Carrying Out a Vision…
Al and I recently had the opportunity to take
a tour of a century old elementary school in Pontiac, Michigan that was being
renovated into a Community Center. Interested in exploring architecture as a
possible career, our sixteen-year-old grandson, Nate, came with us.
The leader of the tour was Coleman
Yoakum, founder and director of Micah 6 Community in Pontiac. We met up with
Coleman in the parking lot of Webster Elementary School, filled with building
materials.
Behind the parking lot, a large
greenhouse, two hoop houses, a compost pile and outdoor garden beds occupied a
large section of the former playground. Across the street from the playground,
was a house Coleman purchased about ten years ago.
He and some college buddies had a
passion to move into a needy neighborhood, and to do whatever they could to
help their neighbors. That was the beginning of the Micah 6 Community, based on
the Old Testament scripture from the prophet Micah : “ And what does the
Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
your God.” (Micah 6:8b NIV)
After a year of living in the house
and talking to people, his team decided that most basic need was nutritious
food, not readily available to people in the area. Thus began the Community
Garden, developed and maintained mostly by volunteers, where neighbors were able
to pick fresh vegetables and fruit.
As people congregated for the tour,
attention was directed back to the school. Coleman explained that while this
was all going on, the old school stood empty. Neighbors and other residents of
Pontiac expressed the need for a community center with his team.
After General Motors discontinued
making the Pontiac there in 2009, many families left the area. The economy of
Pontiac began a downward slide, with schools closing and funding ended for community
and recreation centers. There definitely
was a need!
This was something on a much larger
scale than what he had envisioned. However, as the need was publicized, money
began to flow in from grants, organizations, churches and even alumni from Webster
School. The plan was to restore and preserve the historic building, while
providing spaces for organizations and groups to rent.
The original architect envisioned a
school with huge windows to let in the sunlight, a skylight in the gym and many
other features that made a wonderful learning environment for children,
approximately 500 when the school was in its prime. Imagine the cost of
replacing dozens of oversized, arched windows and repairing a huge skylight in
the gymnasium!
Many other obstacles were
encountered when the project began a few years ago, including the discovery
that the huge basement was filled with water, --twenty-eight feet deep! Hundreds
of thousands of gallons had to be pumped out. Then it took four straight days to mix enough
cement to fill it with eighteen feet of concrete!
Coleman told us that the project
should be completed by spring, with various groups eager to move in and begin
remodeling their own spaces. The interest is high in Pontiac and especially in
Coleman’s neighborhood. There will be opportunities for early childhood
education, vocational training, tutoring, as well as for dance and drama groups
and scheduling various activities in the spacious gym.
In a previous talk, Coleman shared
about a neighbor he had met when he first moved to Pontiac. The man had moved
away after a short period of time as so many people did. Years later Coleman
was at the house when the man walked in.
“You still here?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m still here,” Coleman responded, who
by that time had married and was living in another refurbished house a block or
two away. The man was amazed when he saw the gardens and all that was
happening.
“I thought for sure you’d be long
gone!” he said.
Coleman ended the story with these
words and a smile … “And that’s what it’s all about!”
On the tour that day, we witnessed
what the Lord can do when His people make themselves available, have faith and
are willing to launch out into new territory! Yes, that is what it is all
about!
“‘For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
(Above picture is of the group that toured the new Community Center project. Coleman Yoakum, director and founder of Micah 6 is on the right, Judy Lowery and grandson Nate are next to Coleman.)
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