Urban Connection Austin

At Just the Right Time

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:14:00 +0000

Several years ago, Larry James, the CEO of our parent organization, was invited to Austin by a local church and offered a great deal of money to bring their ministry, and its success, here. He refused the money, suggesting that the first thing they needed to find was someone that would dedicate his or her life to this work. Little did I know at the time that I would be that person. So, instead of stepping forward then, I waited until the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression hit, a testament to my impeccable timing.

It wasn't easy starting a ministry like this from scratch, but I believed it was necessary, despite the challenges. The first year or so was painstaking and slow, but then two years ago we had a breakthrough. I was invited to partner with Austin Voices for Education and Youth and Austin ISD to create and direct a Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School.

Now I hear people all over the city and county saying that Family Resource Centers are one of the most cost-effective means of helping families in crisis and keeping kids in the classroom every day, ready to learn. Except, now budgets are tighter than ever. (Once again, when my ship comes in, I'm at the airport.) It's enough to make you want to "throw in the towel," but then I think about the people I've met on this incredible journey.

Like the mom and dad that told us they were eating every other day in order to feed their kids every day. Or the father of twin boys with asthma that agonized every time one, or both, of them had a rough night and needed medical treatment. Or the older woman that came to us after we helped one of her neighbors and found friendship and hope when she had considered suicide as the only way out of her despair. We had an opportunity to help each one of these people connect with resources that moved them out of crisis and on their way to a more sustainable future.

Looking back, perhaps we could have been better prepared when we started this ministry. Perhaps we could have waited for an ideal moment, after the economy rebounded and money was flowing again. Except the folks we're trying to serve can't wait for a better day. They need help now. The best time for a ministry like this isn't when the funding is plentiful, but when the need is greatest.

The Bible refers to the coming of Jesus "at just the right time" (Galatians 4:4). Just as God's wisdom isn't ours, so God's timing often conflicts with ours. Our job, if we're seeking to do God's will in the world, isn't to depend on our own wisdom, but on God's, and to follow whenever and wherever we're called to go. At Urban Connection Austin, that's what we're trying to do, in spite of all our struggles and fears. And we need your help to continue. I believe this is just the right time to do that.

Praying for a Miracle

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:04:00 +0000

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim any credit for our achievements, for our competence comes from God." (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

All my life I've been inspired by the stories in the Bible of God's people facing impossible odds and then being rescued by God's miraculous, often last-minute, intervention. I grew up fascinated by the stories of those two geriatrics, Abraham and Sarah, praying for a son, or tongue-tied Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, Gideon's pitiful army of 300, and, of course, the greatest miracle of all, Jesus' resurrection from the grave (you can't get any weaker or incompetent than being dead).

I guess I've always felt a little hesitant to put too much faith in these stories. I've always regarded them as exceptional cases, perhaps fearing that I would use them as an excuse for laziness or incompetence. And yet who wouldn't feel incompetent in the face of the challenges we encounter every day?

We began this journey at the beginning of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now, three years later, I'd like to say that, due to my brilliant leadership and business acumen, things have really improved, but they haven't. Except we have established a presence in the low-income neighborhoods of north Austin and we are helping hundreds of families in crisis. Now, just as our opportunities are burgeoning, our funds are running out. And, with our backs against the wall, we're praying that God will rescue us before it's too late.

It reminds me of Tom Gordon, a character in one of Stephen King's novels, who observed that it's God's nature to enter in the bottom of the ninth when the bases are loaded and there's only one out. In other words, at the very last moment. Which could prompt some of us to wait until the last moment and pray for a miracle or it could be that we don't really seek any divine assistance until then. "All we can do now is pray."

I confess I'm usually guilty of the former, waiting until everything I've tried has failed before I beg for divine intervention, an act born as much of desperation as faith. Nevertheless, that's where we find ourselves, short of the funds necessary to continue our work, but more convinced than ever that our work is needed. So we're praying for a miracle. And trusting that God will be faithful, as always.

"Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. I will praise you, LORD my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead." (Psalm 86:11-13)

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:37:00 +0000

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."

Anne Lamott

Seeing Ourselves in Others

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:12:00 +0000

"Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed." (Herman Melville)

The more I do this work, the more misperceptions about poverty I have to surrender. Sometimes it's embarrassing and other times it's just painful. It's too easy for us to assume we know why people are struggling in poverty and how to help. But the truth is, if we want to understand their struggle and respond appropriately, we have to get to know them, as neighbors and friends, not as objects of our charitable impulses. Only when we see ourselves in the face of others will we even begin to know how to help.

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Jesus in Matthew 7:12)

It's Already A Tough Year

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:03:00 +0000

Since the start of the new school year a few weeks ago, it's clear that things are getting a lot worse. Already the number of families visiting our Family Resource Center in north Austin has increased significantly. And the stories that families tell us are heart-breaking, filled with fear and despair. Perhaps the most disturbing thing we've heard some parents say is, "I've thought about just giving up." And a few of those stories have life and death implications. Even more painful is that all of them are from the parents of young children.

I can only imagine what would drive parents to abandon their children this way, but then I don't know what it would be like as a parent to watch my children go without the simple necessities of life because I couldn't provide them. It must be agonizing. We are seeing so many families coming to us, asking for help for the first time in their lives. These are families that were once economically stable and self-sufficient, but are now forced to ask for assistance. And it is painful and embarrassing for them.

We believe that the first resource we offer our families is the assurance that they are no longer isolated and alone. We can't wave a magic wand and remove all the problems, but we can come alongside and offer them acceptance and hope as we connect them to the resources they need. We begin building those relationships from the first encounter and continue to meet with them and monitor their progress on the path back to stability. Because the truth is, the resources we connect them to are likely to be wasted without these ongoing relationships of love and encouragement.

Doing our work in this economic crisis is getting to be a lot tougher. But witnessing the toll it is taking on many of our neighbors spurs our commitment to keep going. We're inspired by the belief that those still blessed with a job and an income will generously support our work to bring faith in the midst of fear and hope in the midst of despair. And that on that foundation we can build genuine community and break down the walls that have separated us for far too long.

Creating a Wellness Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:46:00 +0000

One of the priorities in our schools and our society these days is confronting the rapid increase in childhood obesity. In Texas, it's rising at an alarming rate. There are a lot of programs out there designed to turn back the tide. The problem is that most of them are not aligned to produce the desired outcome. From the CATCH program to MEND, the acronyms for these programs abound, but without a well-organized, focused strategy at a particular school, most of these programs have little more than a temporary effect. Like so many things we do in school, programs that are isolated from each other and not aligned for the maximum impact, give an appearance of addressing this problem with little or no hope of actually solving it. It will take an entire community to produce an effective strategy. I'll return to that discussion in a future blog entry. Stay tuned.

For now, here's one idea for impacting an entire school. It involves a return to teaching home economics. If you're my age, you remember taking those classes, but they had little impact on your lifestyle. Today, that could be very different, especially in our "fast food" culture. A family sitting around the kitchen table eating a healthy meal together affects children in so many positive ways. To read more about that, check it out HERE. Then register your comments below.

Pray for a World of Hurt and Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

This is a prayer from my friend, Tim Tutt, Senior Pastor at the United Christian Church in north Austin, that resonates with me this morning. I've worked with, and even taught, pastors for years and Tim is one of those that really understands the role of pastor, both for the church and the community.

Pray for a world filled with fires, floods, earthquakes, violence, war, illness, and grief. It is also a world filled with laughter, love, compassion, flowers, beauty, and hope. "God help us to live in the ways of Jesus. Amen."

"I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you,

O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love"

(Psalm 59:16-17).

A Community Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:34:00 +0000

Every day I get to work with a guy that's been around Austin for a very long time. And he's spent most of that time serving others, whether as a counselor, or a community organizer, or in his current position as a Parent Support Specialist. His name is Richard Castillo, a humble hard-working man that has devoted his life to helping families fight poverty and raise their kids to get a good education as their ticket out of poverty. Whether it's tutoring in a summer math camp (above), teaching ESL, or just engaging and encouraging parents that are often overwhelmed and discouraged, he's "always faithful."

His experience is vast, spanning several decades. Every day I learn something new about him that impresses me. Sometimes I sit in meetings with our community partners, astonished by the wealth of his experience and expertise. He's not the only hero, working in Title I schools because he loves families and kids and knows that they need someone with his courage and commitment. There are a whole lot of others just like him where I work and serve. Ordinary heroes giving extraordinary service to help families find a better life.

Mr. Castillo is a military veteran that has a deep appreciation for our men and women that put their lives in harm's way to defend and protect our country. But he didn't stop serving when he left military service. He continues to defend and protect this country's greatest treasure - our children, and, in particular, those that need heroes like him the most. Someone once observed that it's amazing what people can accomplish when they don't care who gets the credit. Maybe that's why he has accomplished so much in the schools and neighborhoods of Austin. Jesus once said that those are the people that get God's approval (Matthew 6:1-4). I know he's earned my respect.

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

Matthew 6:1-4 (The Message translation)

Back to School Night

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:01:00 +0000

Remember "Back to School Night"? You and your parents went to a program, the principal spoke and smiled, then you trudged through the school to all of your classes, met all your teachers, who also spoke and smiled. Everyone, including your parents, were on their best behavior. It was proof to your parents that you really were attending classes every day. There was your desk and some of your work on the wall. The teachers recognized you. And it reassured them that you were going to be okay and have a good year. This was the night when your parents paid their PTA dues, volunteered for various activities and met the other parents, at least the ones whose kids were in your classes.

Then it seemed like the school year really began. But no one could guarantee how it would go. There might be moments of triumph, but almost certainly you would endure the agony of embarrassment and pain. After all, this was middle school (or junior high, as we called it). All of your hormones were kicking in and doing freakish things to your body and your emotions. You just didn't know what to expect from day to day. That's what I saw tonight at the middle school where I work with families.

I realized how much we all had in common, despite all of our differences, particularly the cultural ones. Parents were smiling, proud of their children and anxious for them to have a great year. Anxious is the right word because, despite their love and best efforts, most of them know their children face a mountain of challenges that, quite frankly, most of us never had to be worry about. For some it's learning a second language, for others it's facing health concerns without any insurance, or the lure of gangs or drugs, or simply being able to stay in one place for the entire school year. For many families, it's all of the above.

For me, this night was like my own experience of "Back to School Night." It reminded me that these are ordinary people like me, except for the extraordinary challenges they face to see their children graduate and be successful. Working at the Family Resource Center allows us to build community by affirming our common humanity and seeking to learn from each other. This experience is certainly enriching my life. I only hope that somehow God will use me to enrich theirs.

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:48:00 +0000

Can I tell you a heartwarming, hopeful tale? It started a couple of weeks ago on the day when parents of new students were allowed to enroll their children at our school. That's sounds like a pretty easy task, but it's actually a rather daunting challenge. Parents are handed a packet of 20-30 forms to complete (including our survey from the Family Resource Center). The process can be tedious and take up to an hour, especially if you don't speak English. Traditionally, schools don't handle situations like this very well. Since parents are required to do this, there's little inclination to treat this as an opportunity to connect with parents in a positive way. Only two women, one African-American and the other Hispanic, were assigned to manage this process, working a 10-hour shift on one of the warmest days of the summer. I mention that because it was the same day that painters chose to paint the doors at the ends of the hallway where this activity was taking place, raising the temperature considerably. As I watched this process, it occurred to me that this could produce some frustration and heated exchanges. And in a couple of hours, it did.

A father came to enroll his son. He was obviously uncomfortable and angry about doing so at our school, probably because he and his son were white. This meant that his son was in a distinct minority in a school that's overwhelmingly Hispanic and African-American. I assume that he probably grew up and went to a school where he was part of the majority. Now, angry and resentful, he was a victim of that entitlement culture. Perhaps, he was feeling the way Hispanics and African-Americans did enrolling in that same school a generation earlier. Maybe he viewed this as some sort of payback, because he seemed resentful.

He could barely contain his disdain and anger until, finally, it erupted in a heated exchange with one of the women that was assisting him. She responded very patiently and professionally, but it was a rather embarrassing moment. I was glad to see him finish the process and depart. As he stormed out the door, I watched his son lagging behind and wondered what kind of experience he would have at our school with a role model like that. I had a feeling he would be visiting the office very soon.

Then school began and I forgot about the incident until that same woman called me over to her desk and asked if I remembered the incident. Of course I did, I replied. And then she told me "the rest of the story." Apparently, on that first day, this young man appeared in the office and asked to speak to this woman. I can only imagine what she was thinking as she approached the counter. And then he did something completely unexpected. He apologized.

He felt so bad for what that patient woman had endured that he sought her out on the first day of school to apologize for his dad's behavior. Could anyone have anticipated that response? I certainly didn't. It was like seeing a beautiful flower emerge from a crack in a cement sidewalk. But, you know, that happens once in a while. And when it does, it's a gift of grace, a sign of hope that sustains us all.

Faith Starts with Doing What You Already Know

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:52:00 +0000

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 58. It addresses a familiar theme from all the ancient prophets. God's people are in crisis and "seek the LORD" for relief. That's certainly our situation, isn't it? Think of a recent national rally to call God's people to repentance and seek God's favor (e.g., rain). The problem is they were spiritually ADD. Their only concern was reversing the consequences of their poor choices and infidelity, rather than addressing the sins that caused them. To paraphrase a comedian, they sowed their wild oats and then prayed for a crop failure. But the "sowing and reaping" principle had visited them with a vengeance. So, they comforted themselves in the illusion that their situation could be turned around in two or three days of intense worship (Hosea 6:1-4), but they were wrong, tragically wrong. I think we desperately need to learn from their arrogance and failure. We need to hear and heed God's word through the prophets with humility and discernment (e.g., this applies to me first and foremost). (Seeking repentance for others is disingenuous and hypocritical at best.)

I like the way this appeal concludes with images of restoring, rebuilding and renovating, "making the community livable again," if we can quit blaming victims and pointing fingers at everyone but ourselves. Seeking God's favor begins with attempting to follow what we already know (Micah 6:8). Can we hear God's word speaking to us in this present distress? Open your heart to hear.

Isaiah 58:1-11 (The Message translation)

1-3 "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people—
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.

20 Ways to Save on Your Utility Bills: {Living Simply}

noreply@blogger.com (Shea) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:00:00 +0000

DestroyDebt.com has suggested 20 ways on how you can save on your utility bills. We hope you will find some that work for your family and free up your budget to give back to others!

"Utility bills can consume a very large portion of your paycheck. Wouldn't it be nice if you could pay 25-50% less on these bills? There's a number of ways you can. Don't worry you won't find any low flow toilets on this list!

#1 Change your light bulbs - Compact florescent bulbs use about 25% the electricity of standard incandescent bulbs and will last for years. They do not work with dimmer switches, but you can swap out the majority of your light bulbs and save a significant amount on lighting.

#2 Check your insulation – Go in your attic. Does your insulation cover all the 2x4s? If not you don’t have enough. Having a well insulated house will save you a significant amount on your heating and cooling bills and is well worth the cost. It’s also the kind of project the average home owner can do by themselves.

#3 Add caulk and weather stripping – Is your house drafty? Look at your doors, does light shine in? Feel around the edge of your windows, do you feel a cold or hot breeze? You need to add caulk and weather stripping. It’ll save you money and help get rid of those annoying hot and cold spots in your house.

#4 Fix leaking faucets – I’m sure you’ve heard even a small drip in your sink can fill a swimming pool in a year. It can also empty your bank account. Fixing this problem is usually as simple as replacing a 50 cent washer.

#5 Use fans – By having a slight breeze you can usually turn your AC up a degree or two and still be just as comfortable. It’s a whole lot cheaper to run the fan than to run the AC, so use them.

