Schools get help from clergy
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - It started out as an invitation to have a conversation, and it developed into a faith-based group that will take on projects that benefit students.
The Superintendent's Faith-based Roundtable consists of more than 40 clergy and lay members of 16 different faith traditions, said Richard Martinez, superintendent of the Pomona Unified School District.
The initial concept was to meet informally to talk about the school district so the clergy could share the information with the members of their houses of worship, Martinez said. That was about nine months ago.
"It's grown into a lot more than I envisioned," Martinez said. "It's really about community and doing projects with a common goal."
That goal is working with and supporting Pomona Unified's youths, he said.
Members of the Roundtable have embarked on the Pomona Unified Peace Project, an anti-bullying and anti-violence initiative that will culminate in an art contest open to students from third grade through 12th grade across the district, including students in parochial, private and charter schools.
The project also includes putting on a series of assemblies next month for third-grade students designed to show them how to recognize bullying and how to stop it.
The Rev. Rick DeBruyne, of Lincoln Avenue Community Church, said for many years he has tried to bring the clergy together without success.
Martinez has succeeded.
"I think the fact it was something outside the faith community calling" helped bring clergy together, DeBruyne said.
In his case, DeBruyne said he responded in part because his curiosity was piqued by the superintendent's call.
The call has brought together a diverse group of people, some with very different views, for a common purpose, he said.
"We're not there to sell our beliefs or evangelize," DeBruyne said.
"We're all there to do something that benefits children and families...It's for the good of the community."
Collaborating with a diverse group with varied beliefs means a great deal of learning about each other and themselves is taking place, he said.
Among those participating in the effort is Haleema Shaikley, founder and principal of the School of Knowledge Islamic School in northern Pomona.
"We are here to work in harmony for peace and good character," she said.
Shaikley said a member of the School of Knowledge senior class working on an interfaith project is attending meetings with her and is also participating by recruiting students to take part in the project.
Faith-based groups can can lend a hand, particularly now, when schools are hurting due to budget cuts.
Members of the faith-based community can work in various ways from helping with after-school programs to helping determine why a child is missing school, said Nancy Matarrita, community resources director at First Baptist Church of Pomona.
When a child misses school it's not always because he or she is simply trying to get out of classes.
Sometimes a child won't go to school because he or she has to care for a younger sibling so parents can go to work. Or a child won't go to school because his clothes are tattered and he is embarrassed to be seen by classmates.
"If there's anything we can do and we can help, we will," Matarrita said.
Members of the Roundtable have embarked on the Pomona Unified Peace Project, an anti-bullying and anti-violence initiative that will culminate in an art contest open to students from third grade through 12th grade across the district, including students in parochial, private and charter schools.
The project also includes putting on a series of assemblies next month for third-grade students designed to show them how to recognize bullying and how to stop it.
The Rev. Rick DeBruyne, of Lincoln Avenue Community Church, said for many years he has tried to bring the clergy together without success.
Martinez has succeeded.
"I think the fact it was something outside the faith community calling" helped bring clergy together, DeBruyne said.
In his case, DeBruyne said he responded in part because his curiosity was piqued by the superintendent's call.
The call has brought together a diverse group of people, some with very different views, for a common purpose, he said.
"We're not there to sell our beliefs or evangelize," DeBruyne said.
"We're all there to do something that benefits children and families...It's for the good of the community."
Collaborating with a diverse group with varied beliefs means a great deal of learning about each other and themselves is taking place, he said.
Among those participating in the effort is Haleema Shaikley, founder and principal of the School of Knowledge Islamic School in northern Pomona.
"We are here to work in harmony for peace and good character," she said.
Shaikley said a member of the School of Knowledge senior class working on an interfaith project is attending meetings with her and is also participating by recruiting students to take part in the project.
Faith-based groups can can lend a hand, particularly now, when schools are hurting due to budget cuts.
Members of the faith-based community can work in various ways from helping with after-school programs to helping determine why a child is missing school, said Nancy Matarrita, community resources director at First Baptist Church of Pomona.
When a child misses school it's not always because he or she is simply trying to get out of classes.
Sometimes a child won't go to school because he or she has to care for a younger sibling so parents can go to work. Or a child won't go to school because his clothes are tattered and he is embarrassed to be seen by classmates.
"If there's anything we can do and we can help, we will," Matarrita said.
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