro World Child is a powerful, now international, organization ministering to children in some of the most dangerous and under-served areas of the city and the world.

The Yoga Bear Bus sets up shop in neighborhoods around the city throughout the school year bringing fun, practical teaching and love to these kids. In recent years, the ministry has moved to actively partnering with neighborhood churches to serve and bless these kids and their families together.

At Trellis, we come away from these meetings and moments so grateful for the many organizations around the city doing incredible work. Our hope is to continue to see, strengthen and support more of these collaborations.

*Borrowing a term from CCDA, where during their yearly conference, they invite attendees to go and see the great collaborative work among churches and non-profits are going on in the host city