Belong Week: Routes and Crews
Live, work, belong. Last week’s “Work” week introduced Willy, our new Crew Manager at GSI, (if you haven't read that one, you can check it out here!) and we kept hinting at tweaks to GSI’s setup.. Normally, when you read a “Belong” week story, you’re reading about a neighbor who found a supportive family to belong to in the Community Center, and while those stories are just as powerful, this newfound direction for what GSI is becoming has got our whole team excited about the future, thankful for the past, and driven for the present. And when we think of what “belong” means, GSI fits right in to that as well.
We know we’re not the only ones who felt it, but this past year hit us hard.. Federal changes, big dips in funding, and fewer new partners meant work began to slow down and grants felt few and far between. But God’s got a way of showing up.. The City of Bellflower, a longtime partner of ours, saw our need and stepped up in a big way.. They’ve trusted GSI to care for their greenspaces! Parks, medians, lots, and more that are part of our city and need just as much care as anything else. As these talks began, we realized the blessing (and responsibility) that God was entrusting to us, and had to make it work. So in order to be good stewards, we’ve reshaped GSI into Routes and Crews. GSI Routes are teams of temporary participants, much like you’re used to hearing about, which continue to be led by a Route Manager, and exist to help neighbors learn landscaping and life skills to fight against employment barriers. GSI Crews, like our new Bellflower Crew, are more permanent teams of past trainees and more experienced individuals, led by Willy, who keep the new mission rolling strong. This city partnership has completely changed the outlook of GSI, and even through the tough season, we’ve now reached a place where GSI is actually growing, which says a lot about the power of the God we serve and the faithfulness of His promises when we belong to Him.
Speaking about “belonging,” the Bellflower Crew really exhibits it. Willy, our Crew Manager who we highlighted last week, was chosen for his heart for KCB’s values and his knack for serving selflessly.. He’s out there shaping Bellflower’s greenspaces and showing his team they’ve got a place they can be proud of.. “I’m grateful to God for this journey with GSI and to give back to the community I live in,” Willy shared last week.. Then there’s Delvon, a crew member who crushed it during his time as a GSI participant.. He tackled every job with a great attitude, taking direction and knocking out even the most tedious tasks with confidence.. Evan is another crew member who’s story is amazing.. He volunteered with GSI for two months before officially joining, working with a sense of excellence, and more impressively, without complaint, even without pay.. On the GSI Routes, Tim’s a veteran leader, and guides trainees with knowledge earned over years with GSI.. And Isaac’s new to the Route Manager role but brings fresh fire, and has a desire to coach participants with heart and hustle.. This crew is growing and mentoring each other, and judging based of some of the things they said they were thankful for during our team meeting, they’re experiencing belonging within the whole KCB team. It’s evident that they’re building trust both in and outside the KCB walls, all while making Bellflower look sharp in the process.
GSI’s program as a whole is leveling up as well. The final details are still being ironed out, but the vision is an expansion of the normal three-month program to a longer term program while focusing more on the personal development of our participants. It’s more intentional. More one-on-one coaching with Andrew, Gene, and George, and zeroing in on real personal barriers like housing or even other job skills.. Recently, Andrew introduced an “ABC” viewpoint: More neighbors can move from an “A” job with us to a “B”etter job and, one day, a “C”areer, all while feeling like they belong to something bigger.
This is GSI’s heart: helping people beat barriers through jobs, development, and coaching, but it’s the family we build that makes it stick. Willy, Delvon, Isaac, Evan, Tim, and others are living proof. We’re stronger when we belong to the Father and work for each other.. Today in our team meeting we discussed the growth through the past year and we spoke on Galatians 6, specifically verse 2 which says Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. That’s GSI’s new chapter.. working side by side, lifting each other up, and trusting God to make it count..
As GSI continues to grow, join us in praying for Willy and his wife, for Delvon, for Isaac, Tim, and Evan, for our crews, for GSI’s mission, and for KCB to keep our community tight and strong..
We continue to trust God to guide every step. And we’re excited for the opportunity to keep going.
Until next time…
P.s. Thank you George for your skills with the camera!