Give Thanks to the Lord. For He is good. His love endures forever. -Psalm 118:1
June 28, 2013
Upcoming Events
  
July 2, 12pm Join us and bring your friends for an Informational Lunch & Tour the first Tuesday and third Thursday of every month. 
July 10, 7-9pm - Stella and Dot sale benefiting Boaz & Ruth
July 11, 6-8pm - Discovering Diamonds Talent Search Part I
July 18, 12pmInformational Lunch & Tour
August 6, 4-9pm - National Night Out at Ann Hardy Park including dinner and Discovering Diamonds Part II
August 24, time TBA - Discovering Diamonds Finale
October 12, 9am-12pm - Long Walk to Freedom 

Rebuilding Lives 

New Faces, New Talent, New Family

You may have seen some new faces around Boaz & Ruth - our 2013 class of participants. They are already hard at work in their assigned "Life Labs" and participating in counseling and life skills training. Each individual works towards graduation by achieving personal milestones and in just a few months, they have collectively achieved over 35 personal milestones including improving computer skills, settling legal issues, establishing personal budgets, obtaining housing and health care, and remaining clean and sober. Come by and meet these fine additions to the Boaz & Ruth family. Learn more.

Rebuilding Lives 

Raymond's Chant

We welcome new participant, Raymond, to our construction team. Raymond has quickly shown his willingness to lead and learn. Next week he will be giving a presentation to the Vacation Bible School students at Christ Church Episcopal. He recently shared a Boaz & Ruth chant he created:

"We are the Boaz & Ruth community. It takes courage to grow up. Thoughts to make a change. Will power, dignity and growth play a major role in life. You have to know yourself, who you are and what to stand for. Through this program (Rebuilding Lives), you can explore change and experience a new way to look at life and in all its aspects. Positive education, always creating power. Peace."

 

Empowering Economy 

Sunny Days Accepting Donations

Ruth at Sunny Days is already selling out of her summer clothing! We are in need of summer clothing donations - shorts, shirts, jeans and dresses. As always, donations are tax deductible. This is a great opportunity to organize a clothing drive with your neighbors, friends, family, school, church or civic group. Donations can be dropped off at Sunny Days or Harvest Thrift M-F 8-5 or Sat: 9-2. Ruth will be there to give you a huge smile and hug for your gift.

 

Empowering Economy 

The Garden is Growing!

As you may remember, we collaborated with Cheryl Heller and her team from the School of Visual Arts in NY to start the Highland Park Community Garden. She and our very own Tony Scott presented this collaborative effort at this year's TEDxRVA. We have harvested our first crops! Radishes, lettuce and onions have been used at Fire House 15 Cafe this month and the tomatoes are growing nicely. We are so thankful for all of the volunteers who have helped start the garden. Our cafe staff is thrilled with the idea of having fresh produce in our backyard. View photos of the garden on our Facebook page.

 

Empowering Economy 

Swing by for Style: Stella & Dot Trunk Show

Shopping Stella & Dot and supporting our organization? That's a win-win for everyone! Join us Wednesday, July 10th 7-9pm at the Bagley's house for a special Stella & Dot trunk show. Proceeds benefit Boaz & Ruth. Learn more.

 

Empowering Economy 

Join the Conversation

The Richmond Times Dispatch has mentioned Boaz & Ruth's social enterprise model several times this week as part of the conversation about poverty through the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge. This group advised Richmond to invest in social enterprise in our city claiming, "Boaz & Ruth lives up to the command implicit in its name that human beings care for one another. Boaz & Ruth gets results." Please take a moment to read these articles and feel good about the investments of time, talent and financial gifts that you share with us. We invite you to comment on the articles and join the conversation. We're honored to be recognized in this way and want to foster this important dialogue. The articles:

 

Empowering Economy 

Summer Hours at Fire House 15 Cafe

It's summertime and that means Fire House 15 Cafe has a slightly different schedule. For the summer we will not be hosting Thursday evening dinners. Instead, consider joining us for breakfast or lunch Monday through Friday 7am-3pm or Saturday 8am-2pm. This past school year local churches committed to bringing 20 adults plus children one Thursday night a month.  Might this be something your church would like to do in the fall? It is a great way to build community with church members in a relaxed atmosphere.  If so, please contact Greta Kidd at [email protected] or Tony Scott at [email protected] to sign up for an evening a month.  

 

Connecting Community

Juneteenth Celebration

"Juneteenth" marks on or about the day the last American slaves were set free under the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. This annual celebration at Boaz & Ruth provided us a special time to gather, connect and be inspired. Reverend Willie Woodson, former Boaz & Ruth board member and Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church, presented "Remembering the Cost of Freedom". We are especially thankful for 7th Street Memorial Baptist Church's Music Coordinator Eddie Taylor and musician Nate Phillips for leading us in worship. Visit our Facebook photo album to view photos from the event.

 

Rebuilding Lives

Renovation Update

The Boaz & Ruth Construction Team has been hard at work. Renovations to our flagship store and office building, 3030 Meadowbridge Rd. are progressing nicely. The team is currently working on re-pointing brickwork, framing and hanging drywall and doors for our new classroom. This week ACE Electric is installing new lights. Our team will soon be repairing and painting the ceiling. We are so proud of the work being done and excited to see the skill-building this project has fostered. Stop by and see their good work!

 

Special Event  

Richmond's Got Talent: Discovering Diamonds

Are you a star ready to shine? Do you have a talent that you want to share for all to see and hear? Discover the Diamond in YOU! The annual talent search for FUN and CASH prizes is underway! If you or your friends have a talent that you would like to perform for an audience, contact us to be a part of this year's exciting Discovering Diamonds Talent Search. And remember - every star needs an audience! Please make plans to join us at these special events to join in the fun and fellowship. Visit our website for more information including audition deadlines and performances dates and times.

National Attention

Ignite Good Conference 2013 NYC

As a prize for our efforts in the 2012 Jobraising Challenge, Boaz & Ruth sent two staff members to the Ignite Good Conference in New York City. Megan Rollins and Greta Kidd met with industry leaders to continue the national conversation about job creation and social change. The event featured talks from changemakers including Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group; Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of the Acumen Fund and Bill Drayton, Founder and CEO of Ashoka at a panel called, "The Future of Social Impact." The four-day workshop included storytelling seminars, best practice strategies and talks from leaders in the space including Donors Choose CEO Charles Best, DoSomething COO Aria Finger and David Allen, the author of "Getting Things Done," among many others. Megan and Greta visited Housing Works, a nonprofit that also uses social enterprise as a way to impact community sparking ideas for Sunny Days and Harvest Thrift. They returned with a broader outlook on how Boaz & Ruth can make an even greater impact.


 

 

 

 
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