#6 Turn the computer off – That 300 watt power supply in your computer is still drawing power when you’re not using it. Turn your computer off when you’re done with it. If that’s too much of a hassle, adjust the screen saver settings to put your computer in sleep mode when it’s idle. This is a low power mode that will allow you to quickly resume your work where you left off when you’re ready to use the computer again.

#7 Switch to LED Christmas lights – You wouldn’t think you’re Christmas lights draw that much power, but when you get enough of those little lights, it really adds up fast. 25 watts per 50 bulb stand is standard and when you hook up 10 of those strands you’re looking at 250 watts, probably running 24/7. Christmas lights that use LED bulbs use 80%-90% less electricity and still look just as bright. Also, turn your lights off when you go to bed.

#8 Get an LCD computer monitor – Are you still using an old style CRT display for your computer? Switch to LCD, they consume as little as 25% of the power of a CRT monitor of the same size. You were looking for a good excuse to switch anyways.

#9 Switch to tankless water heater – It amazes me how few people even know about the existence of tankless water heaters. These water heaters do not store hot water, but rather heat it instantly whenever it is needed. The consume a mind-boggling amount of energy when in use, but it ends up being much cheaper to consume a lot of power during the time you need hot water than a little keeping it hot 24/7.

#10 Change your filters – So you change the filter on your AC/Heating unit every spring and fall like you’re suppose to? Wrong! Most filters are only rated for 30 days. Filters are cheap, so change them frequently. The efficiency gained in heating/cooling your house will make well worth it.

#11 Install a programmable thermostat – These are fairly cheap and easy to install. Why pay to cool your house while you’re gone to work? Do you really need it to be the same temperature while you sleep as when you’re awake? Programming it will allow you to make these energy savings adjustments automatically every day.

#12 Take (short) showers instead of baths – Try this one day. Pull the plug on your tub and take a shower like you normally do. When you’re all done, look at the water level. It’s probably about a quarter of the way full. This is how much water, and energy heating that water you save by taking a shower instead of a bath. If you can shorten your shower, even better.

#13 Ditch the phone company – Remember those “We don’t care, we’re the phone company” adds from Saturday Night Live in the 70’s? Not so anymore. They now have competition from the cable company, cell phone providers and internet phone companies. Shop around and you can probably find a better deal. If you use cell phones all the time, you may even be able to shut off your home phone.

#14 Cancel extra TV channels – Do you pay $50-150 a month for 500 channels but end up just watching the networks? Cancel the extra channels and save some cash. If there’s one show you just HAVE to have on one of these other stations, considering paying to download that one show from iTunes or elsewhere instead.

#15 Have AC Maintenance – If your AC is struggling to keep up in the summer, it might be a good idea to have some routine maintenance done. Low Freon levels can significantly impair the efficiency of your AC unit. So can grass clippings and other debris.

#16 Clean that lent trap – Be sure to empty the lent trap on your dryer after every load. If you are doing so and your clothes are still damp, there’s probably lent that has built up in the exhaust hose and it may be time to replace or clean it.

#17 Have a free energy audit – Many power companies provide energy audits free of charge. They can help you find inefficiencies you may not be able to find on your own, and will sometimes even provide you with free compact florescent bulbs. Contact your power company to see if they offer this service.

#18 Get some shade – Blocking out direct sunlight can significantly lower your cooling bills. Plant some trees that will help shade your house and close the blinds on hot days.

#19 Water in the early morning – If you water your grass on a regular basis do it in the early morning hours. By doing so you reduce the amount of water that evaporates which means much more gets to the grass. It’s not recommended to water in the late evening because having damp grass overnight provides a good environment for parasites that can harm your grass.

#20 Change your shower heads – You can switch to a low flow head without having to settle for a whimpy shower. Newer shower heads available can generate just as high of pressure but use less water. They do this by quickly pulsating between on and off to deliver rapid high pressure bursts. These heads are only about $20, have multiple settings you’ll love and can save a lot of water."

One for One: {Living Simply}

noreply@blogger.com (Shea) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Lately, I've really been smitten with the one for one business model (ie. Toms). I love it. I love that as a consumer I can purchase a product and also know someone in the world is also benefiting from that purchase. Such a simple and world changing plan.

So, I've been wondering how could this apply to Urban Connection Austin? We had a huge turn out last month for our Dine In, Help Out Campaign. We asked many of you to choose to dine at home for one evening and share the savings with others who will benefit from that via our resource center. And you answered that challenge! $10,000 was raised in one month's time. You said yes and because you did, kids will attend a math camp, get a summer job, eat a free lunch, and families will find the help them to get on a path to stability and a self-sustainable future.

So as we move to our next phase for building monthly pledges, how can this one for one model work for the needy of Austin?

Here's a simple idea I would like to propose.

Have a hobby? Match your funds. Set a hard and fast rule that whatever you allow yourself to spend on your hobby, you match those funds to go to someone in need. For example, if you are a movie lover, make it a point to match whatever it is you spend a month on going to see a film and whatever food items you purchase. Match the amount THAT night because, let's be honest, the longer you wait the less likely you are to follow through.

Want to hone in on where your monthly purchases are going? Here's a plan:

* "Keep a record of your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it's wise to take a critical look at your expenses.

Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.
Want to go paperless? There are also many apps you can download to your phone that will help you keep track of your expenses." The best app I've found (and use constantly) is Ace Budget.

