Youth Expo: a Summer Kickoff!

One of the fun aspects of my job as Director of Contexual Ministry at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago is that I get to attend meetings of community organizations and community events. I took the pictures below in May when the Alderman's office co-sponsored a Youth Expo along with Pasha Hunt-Golliday, Executive Director of Washington Park & Area Homeowners Association. Pasha did an outstanding job attracting vendors that ranged from health services, early childhood development centers, literacy, Housing Authority (featuring a scholarship program, entrepreneurial youth organizations (one bought their silk screening apparatus and demonstrated silk screening while also selling their wares).

Pasha and I both serve on the Alderman's 20th Ward Women's Auxiliary. There were so many things going on the day of the Youth Expo that none of the other members were able to attend. They were off doing other things. I had offered to staff a resource table for the Women's Auxiliary. So I put together a flyer for the table, went by the Alderman's office and gathered up some resource materials for the table. A large number of new books and magazines were donated for the table that we gave away as freebies. I made a sign and that attracted a lot of traffic. While we had a lot of vendors the Expo did not draw as many youth as I am sure the promoters would have liked.

The Women's Auxiliary was started by Alderman Willie Cochran. The focus of the Women's Auxiliary is youth, parent involvement and literacy. We have identified a school that has a parent safety patrol program that needs to be expanded. We have targetted the school to focus on to help increase the parent involvement.

So what does all this have to do with what I do at the School? It is all about building relationships in the community and getting familiar with the resources.

Question: What is your involvement in your community? How do you give back and show your support? How might the gifts that you have to offer benefit the community?
Blessings! Rev. Qiyamah


l-r Sista Muhammad, a former Olympic track medalist and Willie Cochran, 20th Ward Alderman and retired policeman


Willie Cochran, 20th Ward Alderman - Cochran was elected last year and replaced a black woman Alderman that is being prosecuted for mismanagement of funds. People speculate that she will go to prison. He is doing a great job and I am observing politics on the ground. It appears that short of the Board of Education that Alderman and City Council are the most accessible route to civic involvement for citizens that want to be directly involved in influencing county and city government.


One of the vendors provided free massages for the Expo participants.


left - Pasha Hunt-Golliday, the organizer of the Youth Expo


This is the flyer that I created for the table I staffed. It is a simple skill using microsoft word's template and clip art. I created and printed the flyer at the Alderman's office. He has promised flyers and a banner for future events! I plan to hold him to it!

Changes

vision from the past! My locs are no more. picture taken in Charlotte, NC during a dinner at which My sister Betty came to visit me around 2006.

Changes are afoot in my life beginning with my hair. My locs are no more. Sista Niela, a Yoruba Priestess faciitated an intense ceremony to cut my locs off. The ceremony included invoking the presence of the sacred and divine, prayers and thanks before and after my locs were cut. This was followed by dancing and music. Sista Niela ushered me through this important ceremony that allowed me a greater appreciation of the need for increased
prayer and devotion during this period of change in my life.

Question: What in your life do you need to let go to move to the next level in your life? Who do you need to invite into your life to help facilitate that change?

Blessings! Rev. Qiyamah




Office of Sankofa - Chicago, IL 2007


May 30, 2009 short fro - Getting ready for changes in my life! l-r Qiyamah and Kaleema (daughter) in Austin, TX


2006 Qiyamah with an afro at former home in Charlotte, NC


Sista Naila doing her magic!



Lookin' good! Ready, set, going for my new look and new life!

Teaching Pastors Advisory Group

Changes are always challenging. However, the Teaching Pastors Advisory Group has facilitated the transition toward our New Meadville Lombard Education Model. The role that the Teaching Pastors have been assigned is that of theological coach for students. They are partnered at the onset of the student's matriculation until their completion of the Masters of Divinity (MDiv.)

We salute these pioneers as they work to ensure excellence in ministry!
Blessing! Rev. Qiyamah


l-r Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher, Qiyamah A. Rahman and Brian Covell


l-r background Rev. Brian Covell and Rev. Dr. John Tolley foreground Dr. Sharon Welch, Provost


l-r Rev. Dr. Susie Pangerl and Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher

Mother's Day in Mo Town!

I had an opportunity to hang out with family in Detroit this past Mother's Day. It is always a pleasure to see my family and particularly those I see so seldom and to catch up on graduations, birthdays, report cards, new babies, new houses, cars and other accomplishments.Besides still having my mother around who is sound of body and a strong prayer warrior it was good to see my sister-in-law, Sandra healing from recent surgery. We are all holding her in prayer.

May our family continue to grow stong and come together !
in love, laughter and friendship
Blessing! Rev. Qiyamah

see below some of the beautiful faces of a few of my family members!