Accepting Difference Project
Valdosta, GA
Welcome to the home page of the Accepting Difference Project!
The Accepting Difference Project is...
... committed to diversity
... working with community leaders
... facilitating change in the community
... fostering acceptance of all people!
The Accepting Difference Project is an interfaith effort, reaching out to people of various faiths, as well as to many different community organizations.
Read here about the beginnings of the Accepting Difference Project.
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The Accepting Difference Project is working with the Gamaliel Foundation and churches and organizations to build a community organizing network here in Valdosta. Ana Garcia-Ashley, Executive Director of the Gamaliel Foundation, will be in Valdosta, September 29 - October 1, 2011, for a series of events and meetings. Tentative Schedule: Thursday, Sept 29 1:00 PM lunch meeting - all ministers and religious leaders, hosted by Rev. Ronnie Mathis and Crossing Jordan Baptist Church 7:00 p.m. - Ana Garcia-Ashley will speak on Community Organizing as a Matter of Faith, VSU University Center Theater, corner of Brookwood and Patterson St. Hosted by VSU Philosophy and Religious Studies Club. Friday, Sept 30 - one-on-one meetings (TBA - Ana will meet with ministers and other leaders) Saturday, Oct. 1 - 9:00 a.m. - noon - "Come-and-See" introductory training workshop (for teams from congregations / groups) - Academy for Excellence, Serenity Christian Church, 1618 N. Lee Street (e-mail uuvaldosta@yahoo.com to register for this event). For
more information about these events and our interfaith community
organizing efforts, please send an e-mail to Carol Stiles at uuvaldosta@yahoo.com
For more information about Gamaliel and
congregation-based community organizing, please visit the Gamaliel
Foundation's website: http://www.gamaliel.org/
News: About 40 people attended an introduction to Gamaliel community organizing at Crossing Jordan Baptist Church on March 19, 2011. Ana Garcia-Ashley, new Executive Director of the Gamaliel Foundation, led the training. The workshop was organized by Carol Stiles, Rev. George Bennett, and Rev. Ronnie Mathis of Crossing Jordan Baptist Church.
Some topics covered during Gamaliel workshops: - Moving from maintaining an institution to
creating a community - Understanding the concept of Power what
it takes to get it done - Reclaiming self-interest as a necessary tool to
motivate oneself and others - Creating relationships the prerequisite to
effective outreach -
Building organizations that
can be effective vehicles for social change
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From the JUUST Change Consultancy report by Sue Lacey (spring, 2007):
"The stage is set to build a progressive coalition in the greater Valdosta community that is prepared
to speak and act around a powerful vision of inclusion, justice, and action."
Note that this site is under construction, just like our network!
For now, you may contact the ADP through the following e-mail address: