Lucas Mihaijlo Tamburovic, b. 6/9/12, 6lb.13 oz.
Thursday 6/13
I arrived in Asheville Wednesday (yesterday), after all the birthing action had taken place.
Taking turns bunking in with Uncle Ray and Aunt Carolyn (photos to follow)
and Maxine (Rick's mom) and Walter Nelson.
Here's what I see so far...
One little tiny being can fully occupy three adults 24/7. (Seems I remember something like that) They even let me hold him some.
Mom (Claire) has shown great patience (7 days in the hospital, trials of nursing) Dad (David) is already an All-pro father with less than a week's experience with wipin', burpin', feedin'. Daddie's got game. Props to Melimaw
(Claire's mom) for yeowoman work during all this.
On the "ministry front".....
*I'm up here to begin the launch of Hope for the Carolinas.
What's that all about, you ask?
1 - I have aging parents and other relatives with challenging health issues whom we need to be attentive to as they become more frail. See Friday's blog for evidence. We're not thinking about abandoning S FL at all. We've never been more optimistic about Hope for Miami, but we need to be flexible and able to take care of those we love.
2 - For the past two years, I've been in contact with various sectors of the Asheville community inquiring about "service gaps" that exist here and throughout Western North Carolina (WNC). What I heard was:
a. Nothing much is being done in the areas of "positive youth development".
b. A growing Latino population is little-understood and under resourced.
c. The faith-community is not engaged in the needs of those around them and needs to be challenged, equipped and trained to bring "Shalom to WNC".
d. Current "capacity-building" is minimal among grassroots groups.
Long-term plans would be to possibly provide some or all of these services up here, certainly something that would take time, planning and effort.
In the short-run, "Hope for Family of Inmates?"
In talking with many of you, it seems doable to get one bonding visit started at one correctional center in a partnership with one church and one group of volunteers.
MY GOAL for the next two weeks....
1 - Follow up with wardens of three different correctional centers to cast the vision of bonding visits into their facilities. If we get some "buy-in", it could get interesting.
2- Meet with friends and those they know who have shown real interest in the issue of children of inmates to discuss engaging one church, some volunteers, a couple of vans and connecting them to the centers.
And then....if all of this were to fall into place, the next step would be bringing staff up here for more discussion with correctional center leadership, training of volunteers, identification of inmates and their children and other tasks.
First meeting with folks began today, Thursday 6/14.
Met with 15 individuals at Women at Risk to discuss what's happening in the Asheville area around the issue of children of inmates. The group was assembled by Melissa Radcliffe of Our Children's Place. (She was with us at the COI Symposium in April)
Here's what I learned.....
1 - As far as the issue of children of inmates on a state-wide level, no one is paying attention to these kids. No one tracks them, there is ZERO data..who they are, where they are, needs, etc. In short, kids of inmates are on no one's radar. Lots of interest in inmates, reentry, out-reach into the prisons, but little or no focus on children or families impacted by crime. The effort to gather data is just beginning.
2 - There is very little communication and awareness of the needs of the kids among state agencies and other entities.
3 - The need for making better use of technology to accomplish tasks.
4 - In tackling the work of reaching the children and their families, it might be best to work "regionally" (ie. Western NC, Asheville as "center", Central, Charlotte, and other major cities and Eastern NC, Raleigh, Durham, and east to the coast.
In terms of the situation in Asheville, we were told that...
"Community Resource Councils"(CRCs) exist for each of the three Centers and are designed to supply resources and support for Center staff and inmates.
1 - The Swannanoa Women's Correctional Center is easily the most "accessible" of the three Centers in Asheville (the other two are men's) The local CRC has, for years, reached out to Center staff and inmates. "Faith groups" have been particularly involved.
2 - There are other local entities that offer services and support for youth and kids that could play a role in weaving a "Shalom fabric" for Families of Inmates purposes. As I get out and ask questions the next two weeks, I hope to have more info and insight.
PLEASE PRAY
1 - For discussions with correctional center leaders, that I would listen effectively to the needs that are expressed (in spite of having an undeniable agenda!) and show a servant heart. It is key that we develop solid relationships with the centers from the jump.
2 - For time with those who have expressed interest in what Hope for Miami is all about and who are willing to talk about launching out-reach to children with incarcerated parents. There are folks here who are well networked, have a heart to serve God and others and who I will urge to "own" this new potential initiative as theirs.
*
PS, Give me your feedback on this initial effort at a Hope for the Carolinas logo. You like the colors? Remember, we're not in Miami!
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