Calvin Honors Community Partners

April 23, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Deb Armstrong, a case manager at Inner City Christian Federation's Family
Haven, will be honored by Calvin College as its 2004 Agent of Renewal at
Calvin's third annual Community Partnership Celebration on April 27.

The event will be held this year at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
(UICA) at 5:30 p.m.

Carol Rienstra, director of community relations at Calvin, notes that the
Agent of Renewal award is given each year to someone who "is offering his or
her heart and life to promoting God's Kingdom in a way that inspires others to
catch the vision of 'making all things new.'"

Adds Rienstra: "We want to celebrate and learn from community partners who
faithfully work to bring about justice and positive change in the community."

According to ICCF, Family Haven provides "clean, dignified and private
shelter" via five efficiency apartments that can accommodate homeless families
free of charge for up to 30 days. During their stay, families work with staff
to identify the issues that led to their homelessness and to secure permanent
housing. In addition to shelter and supportive services, Family Haven has a
clothing pantry, a food pantry and offers activities for children staying at
the Haven.

In 2003 Family Haven served 79 families and 186 children with an average stay
of 23 nights.

In her work at Family Haven, Armstrong has been a willing liaison for Calvin
students who want to deepen their understanding about cultures different from
their own. The college students who work with her present glowing reports
about personality, Christian commitment and charisma, according to Jeff Bouman,
director of Calvin's Service-Learning Center.

Also highlighted at next week's celebration will be the collaborative efforts
of:

*Calvin professor of social work professor Fred DeJong and Ken Van Woerkom,
supervisor of juvenile probation officers for 17th Circuit Court
*Calvin history professor Randal Jelks and New Century Montessori principal
Steve Stegink
*Calvin chef Tim England and Doug Frens, president of South Hill Neighborhood
Association
*Calvin student Jessica Coleman and Garfield Development Corporation president
Sue DeVries on an effort to plan and teach Spanish classes in Burton Heights
(where several organizations collaborate with Calvin on a Community Outreach
Partnership Center grant from the U.S. Department of HUD, Office of University
Partnerships).

Previous Agent of Renewal award recipients include Nolan and Julia Groce,
president of L&G Industrial Products; and Sr. Maureen Geary, coordinator of the
Grand Rapids Area Housing Continuum of Care. Both the Groces and Geary have
worked with Calvin staff and students on projects ranging from planning a
computer camp for urban youth to educating students about urban sprawl issues.

NOTE: For more information, call Rienstra at 616-526-6175

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Received on Fri Apr 23 10:44:53 2004