Really take a look at your monthly expenses. What similar purchases do you find each month that perhaps you haven't even considered a hobby? For example, going to a coffee house, constantly eating out, purchasing books or magazines, or purchasing music on-line. Do you have a Netflix account? Are you using it daily/weekly? Many of these items we just don't consider a hobby. Many times because we neglect the fact that shopping for items that are not a necessity can most definitely become a hobby.

Often we tell ourselves, "I don't have anything to give. My budget is too tight." (And for many people right now that IS the truth). But I also feel there are many of us who say this and still allow ourselves to go to the movies, eat out, go to concerts, etc. If that is the case, I ask you to consider matching dollar for dollar what you spend on your monthly hobby so someone else can be blessed.

Want another way to free up your budget and still be able to have some great quality time with your family?

Enjoy the simple pleasures in life. If you live in Austin, be sure to check out the many great websites we have that are continually updating free events on a daily basis. One of my favorites is FreeFunInAustin.com. Not only do they keep a great calendar and blog of events. They do great give-a-ways from sponsors and keep a weekly meal calendar that tracks restaurants that offer free kid meals each day. (Another great way to give back. If your kid gets a free meal, then add up what the cost of his/her meal would have been, and donate it so that someone else's child gets to eat).

If you find yourself in a place where you are not giving anything away (ever), I encourage you to give it a try. Start small. Just $5.00 per month to prove to yourself that it can be done. And if you are able, invest yourself in whatever organization you are donating to. If they are local, consider volunteering your time there as well. I hope you'll find not only is it a blessing to others but it's a blessing to yourself and your family as well.

"Live simply, so that others may simply live."

-Mahatma Gandhi

*Tips found at http://www.wikihow.com/Save-Money

It All Adds Up

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:23:00 +0000

Did you have trouble with math in school? I did. I was going along great, sailing through addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, "story problems," and even pre-Algebra. And then, in junior high (middle school), I hit Algebra and got stuck. To be honest, I didn't have a very good teacher. Oh, he was a genius at math, especially Algebra, but he was a terrible teacher. He couldn't comprehend why we were so slow to understand what was so easy and fascinating for him. The more we asked for help, the more frustrated he became. Our ignorance showcased his brilliance, not as a teacher, but as a mathematician.

Unfortunately, math is a progressive subject. Each step is built on the one before. If you miss a step, you're in trouble.

By the time I completed the class, I was in trouble, hovering around a "D" average. I dreaded the next step and, sure enough, a month into Algebra II and I was failing for the first time in my school career. Not only did I hate my math class, I dreaded attending school. Fortunately, my next teacher, a quiet, practical woman that loved students as well as math, could sense my panic and began to tutor me. I remember one particular session when, for the first time, I began to grasp a principle that she said was one of the keys to understanding Algebra. I wish I could remember what it was, but I do recall the difference it made in my life. Suddenly, the clouds began to part and I began to understand and recover some of the confidence I had possessed before. And it all happened because one person chose to believe I wasn't stupid or lazy, but just uninformed.

Now, imagine what this would feel like if, in addition to your confusion and frustration with math, you were trying to learn all of this in a second language. This is where many of our incoming students find themselves.

That's why Urban Connection Austin is partnering with the Austin Chinese Church to host a pilot project to help some of students get a step up this summer, both to retain what they have learned and get a head start on what they will learn in the fall. The goal is to increase their confidence and their competency to the point that they will welcome more help during the school year. The project begins with a week-long math camp for incoming 6th graders on June 6 - 10, taught at J. Frank Dobie Middle School by trained volunteers from the Austin Chinese Church. Then, in the weeks following, students will be invited to use computers in the Family Resource Center to access math computer games that will reinforce what they learned. Volunteers will be present to interact with the students during their lunch hour, twice a week.

Will it be successful? That's what we going to find out (this is an experiment). Ideally, it addresses two of the obstacles students face in their education - retaining what they learned the year before and getting help when they fall behind to avoid getting completely discouraged and giving up. We'll keep you posted on our progress over the summer. If it works, this would be the perfect candidate for a grant proposal to be able to replicate it in middle schools all over the district.

This is what we do at Urban Connection Austin - connect enthusiastic, caring people (like the Austin Chinese Church) that can offer resources and opportunities to those that need both, to create authentic community. It's just a glimpse of what Jesus called the "kingdom of heaven."

You can support our efforts in a variety of ways, from volunteering this summer to donating money that will allow us to offer programs like this. At the very least, you can pray for us that God will provide the wisdom and resources we need to do this important work.

Check us out HERE.

An Update on Our Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:06:00 +0000

Last night our family participated in the "Dine In, Help Out" campaign by eating at home and contributing the savings (actually double the savings) to Urban Connection Austin. To quote the famous credit card commercial, it was "priceless," both for the time we enjoyed together and the good that we achieved.

At a time when the burden of our economic crisis is being borne by those that can least afford it, we all need to step up and help out. So far, over 100 people have indicated that they will (or may) participate in this campaign. We would love to have another 100 join them in order to make our goal of raising $10,000 this month. So far, we've received over $1,200 and we would like to thank those of you who have already donated your dinner savings to help us reach over 12% of our goal. We need to start receiving the savings of everyone that pledged to help. I'm confident that this will begin to pick up over the next few days and that they will be generous gifts (one donation alone was $500).

