The Importance of Going Out into Community

One of our core values at Innovate Academy is to help position scholars for serving and leading out in the community using gifts and passions that build culture and ultimately share the gospel. Our partnership with Greenhouse Project in Chester, PA has provided rich opportunities for scholars to lead and mentor at their homework club on Wednesdays. We fill a van with enthusiastic middle school kids and travel to a place that may be a stark contrast to the neighborhoods they know as familiar and manicured.

What happens each week is incredible.

Innovate scholars sit with the little ones at homework club to listen and share stories that bring to life new ideas about leadership, friendship, kindness and other character-building themes. They lead activities that reflect key concepts, always engaging their hands or body movement or the power of music. As I watch the energy in the room, what I’m seeing is the love of Jesus. While the inclusive atmosphere of open play allows the children to be themselves while learning, their hearts are being shown that they have value. They can feel their ideas matter. They leave with a stronger sense that they are loved just as they are. They belong.

We are honored to be part of this growing program in partnership with Greenhouse Project. If you’d like to get involved in the Wednesday after school homework club, contact John Clifford, President of Greenhouse Project.

Here is a cover story and full article featuring some of our Innovate scholars that shares more about their mission:

The photos above are from the print-only issue of Town Talk newspaper, an affiliate of Delco Times.