Communities of Shalom
Communities of Shalom is a faith-inspired, spirit-led community change movement that brings together those that live, work and worship in a specific community to build relationships and social networks and to foster the well-being (spiritual, economic, health) of neighbors.
The Shalom Zone training weaves the following principles of Shalom through a 40-hour facilitation:
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Systemic and sustainable change
Systemic and sustainable change•Health, healing, harmony and wholeness
Health, healing, harmony and wholeness•Asset-based community development
Asset-based community development•Love of God, self, neighbor
Love of God, self, neighbor•Organized for action
Organized for action•Multi-faith, multicultural collaboration
Multi-faith, multicultural collaborationThe end product is a Shalom Plan specific to a neighborhood and the assets within it. The Shalom Plan includes a vision for the community inspired by the biblical concept of Shalom along with 5-year goals and action steps for achieving them:
Most plans include goals in the following areas:
•Relationships and Social Networks
Relationships and Social Networks•Mental and Physical Health
Mental and Physical Health•Economic Well-being
Economic Well-being•Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Growth
Providing pro bono legal services to senior citizens in Northeast Shelby County Community of Shalom
How does it work?
Typically initiated by a faith-community within a neighborhood, a team of 12 to 20 individuals who are representative of those who live, worship and/or work in the neighborhood participate in an assets-based approach to building community and fostering neighborhood transformation. The Communities of Shalom training/facilitation is a 40 hour program that is typically delivered one Saturday/month over a 6 month period.
The Shalom training/facilitation program is designed to organize and mobilize people and resources to carry out the strategies which they will select and on which they are willing to act. Those who live and work in the community and church are valued as the experts who provide the information, design the plan, and carry out the actions.
Establishing the fall garden in a vacant lot in South Memphis Community of Shalom
Hosting a back to school event via Making It Happen Shalom Zone (Hickory Hill/Southeast Shelby)
To learn more:
If you are interested in learning more or starting a Shalom Zone, please contact Amy Moritz at 901-324-3005 or shalomresources@gmail.com.
To learn more about the national Shalom movement, visit the National Shalom Resource Center at Drew University.
Maps of Midsouth Shalom Zones