Just this month, we've been approached by several different agencies, from the Health and Human Services Commission and Insure-A-Kid to the UT Nursing Program, Austin ISD, a local church, and a nonprofit to partner with them to expand our services this summer and into the fall. However, as much as they need and desire our increased capacity, they can't increase their present level of funding. So, we need to step up and help reduce the burden of those that will be suffering the most. We can't afford to miss this opportunity to make such a significant difference at such a critical moment.

Please help us meet that need by participating in this simple "Dine In, Help Out" campaign. Click "Attend" for this event and then dine at home sometime in the next 2 weeks and send us your savings. We are confident that, with God's blessing, you will help us reach this goal. You can donate your savings by clicking this link. Thanks for acknowledging your blessings by blessing others in need.

Check out our progress here.

Check out our programs here.

Cellular Curtailment: {Living Simply}

noreply@blogger.com (Shea) — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:34:00 +0000

We want to begin this week by thanking all of you who have joined us in our Dine In, Help Out campaign. We are thrilled with the level of participation in this event and want to thank each of you for sharing your blessings with others. If you'd like to join in on the campaign, there is still time. Be sure to visit our FacebookDine In, Help Out event page. This event will be running through the end of May.

Are there any organizations that capture your heart you wish your family could support, but feel like it is impossible due to the financial pinch of the current recession? For the next few weeks, we will focus our Living Simply series on ways to reduce bills in your home in the hope you will share the savings with others. This week we are going to share a few tips on how to curtail some of the expenses on your cell phone bill. We'll be using AT&T as our prime example, but some of these discounts do apply to other cellular companies. We encourage you to do some investigation with your cellular service provider to see if these same tips could apply to your bill.

For starters, we've done some research on instant discounts you qualify for if you are a(n):

educator

union member

member of the military

employee discount

Please be aware that in order to receive these discounts, you must contact your service provider directly with the request. Some people assume if you sign up using certain qualifying e-mail addresses that you will automatically receive the discount. You will often need to fill out a simple, one page application which proves you qualify for the discount, i.e., union members will fax in your union number and typically a copy of your union membership card to verify qualification. Also, the bill must be in the name of the person who qualifies for the discount. If it's not, call and have it switched, then apply for the discount.

Many of you iPhone users may not be aware that your data plan now comes in several different rate-tier packages. For those of you who've owned iPhones since they first became available there was only one price for the data plan at that time: $30 for unlimited usage. That has changed, and now three different rates are available.

First, figure out how much data you use on a month-to-month basis. Sign into your on-line bill and check the "Usage and Recent Activity" section. Then towards the upper right hand side of that page you will see a button that says "Analyze Past Usage." Click on that tab, and you can see a graph of how many megabytes you typically use per month over the course of the last few months. If you notice that you are staying well under 200 MBs per month, you can easily switch from the $30 data service plan to the $15 data service plan. Also, to make sure you get the most out of the iPhone's ability to switch between cell network and FREE Wi-Fi usage, be sure that under the settings on your iPhone your WI-FI in turned ON at all times. By making this preference choice, you allow your phone to go on free networks instead of it automatically using only your data plan MBs every time you go on-line. If you have a Wi-Fi network in your home and at your workplace, you should be easily capable of downgrading to the $15/month package and saving at least $180 a year. It all adds up.

While you've got your online bill pulled up also check out your minute usage history. Notice how many you average a month (and also how many roll over minutes you have available). If you mainly talk to people within your cellular network, those calls don't count against your minutes. It might be possible for you to also downgrade your minute package and be save in that area as well. Someone brought to my attention that if you know you spend well under 550 minutes/month (specifically those of you who only use your cell phone for emergency use or keep it turned off during the day), you might also consider a pay-as-you-go phone. If you are not using the full 550 and don't want to pay the minimum of $59.00/month, this may be another option for your family to save money.

When our family took a look at our bill (which consisted of 2 cell lines sharing 750 minutes, one of which is an iPhone/data plan, and each line having a $5 - 200 texts per month package), our bill was averaging $140/month. By applying a 15% union discount, dropping to the $15 data package, and lowering our minute package to 550/month, we were able to save OVER $50 a month. That's a savings of over $600/year. We're not having to constantly watch our data or minute usage, we simply weren't using them up in the first place. And we are now able to support a friend of ours who is currently working with a ministry in Africa to provide a home and schooling for young boys who have been living on the streets in Nairobi, Kenya. All with money, we didn't think we had.

Also, if you set up automatic payments using your checking or savings account by June 27, 2011, you will receive a $10 reward card.

Do you know of any other discounts that we missed? Did you discover any discounts that you qualify for? If so, what are some of the organizations you hope to support with your new found savings? Please feel free to share them with us in the comment section below.

"Live simply, so that others may simply live." (Mahatma Gandhi)

Dine In, Help Out {Living Simply}

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Did you know that one of the best practices for raising physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy kids is eating at home several times a week? And yet, most Americans eat out an average of four times a week at an average cost of approximately $250 per month (a conservative estimate).

Most of our neighbors don't enjoy that luxury. For them, eating at home is a necessity and, for some, eating enough is a luxury. One out of every six children in Texas is "food insecure" (what we used to call hungry). Texas is second in the nation in the number of children that experience this insecurity at least once a week. At Urban Connection Austin, we connect low-income families to basic resources like food, housing and utility assistance, as well as health insurance and empowerment resources, like ESL, GED, and workforce classes, walking them through the process to ensure they get the help they need. We do this, and much more, through the Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School in north Austin.

