Fresh Ministries
Encyclopedia
FreshMinistries is an interfaith, non-profit organization based in Jacksonville, Florida
whose goal is to eradicate poverty, improve race relations and build stronger communities. The group is "working to improve people’s lives and bring hope to those living in distressed conditions."
minister who left Church of Our Saviour (Jacksonville, Florida)
after serving as rector for over a decade. FreshMinistries has ties to several local and national charitable groups, and sponsors efforts in financial literacy, youth mentoring, education, housing development and other programs aimed at urban renewal
, particularly in the
Springfield
area of Jacksonville. In most cases, these programs are funded with private or public grants, and FreshMinistries attempts to make them self-sustaining and gives them autonomy, but retains ties for oversight responsibility.
’ Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) mirror the goals of FreshMinistries' 6 Point Community Initiative. All programs and partnerships interlock and build upon one another to create solutions to address the “whole social crisis” that affects all communities.
Response to 2010 Haiti earthquake
In the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010, FreshMinistries/Be The Change International (BTCI) was asked by the US Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate a major aid and relief operation there. When Dr. Lee visited Hait
i soon after, he saw that Haiti wasn't in need of just immediate aid, but also long-term, holistic improvement to positively effect every aspect of Haitian society. Soon, the concept for "Tomorrow's Haiti" was on paper and partners began to sign up.
“Tomorrow’s Haiti” will create initiatives in Haiti that will simultaneously address education, economic development, health, safety, safe shelter and clean water, and family foundations. The program will be the first of its kind, addressing all of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals
at once, modeled on FreshMinistries’ successful HIV/AIDS education program in South Africa, "Siyafundisa", in which it partnered with the Episcopal Diocese in South Africa
, as well as FreshMinistries/BTCI’s thriving holistic approach to creating long-term sustainable change in inner-city Jacksonville.
Currently, the program is using the Episcopal
churches and 254 schools within BAEH’s network as community centers from which to distribute relief aid to the Haitian people and introduce the community to the “Tomorrow’s Haiti” empowerment plan.
By starting with education – including vocational and life skills training for young adults, as well as HIV/AIDS health curriculum introduced into the BAEH schools – “Tomorrow’s Haiti” will empower Haiti’s people to lift themselves up. From there, “Tomorrow’s Haiti” will become a holistic initiative, based on UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City model, which will address the needs stated by word leaders and the Haitian Prime Minister during the United Nations Haiti Donors Conference in 2010.
So far, BTCI as signed memorandums of understanding with: The Rt. Rev. Jean-Zache Duracin, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
; and The Honorable Jacques-Edouard Alexis
, former Haitian Prime Minister and National Director of Centre National de Recherche et de Formation (CENAREF).
To date, BTCI’s emergency relief effort has shipped to the Haitian people many supplies, including three ambulances (one of which was delivered to the Haitian government), emergency aid, food, water, water purification systems, clothing, school supplies, large generators, and 147 large tents to serve as temporary schools and shelter. BTCI plans to ship more than 100 additional large tents to serve as schools and shelter, as well as medical equipment such as surgical beds.
made a $1 million gift donation in December, 2003. The couple had worked with the organization since the late 1990s and respected the work the group does. Petway was CEO of Zurich Insurance Services
:
FreshMinistries used the money for several existing programs, including the Beaver Street Enterprise Center business incubator, youth programs, college internships and financial literacy initiatives.
, part of the President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Rev. Dr. Lee said the group's successful administration of federal grants in Florida prompted the government to encourage it to apply. The new grant is the largest the ministry has received.
Crime rate drop in Jacksonville's Eastside - In late 2009, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Officer Stephen Gallagher announced at a community meeting on the Eastside that violent crime in the area was down 34 percent and property crime was down 32 percent from 2008. Gallagher credited the Eastside Neighborhood Association, an initiative of FreshMinistries, as an “extremely important” part of the drop in crime.
Also responsible for the drop in crime were neighborhood cleanups and several neighborhood anti-crime walks organized by FreshMinistries to include Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, local council persons, area patrol officers and neighborhood leaders.
Jacksonville chosen for Financial Access Pilot - In April 2008, Jacksonville, FL was chosen as one of eight cities in the U.S. to participate in a new pilot program to “increase financial education and bank and credit union accounts for Americans currently outside of the financial mainstream.” The pilot was recommended by several members of the President’s Council on Financial Literacy, including Dr. Lee.
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said, "We're honored to have Jacksonville chosen to participate in this worthwhile new initiative. Our existing efforts, under the leadership of FreshMinistries, recognized in 2005 by the U.S. Treasury for Excellence in Financial Literacy … will be able to reach more low-to-moderate income families and help them save for the future."
Support from Governor Charlie Crist - In 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist visited the Beaver Street Enterprise Center business incubator and met with its staff, calling it “an excellent model for other communities to follow.”
