African Community Renewal  

The African Renewal Summit is an opportunity for nonprofit practitioners, African civic leaders and others to learn a new approach to improving life in communities in Africa using the CRI Community Renewal Model.

The 2010 African Summit will bring to Shreveport, Louisiana as many as 200 participants from 26 African countries -and from around the world- representing about 35 African-focused organizations. Participants include communities leaders, tribal chiefs, nonprofit professionals, researchers, students, leaders of religious organizations with African-outreach programs, foundations supporting projects in Africa,  and members from the African diaspora in the United States and from around the world.

We believe African nations, in search of solutions for communities, would greatly benefit by coming to the headquarters and demonstration city of Community Renewal International. In addition, while learning about the philosophy, concepts and methods of the model, participants will see first-hand its implementation and results in Shreveport and Bossier City.

Since its inception in 1994, Community Renewal has made a positive impact in our showcase city, Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana. This new social technology has not only created social capital, and fought isolation, but it has also built a platform for a delivery system of social services which neighbors, neighborhoods and whole communities can access.

The Center for Community Renewal, currently being built as a LEED Platinum zero net energy building, will bring civic leaders from across the nation and the world to Shreveport to learn more about building and restoring safe and caring communities. The Center will serve as a comprehensive facility providing training and technical support for community leaders who want to apply the model established by Community Renewal International in their own city. Aspects of this model are already being replicated in nearly 20 other cities and villages around the world. 

The Community Renewal model restores the foundation of personal relationships for communities  applying practical methods which follow the rules of human interaction and  connectedness. With our collective capacity to care for each other as our central tenet, CRI has initiated a working model which systematically initiates, grows and sustains safe and caring communities with concrete, measurable results.

The CRI strategy has three initiatives:

• The Renewal Team works citywide to unite businesses, churches, civic groups, residents and others as caring partners building a stronger city.

• Haven House volunteers unite neighbors on the block where they live. Identified by a “We Care” sign in their yard, Haven House leaders may host block parties, take meals to a sick neighbor, help find a lost pet, share garden produce or just offer a listening ear.

• Friendship Houses are homes built in low-income areas and lived in by CRI staff – families who help turn impoverished neighborhoods into havens of hope. Each house contains a large community room for tutoring, computer training, character-building and much more. Other agencies partner with CRI  in this life-changing outreach.

CRI is not a service organization in the traditional sense of the term. Rather, it is a comprehensive community intervention strategy whose mission is to restore health to communities in the fullest sense of that term. CRI posits that the basic elements of a healthy community include:

•   a safe environment;

•   a common culture;

•   opportunities for or connections to meaningful work;

•   access to education;

•   access to healthcare;

•   adequate housing;

•   an effective leadership system; and

• mutually enhancing relationships

As a catalytic, intermediary organization, CRI has articulated and implemented a

model of change that is founded on the core belief that authentic, mutually enhancing

relationships (MERs), within and across a community, are the requisite foundation upon which to engage in profound and sustained community change processes. Accordingly, individuals, neighborhoods, and organizations that activate MERs are more willing and likely to build their capacities, share resources, and take calculated risks together to re-invent and dramatically improve the health of their community.

We hope to address this question in depth during 3 days of workshops at the African Renewal Summit.. While the multiplication of social programs for the past fifty years has yielded mixed results in addressing the developmental needs of African communities in a sustainable way -- our belief is that the intervention strategy, embodied by the Community Renewal model, should be carefully considered. Positive results have been borne of the 14 years experience in Shreveport and Bossier City, and several years having fully replicated in other communities worldwide, most recently in Western Cameroon.  In short, we believe this model works.  Further, we are developing our evaluation capability through the design of a fully comprehensive extent of impact, level of change and trend measurement tool that covers major indicator areas such as reduction of risk factors and increase of protective factors in individuals, families and communities

• Participants will receive concrete, practical training in the concepts, philosophy and methods of Community Renewal though a series of workshops.

• All will experience CRI’s model in action through the tour of our Friendship Houses neighborhoods.

• We are confident participants will be inspired by CRI’s strategic approach to improving lives in distressed communities.

• Participants will discuss plan and necessary steps to start the replication process of this Community Renewal model in communities where they live or where they implement programs.  

• Participants will network with nonprofit leaders, foundations and other human services organizations providing services all over Africa. This is a unique opportunity to share their work, build partnerships, and seek support for their African community projects.
• But remember “It is better to give than receive”; Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer during a week of building as part of pre-summit activities. A house will be built by African delegates for a needy family in Shreveport, Louisiana.  

Finally, discovering the rich culture of Louisiana and the neighboring states (Texas, and Arkansas) while making new friends are some of the unforgettable moments of your Shreveport trip.

Even the stars love Shreveport-Bossier! From the glittering excitement of the casinos, the wonderful array of festivals, the mouth -watering local cuisine, fantastic shopping and numerous outdoor activities, to the museums and attractions – this area has all the necessary ingredients for a memorable getaway. That’s what makes northwest Louisiana a hot destination.

http://shreveport-bossier.org

If you decide to discover New Orleans while in Louisiana

http://www.neworleansonline.com/

Also, the city of Dallas is about two hours driving and you can experience the ultra modern and sophisticated city that attracts worldwide travelers, making the area the No. 1 visitor and leisure destination in Texas.

http://www.visitdallas.com/index

• ONLINE 

• By faxing the form at   (00)1 318 425 8999 or

By emailing the form to claudiaoliver@communityrenewal.us

The deadline for registration is February 19, 2010. But for participants who need letters of invitations for U.S visa application, it is recommended that they start the process as early as possible.

There is a $250 registration fees, plus accommodation. There is a discounted rate at the Shreveport Hilton at the Convention Center, and reservations can be made by contacting the Hotel Directly at http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SHVSPHF-Hilton-Shreveport-Louisiana/index.do. There is a discount code for African Renewal Summit participants.

Registration fees can be paid online using a credit card or check card.  In case you are not able to use a credit card from your country, you can make international money transfert using Moneygram or Western Union  to  Mrs  Claudia Oliver,  Summit Chairwoman . After you make a transfert  send an email with details of the transaction to  claudiaoliver@communityrenewal.us

Please be advised that we can only send letter of invitation when we receive registration form with full payment of registration fees.

As the funding permits, we may  offer partial scholarships to very limited numbers of participants to cover part of expenses while in Shreveport. But  our recomandation  is that you plan  to pay for your travel and housing.

For those planning to attend the pre-summit building, housing is available for the week of March 15^th-21^st, 2010 on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register for the Pre-Summit Building, contact ljeter@fullercenternwl.org

No, you can choose to attend just the pre-summit building for a day or two etc... Or for the entire week. You can also choose to attend just the 3 days summit (March 22-24). But housing assistance is provided in priority to those staying for the entire week of building.

No, while skilled builders are welcome, there is something to do for everyone who shows up professional builders will be on site to assist volunteers.

Yes volunteers will pay a registration fee of $25; exempted are participants already registered for the Summit.