With massive cutbacks to all assistance agencies, we've been challenged by them to expand our services to fill this gap, but we need more support to do it. So we came up with a plan to raise an initial $10,000 this month to begin that process. It's called, "Dine In, Help Out." Here's how it works. You choose to forego dining out once a week, or a month, and, instead, share a home-cooked meal around the dinner table with your family. Then you donate the amount you would have spent to support our efforts to connect low-income families to the resources they need. It's just that simple.

If you're up for this challenge, share your experience. Tell us about the benefits of leisurely eating a home-cooked meal and enjoying this opportunity to reconnect with family members. You could even use this as a learning experience for your family, reflecting on the blessing of abundance you enjoy and the daily challenges your neighbors in Austin face to feed their families with far less.

It's a great way to celebrate the blessings of abundance and family while helping those that struggle to provide for their families. Please be generous. Click this link to DONATE.

"Live simply, so that others may simply live." (Mahatma Gandhi)

Four Things You Should Know About Us

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:14:00 +0000

As we attempt to increase our capacity and base of support over the next few weeks and months, I know you will have some questions about us. Many of them can be answered by visiting our website at Urban Connection Austin. However, let me begin by telling you four things you should know about us.

Small and Scalable
Urban Connection Austin was launched in the middle of this country's worst economic crisis in 80 years, so we were careful to keep our operation small and scalable. We've kept our overhead and expenses low - no fancy office or expense budget, no administrative staff and no debt. We're thoroughly grassroots and growing, but now, as we're experiencing an economic recovery, it's time for us to expand our capacity. And we've kept our operation scalable to be able to do just that. Our plan for the future has three elements: 1) to expand our operation at the Dobie Family Resource Center to full-time status, offering services five days a week next Fall, 2) to strengthen and expand our core of community partners, comprised of local churches and businesses, nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations, and public institutions, and 3) to expand our services to the entire neighborhood where our students live, to help strengthen and transform it.

Resources and Relationships
We connect people to resources and relationships, because without relationships most resources are ineffective. We create those relationships by offering focused, personal attention to those we serve and by continuing to encourage their progress. Although the manner in which we do our jobs is professional, it is also personal. We don't serve clients as much as we serve our neighbors, operating by Jesus' call to treat others the way we would want to be treated. Which means treating them with dignity and respect. We also maintain regular contact, keeping detailed records that allow us to monitor and encourage families from crisis to stability and, eventually, self-sufficiency.

Stability to Self-Sufficiency
If all we succeed in doing is moving families in crisis to stability our efforts fall short of our goal. If we've learned anything from this present economic crisis, it's that simply stabilizing families isn't enough. Those that struggle to survive should be given the opportunity and resources to thrive, both for their sake and for the good of our entire society. All there will always be those that require the protection and provision of various social programs, to accept that as the fate of everyone that lives in poverty is short-sighted and self-defeating. It is also financially unsustainable. We can do better than that.

Receiving to Giving Back
The ultimate goal of helping get people on the path to a safe, healthy, and sustainable future, is helping people move all the way from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency and, finally, to giving back and helping others. This is how authentic community is formed and transformed. That's why we exist to partner with our neighbors to fight poverty together. The ultimate expression of personal development and maturity is when we move from receiving help to giving it back. The surprise is that even those that are serving and giving back are still learning this principle and discovering new meaning for their lives every day.

If you like what you see and hear, please consider supporting our work in the low-income neighborhoods of north Austin. You can donate here.

Want to join us? There's a whole new community waiting for you if you do.
Check us out at Urban Connection Austin.

Stepping Up

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:35:00 +0000

One of the ironies of our work is that just as our opportunities for collaboration and service sped up, our financial support slowed down. Obviously, we can't let that go on for long. Which is why we're launching a campaign today to dramatically expand our capacity and our base of support before next Fall.

Here are some of those opportunities for collaboration:

Austin Voices for Education and Youth, that oversees the Family Resource Centers, has invited us to continue to direct the Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School. They have also encouraged us to expand our role in that center, eventually becoming the primary fiscal agent.

For the third year in a row, we're working with our parent organization and sponsor, CitySquare, to help provide meals to hundreds of hungry kids in the Austin Area this summer.

The Austin Chinese Church is partnering with us to offer a summer math camp to help incoming 6th graders improve their math skills to the point of actually experiencing success in math (some of them might even grow to love math).

The Community Outreach folks at Austin Community College are partnering with us to provide ESL classes for 50 people in our community. There is a waiting list of an additional 50 folks.

The Health and Human Services Commission and Insure-A-Kid are collaborating with us to provide access to health insurance through their 2-1-1 network at our Family Resource Center.

Austin ISD has requested that we work with Parent Support Specialists at our feeder schools to provide resources to the families in those schools. Since we created a pretty sophisticated database of the people we serve, we will be able to keep track of families all the way through the school career of their kids.
Although Austin ISD enthusiastically supports our work and is dramatically expanding our opportunities to help, because of the current budget crisis and massive budget cuts, they cannot increase their financial support. That falls to us. For years I've heard a lot of people say that the primary responsibility for helping people in poverty shouldn't fall on the government, but people of faith and conscience should be the ones to help. Well, here's an opportunity to back up that belief.