Change Agent - In 2006, The Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III
, founder and CEO of FreshMinistries, was named a "Change Agent" by the Florida Times-Union for creating FreshMinistries and, "helping people start businesses, revitalize their neighborhoods and get out of debt."
Operation New Hope - In 1999, FreshMinistries launched an initiative, called Operation New Hope, to train "forgotten" adults (those with troubled backgrounds) in Jacksonville in the construction industry, leading to employment opportunities. Aside from restoring individuals the program also restored neighborhoods and provided low income housing opportunities for core city residents. Operation New Hope is now no longer affiliated with FreshMinistries, having become its own separate, sustainable entity, and has since expanded its reach and operations in Jacksonville to include the re-entry and training of recently incarcerated individuals.
Klutho building restoration - In 1998, the City of Jacksonville asked FreshMinistries to take over the restoration of an important historical landmark, The Klutho Apartment Building, designed by Henry John Klutho, as part of a city-wide effort to revitalize economic growth in the Springfield neighborhood. The building now houses nonprofits and small businesses that are also working to restore Springfield.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
whose goal is to eradicate poverty, improve race relations and build stronger communities. The group is "working to improve people’s lives and bring hope to those living in distressed conditions."
History
The organization was founded in 1994 by Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee, III, an EpiscopalEpiscopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
minister who left Church of Our Saviour (Jacksonville, Florida)
Church of Our Saviour (Jacksonville, Florida)
The Church of Our Saviour is an historic Episcopal church located on the St. Johns River at 12236 Mandarin Road in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Florida in the United States. The church was founded in 1880 by a group Episcopalians, Church of England members and those from other denominations...
after serving as rector for over a decade. FreshMinistries has ties to several local and national charitable groups, and sponsors efforts in financial literacy, youth mentoring, education, housing development and other programs aimed at urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
, particularly in the
Springfield
Springfield, Jacksonville, Florida
Springfield is a historic neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, located to the north of downtown. Established in 1869, it experienced its greatest growth from the early 1880s through the 1920s...
area of Jacksonville. In most cases, these programs are funded with private or public grants, and FreshMinistries attempts to make them self-sustaining and gives them autonomy, but retains ties for oversight responsibility.
Current Initiatives
The United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
’ Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDG) mirror the goals of FreshMinistries' 6 Point Community Initiative. All programs and partnerships interlock and build upon one another to create solutions to address the “whole social crisis” that affects all communities.
- Be The Change International (BTCI) is a humanitarian organization that builds partnerships between Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, the Harvard School of Public HealthHarvard School of Public HealthThe Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
and other institutions, individuals, non-profit organizations and governments worldwide. BTCI is FreshMinistries' international outreach arm.
- Siyafundisa ("Teaching Our Children"), a five-year project to reduce HIV/AIDS incidence in South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia by promoting abstinence until marriage, being faithful, and avoidance of unhealthy behaviors affecting youth.
- Beaver Street Enterprise Center (BSEC): A 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) business incubator that helps businesses that have taken residence in the distressed urban area of Jacksonville. A second phase is currently under construction, which will be LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental DesignLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
certified and aimed at supporting "Stage 2" businesses.
- Communities Empowering Youth is a program based on Helping America’s Youth Initiative, started by Laura BushLaura BushLaura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
. It provides activities and services to reduce juvenile crime & violence, child abuse and neglect.
- East Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center (EJNRC) provides direct-connect services for 30-45 East Jacksonville residents a day in the areas of health, education, job training/placement, resume building, food stamp application, affordable housing and more. It also acts as a meeting place for the Eastside Neighborhood Alliance's monthly meetings, the Youth Advisory Council and a classroom for financial literacy classes, school choice education and youth job preparedness workshops.
- Jacksonville Hospitality Institute (JHI) offers free job training to underemployed and unemployed adults for the hospitality industry. The program is a 9-week training course that includes the following: classroom training; "life skills" training; hands-on training in the areas of hotel front desk service, food service and housekeeping; a 2-week internship at a local hotel. Current partners and employers of JHI graduates include the Omni Jacksonville Hotel, Ramada Limited, Radisson-Riverwalk and Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Although currently focused on the hotel industry, JHI is seeking partnerships in the healthcare industry.
- Eastside Neighborhood Association (ENA) is an organized alliance of East Jacksonville residents with elected officers who work together to bring resources to the neighborhood and weed out crime through neighborhood unity.
Response to 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquakeThe 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
In the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010, FreshMinistries/Be The Change International (BTCI) was asked by the US Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate a major aid and relief operation there. When Dr. Lee visited HaitHait
Hait, a region in Tajikistan, a strategic, land-locked mountainous country in Central Asia, is the site of one of the world's worst earthquakes last century....
i soon after, he saw that Haiti wasn't in need of just immediate aid, but also long-term, holistic improvement to positively effect every aspect of Haitian society. Soon, the concept for "Tomorrow's Haiti" was on paper and partners began to sign up.
