Omni Hotel In Jacksonville Fl

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."

History

The organization was founded in 1994 by Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee, III, an Episcopal 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.

Current Initiatives

The United Nations’ 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.

• Be The Change International (BTCI) is a humanitarian organization that builds partnerships between Georgetown University, the Harvard School of Public Health and other institutions, individuals, non-profit organizations and governments worldwide. FreshMinistries is closely aligned with the group.

• 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 25,000-square-foot business incubator that helps businesses that have taken residence in the distressed urban area of Jacksonville.

• Communities Empowering Youth is a program based on Helping America’s Youth Initiative , started by Laura Bush. 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.

Local boost

Tom and Betty Petway 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:

"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 Development, 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.

Looking Ahead

In early January, 2009, FreshMinistries announced a new approach to achieve their goals in Third World countries. The new plan involves acquiring land in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, Swaziland and the Congo, then building a school and perhaps a community center. The school would be used not only for education, but as the strategic point of intervention for all goals: clean water, food security, disease control and health care; much like the East Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center.

References

1. ^ FreshMinistries: Current Initiatives & Partnerships
2. ^ Florida Times-Union: December 23, 2003-Petways give $1 million to ministry by Cynthia L. Garza
3. ^

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