If you want to help us continue our work to connect resources and relationships and help families in crisis in the low-income neighborhoods of north Austin, you can DONATE HERE.

If you want more information about our programs, go to our web site at Urban Connection Austin.

Living on the Edge

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:42:00 +0000

The other day I was driving around the neighborhood where I work and came to a red light at an intersection. As I glanced to my right, I noticed a house on the corner with a level driveway that extended out from the garage and then dropped off at about a forty-five degree angle to the street. Several children were playing on the level part of the driveway and one of them, a little girl, was pedaling a tricycle, when suddenly her front wheel slipped off the plateau and sent her careening into the street, right in front of my car. I slammed on the brakes and turned away to avoid hitting her. When I got out of the car, I was relieved to see that she had tumbled off the trike before it carried her into the street. It took me over an hour to settle down from that potentially fatal "near miss." (In fact, I still wake up at night from nightmares of reliving that moment.)

In the days since, that incident has reminded me of the precarious position of those in our society that live "on the edge" financially. For them, a crisis isn't just inconvenient. It's a disaster. We've all had to face some sort of crisis in our life at one time or another. It's not easy, but we find a way to make it through. Most of us have a safety net of relationships and resources that help us weather the storm. But for those that live on the edge, that operate without extra savings or options to assist them, one crisis can devastate a family and keep them down for good. There is no margin for error - a health emergency, a job loss or even a few days off can send those that are living on the edge careening into crisis.

That's one reason why Urban Connection Austin accepted the invitation to partner with another local nonprofit and Austin ISD to provide a Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School last year. Every day we work with families in crisis to connect them to the resources they need to stabilize their lives and move out of crisis mode. And we provide them relationships, to us and other neighbors that know what it is to live on the edge. We need a lot more folks to join this community. Committed, compassionate people that just want to offer themselves to help others. Contact us if you want to participate. You will find a purpose that will transform your life. Check us out at Urban Connection Austin.

Together We Can Do More

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:52:00 +0000

You have probably heard a lot of bad news about public education in Austin - massive budget cuts, huge layoffs, and a very uncertain future. It's created an awful lot of despair about all the things we can no longer do as a community.

They came to our school (J. Frank Dobie Middle School) on the last Saturday in February - 200 students from the University of Texas, Keep Austin Beautiful, Home Depot, and Tree Folks, along with dozens of parents, students and staff from the school.

By the end of the day, the school was transformed. It may not seem like much to some, but it meant everything to our community. It's what can happen when schools and businesses and the community work together to do more. At Urban Connection Austin, this is what we do - connect people to accomplish more together than we could ever do separately.

If you like that idea, then we hope you'll "like" our Facebook page.

A generous donor has agreed to give us $2 for every "like" to help us continue to bring people together in the under-resourced neighborhoods of north Austin. Just click below:

Making the Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:30:00 +0000

I have a lot of people that tell me they really want to help others in need, but don't know where to start. I always tell them the same thing - start by making a connection with one person in need. It might be a homeless person, a student that you mentor or tutor in a Title I school, or a family in a low-income neighborhood. Because it's all about the relationships. Without them, all the resources we can offer are invariably wasted. One way or another, start by making a connection.

That's what we do at Urban Connection Austin - we create community by connecting folks that can offer resources and opportunities to those that need both. The connection is the key. It opens the door to building genuine community. We invite you to be a part of this special community. You can start by connecting with us on Facebook. A generous donor has committed to giving us $2 for every person that clicks "Like" on our page from now until March 14.

Help Us Spread Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:11:00 +0000

Want to spread hope with the click of a button? Urban Connection is working in North Austin to bring hope to families in crisis, and a generous supporter has offered $2 for every new friend who likes us on Facebook between March 7-14. Please help Urban Connection Austin extend our reach by liking us on Facebook and recommending us to your friends.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter:

Already a Devoted Fan? Spread the word:

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Community School Alliance

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:29:00 +0000

When we began the Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School last fall, one of the projects we established very quickly was a partnership of community partners known as the Community School Alliance. Presently we have over a dozen partners that meet with administrators and counselors and parents monthly to share their experience and expertise to support the school and the community. One of those enthusiastic supporters is Life Technologies, a bio-tech firm in our neighborhood.

Recently, they spent all morning at our school in an effort to dress up an area adjacent to the portable where our Family Resource Center is located as part of their Global Volunteer Day. Now that area is a beautiful oasis, with miniature fruit trees, picnic tables and an arbor (that volunteers will return to finish out with seating and cover from the sun). This is just a small part of the kind of work that community partners can do to supplement and encourage the efforts of dedicated administration, teachers and staff of local schools. It's exactly the kind of collaboration Austin schools need and want for the future. Together we can do more.

An Insider's View

noreply@blogger.com (Dean Smith) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:37:00 +0000

Here are a few more pictures from inside the Family Resource Center at J. Frank Dobie Middle School. Funding to furnish this center came entirely from community partners like HEB, Walmart, Wells Fargo Bank, United Way and a host of other individual supporters. All together over $6,000 in cash and in-kind donations transformed this portable into a warm and inviting place for families to strengthen their community and help each other.

This is just the beginning of what will be a grassroots effort to help stabilize families through this present crisis and build an even stronger community for the future. We hope to build on the proud heritage of the Walnut Creek community (78753) to celebrate its rich diversity and strong family culture.