“Tomorrow’s Haiti” will create initiatives in Haiti that will simultaneously address education, economic development, health, safety, safe shelter and clean water, and family foundations. The program will be the first of its kind, addressing all of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
at once, modeled on FreshMinistries’ successful HIV/AIDS education program in South Africa, "Siyafundisa", in which it partnered with the Episcopal Diocese in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, as well as FreshMinistries/BTCI’s thriving holistic approach to creating long-term sustainable change in inner-city Jacksonville.
Currently, the program is using the Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
churches and 254 schools within BAEH’s network as community centers from which to distribute relief aid to the Haitian people and introduce the community to the “Tomorrow’s Haiti” empowerment plan.
By starting with education – including vocational and life skills training for young adults, as well as HIV/AIDS health curriculum introduced into the BAEH schools – “Tomorrow’s Haiti” will empower Haiti’s people to lift themselves up. From there, “Tomorrow’s Haiti” will become a holistic initiative, based on UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City model, which will address the needs stated by word leaders and the Haitian Prime Minister during the United Nations Haiti Donors Conference in 2010.
So far, BTCI as signed memorandums of understanding with: The Rt. Rev. Jean-Zache Duracin, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is the Anglican Communion diocese consisting of the entire territory of Haiti. It is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Its cathedral, Holy Trinity located in the corner of Ave. Mgr...
; and The Honorable Jacques-Edouard Alexis
Jacques-Édouard Alexis
Jacques-Édouard Alexis is a Haitian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Haiti from 1999 to 2001 and was Prime Minister for a second term from 2006 to 2008 when he was dismissed due to political fallout from food riots....
, former Haitian Prime Minister and National Director of Centre National de Recherche et de Formation (CENAREF).
To date, BTCI’s emergency relief effort has shipped to the Haitian people many supplies, including three ambulances (one of which was delivered to the Haitian government), emergency aid, food, water, water purification systems, clothing, school supplies, large generators, and 147 large tents to serve as temporary schools and shelter. BTCI plans to ship more than 100 additional large tents to serve as schools and shelter, as well as medical equipment such as surgical beds.
Local boost
Tom and Betty PetwayTom Petway
Thomas Franklin Petway, III is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Florida and one of the most successful business and civic leaders in Jacksonville and the state of Florida.-Personal:...
made a $1 million gift donation in December, 2003. The couple had worked with the organization since the late 1990s and respected the work the group does. Petway was CEO of Zurich Insurance Services
Zurich Insurance Services
Zurich Insurance Services, Inc. is a privately held corporation in Jacksonville, Florida that was founded by Tom Petway in 1977 as Home Builders Insurance Program, then was named, Construction Insurance Services....
:
"We're impressed with the work FreshMinistries has done in Jacksonville in creating opportunities for people of all races and faith traditions to participate economically and socially in our community. The organization needs the financial backing to continue the work it has started in the community, including assisting with other service organizations and ministries in the city."
FreshMinistries used the money for several existing programs, including the Beaver Street Enterprise Center business incubator, youth programs, college internships and financial literacy initiatives.
AIDS Grant
FreshMinistries received $10 million of $100 million in abstinence-focused grants awarded by the United States Agency for International DevelopmentUnited States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
, part of the President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Rev. Dr. Lee said the group's successful administration of federal grants in Florida prompted the government to encourage it to apply. The new grant is the largest the ministry has received.
Awards & recognition
- 2010 - Beaver Street Enterprise Center named a finalist in National Business Incubation Association’s 2010 Incubator of the Year award in the nontechnology category.
- 2010 - FreshMinistries given the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Award for demonstrating an outstanding and ongoing effort in the areas of beautification, litter prevention and litter cleanup, helping to create a healthier community.
- 2009 - FreshMinistries was awarded for its work in the community by the Jacksonville Sheriff's OfficeJacksonville Sheriff's OfficeThe Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States...
(JSO). This recognition was for its neighborhood anti-crime walks, efforts in assisting the Police Athletic LeaguePolice Athletic LeagueThe Police Athletic League is an organization in many American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community...
(PAL), and the rest of FreshMinistries’ initiatives that focus on community improvement and safety. - 2008 - Siyafundisa video was among 10 videos selected out of hundreds of entries to be shown at the White House Faith-Based Conference in Washington, D.C. Also, Beaver Street Enterprise Center was one of several public/private partnerships featured at the Conference in a panel titled “Great Human Needs.”
