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What is DeVos Urban Leadership and what is the neXus Leadership Initiative and how will it aid Boston's youth workers?
Urban youth workers play a critical part in building our cities and yet the work comes with high burnout, trauma and feelings of isolation and being under supported. In 2006, a study found that Christian youth workers in Boston wanted an organized center of practical training and support. While resources are available to youth workers, there are very few places that are equipped or committed to train, develop and support Christian youth workers, especially those who take into consideration the spiritual worldview and unique mix of challenges that these youth workers face. In January 2006, a collaboration of organizations (Boston TenPoint, EGC, BMA, CUME, CYS, BUYF) serving youth in Boston launched a collaboration called neXus Boston to train and support Christian urban youth workers, help them work together more effectively, and conduct applied research to bridge the gap between the theory and the practice of youth services.
Then in 2007, neXus Boston saw the need for a deeper level of training. neXus Boston built upon the research and curriculum of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (DVULI). DVULI was the culmination of two years of research and preparation focused on how to identify, develop, and multiply leaders for disadvantaged urban youth. The result was the establishment of a national, faith-based leadership program that has the potential to increase the effectiveness of individuals, encourage ministry collaboration, and benefit local communities. This training targets Christian leaders who serve urban, disadvantaged youth. The objective is to come along side a small group of individuals and provide an environment of learning and support which will enhance their effectiveness with youth.
The DeVos families chose forty emerging leaders in Boston, Orlando, Grand Rapids, and Phoenix to pilot this program in 1998. Since then over 350 youth leaders from those cities and from Birmingham, Paterson, San Antonio, San Diego, Chicago, Kansas City, Memphis, Albuquerque, Detroit, Philadelphia, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, and Portland have completed or are completing the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative curriculum. neXus Boston, never satisfied with the status quo, has now partnered with this already exceptional program to tailor it to feet the unique needs of Boston. This new program, based upon an already proven national program, is set to train the next generation of Boston’s youth workers.
The curriculum focuses first on five core values and then teaches specific breakthrough skills. The values focus helps participants understand their ministry as God’s calling for them and their response to that calling. Recognizing that we tend to equate being busy and doing more with being more effective, this process of refocusing on ministry as it flows from a faith commitment will be embedded into all aspects of the program curriculum. The breakthrough skills are designed to expand the way participants think about change, resources, planning and leadership. They will learn to understand their ministry in relationship to the community they serve. |
