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Johnson Interns
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Johnson intern program - a new vision Susan Gladin, Director Two months ago I could not have articulated a coherent vision
for the Johnson Intern Program, as I was brand new on board. In the
earliest days I read through the files and talked to people who had
been involved so that I could learn the history, the mission, and
the vision that others held for the program. Before I could get up
to speed, however, we had a program to manage - with four interns
coming, housing to secure, placements to finalize, and furniture to
move. We forged a new and different partnership with Public Allies
(an AmeriCorps program in Durham for young adults) which involved a
great deal of planning for leadership training. We have been
involved with them for three retreat days (which included a high
ropes course), plus five intense pre-service training days, and we
will be continuing training on alternate Fridays. From all these activities a new vision of the Johnson Intern
Program is emerging for me. Our intern group this year is both
ecumenical and diverse. They have brought immense gifts to our
community that will bear fruit for years to come. The new,
ecumenical focus of the program will enable the program to draw
from and then to enrich the young adult programs in other
congregations and denominations. Our separate 501-c-3 status will
enable the program to enlarge its influence in the community and to
bring its gifts to bear for those in need. The 2005-2006 interns are just the group to help us start in
this new direction. They come from as nearby as Winston-Salem
(Justin) and from as far away as the Congo (Angelique). Amey is
from Virginia, and Erika is from Massachusetts. Their faith
backgrounds include two types of Baptist, Episcopal, and Quaker.
They come with unique gifts and experiences that have already
enriched our community and this congregation. As of this writing we are putting our mentor program together,
drawing in part from the Public Allies model for coaching, and
reaching out into other denominations for volunteers. Our alternate
Fridays, when we aren't in leadership training, will be in a
program of spiritual development that we are in the process of
planning together with help from Carrie
Fesperman, a past intern (and board member), and David Frazelle,
Associate for Parish Ministry at the Chapel of the
Cross. The JIP Board of Directors is busy establishing a three-year
plan for funding. Behind any funding drive is, of course, the
mission. That means that the work of the board will involve
establishing long-range plans for the Johnson Intern Program and
securing the funding for it to take wing and fly. And already it is nearly time to begin recruitment for the next
group of interns who will serve from 2006-2007. Their beginning
will be a bit smoother - a house already furnished, leadership
training planned, kinks in placements ironed out, and mentors ready
to go to work with them. And, after a year, this director will know
what JIP is all about. But the shape of their program will reflect
the personalities and the gifts of Erika, Amey, Justin, and
Angelique, and also of Carrie, Jack, Annemarie, Sarah, and all the
other Johnson Interns who have gone before. It will always bear the
distinct mark of the Chapel of the Cross, and of the people who
planted the seed that has become the Johnson Intern Program.
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