- 2008 - Jackie Perry, Executive Director of Beaver Street Enterprise Center, was named the North Florida District’s Minority Small Business Champion of 2008 by the Small Business AdministrationSmall Business AdministrationThe Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
(SBA) North Florida District Office. - 2006 - Jackie Perry, Executive Director of Beaver Street Enterprise Center, was named Jacksonville’s Advocate of the Year at the National Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) luncheon.
- 2006 - FreshMinistries’ Women to the Rescue initiative was awarded the FASTEN Award for its hurricane disaster relief efforts.
- 2006 - Florida House Speaker-Designate Marco RubioMarco RubioMarco Antonio Rubio is the junior United States Senator from Florida . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives ....
chose Beaver Street Enterprise Center as the first of 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future. - 2006 – FreshMinistries received the first place award for 2006 Partners in Transformations for its collaborative service in long-term community recovery.
- 2005 - The U.S. Treasury awarded the John ShermanJohn ShermanJohn Sherman may refer to:* John Sherman , U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Ohio* John Sherman , American Unitarian pastor* John Sherman , English cricketer...
Award for Excellence in Financial Education to FreshMinistries for its Individual Development Account (IDA) Partnership and its work in providing financial education to Jacksonville, FL communities. - 2004 – FreshMinistries received honorable mention for the 2004 Public Service Grant “Excellence in Outcome Achievement” award.
- 2000 – FreshMinistries was given the Historic Preservation Award by the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Historical Preservation Society for the “Great Save of the KluthoHenry John KluthoHenry John Klutho was an American architect of the "Prairie School" style. He helped in the reconstruction of Jacksonville, Florida after the Great Fire of 1901—the largest-ever urban fire in the Southeast—by designing many of the new buildings built after the disaster. This period lasted until...
Apartments.” - 1999 – FreshMinistries was given the Historic Preservation Award by the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Historical Preservation Society for the “Rehabilitation of the Robert N. Ellis residence.”
Noteworthy Accomplishments
Relief for Haiti - In 2010, following the Haitian earthquake, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. asked FreshMinistries and Be The Change International, to coordinate a large-scale effort to bring desperately needed doctors, medical technicians, translators and pharmaceuticals to Haiti. FreshMinistries and Be The Change International responded quickly and efficiently, delivering much needed goods to the country.Crime rate drop in Jacksonville's Eastside - In late 2009, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Officer Stephen Gallagher announced at a community meeting on the Eastside that violent crime in the area was down 34 percent and property crime was down 32 percent from 2008. Gallagher credited the Eastside Neighborhood Association, an initiative of FreshMinistries, as an “extremely important” part of the drop in crime.
Also responsible for the drop in crime were neighborhood cleanups and several neighborhood anti-crime walks organized by FreshMinistries to include Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, local council persons, area patrol officers and neighborhood leaders.
Jacksonville chosen for Financial Access Pilot - In April 2008, Jacksonville, FL was chosen as one of eight cities in the U.S. to participate in a new pilot program to “increase financial education and bank and credit union accounts for Americans currently outside of the financial mainstream.” The pilot was recommended by several members of the President’s Council on Financial Literacy, including Dr. Lee.
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said, "We're honored to have Jacksonville chosen to participate in this worthwhile new initiative. Our existing efforts, under the leadership of FreshMinistries, recognized in 2005 by the U.S. Treasury for Excellence in Financial Literacy … will be able to reach more low-to-moderate income families and help them save for the future."
Support from Governor Charlie Crist - In 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist visited the Beaver Street Enterprise Center business incubator and met with its staff, calling it “an excellent model for other communities to follow.”
Change Agent - In 2006, The Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III
Robert V. Lee
The Rev. Dr. Robert Vernon Lee, III, is a humanitarian, Episcopal priest and is chairman and CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based nonprofit FreshMinistries and its international arm, Be The Change International. Dr. Lee is responsible for the creation of a number of unique and successful global...
, founder and CEO of FreshMinistries, was named a "Change Agent" by the Florida Times-Union for creating FreshMinistries and, "helping people start businesses, revitalize their neighborhoods and get out of debt."
Operation New Hope - In 1999, FreshMinistries launched an initiative, called Operation New Hope, to train "forgotten" adults (those with troubled backgrounds) in Jacksonville in the construction industry, leading to employment opportunities. Aside from restoring individuals the program also restored neighborhoods and provided low income housing opportunities for core city residents. Operation New Hope is now no longer affiliated with FreshMinistries, having become its own separate, sustainable entity, and has since expanded its reach and operations in Jacksonville to include the re-entry and training of recently incarcerated individuals.
Klutho building restoration - In 1998, the City of Jacksonville asked FreshMinistries to take over the restoration of an important historical landmark, The Klutho Apartment Building, designed by Henry John Klutho, as part of a city-wide effort to revitalize economic growth in the Springfield neighborhood. The building now houses nonprofits and small businesses that are also working to restore Springfield.