Dispatches: Riverdale Church is Trying to Create A Community

This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the and the African Humanitarian Council will host a community outreach event, serving free water, tea and juice to those in need. 

The , and is the second to be hosted this month. Felix Awotula, the president and founder of the African Humanitarian Council, said this is only the beginning of their efforts. 

“This event is also a declaration of our purpose of some of the future programs we plan to offer,” he said. “It’s about letting people know we want to be a part of their lives and help them find the ability to explore their inner talents.”

The group hopes to launch classes to improve vocational skills and develop  a business program to teach people to manage their finances. General Education Development (GED) classes will also be offered, as well as classes teaching English as a second language. They hope to start the classes by early next year.  

The programs are geared for the homeless, the unemployed, low-income families and the physically challenged, to help them get on their feet as well as learn new skills.

Sister Temi Akinwumi, the coordinator, had the idea to launch the program in Riverdale Park. She said she already had people interested in what they’ve dubbed the “Get Involved Summer 2011” program through the African Humanitarian Council, so she brought the idea to her pastor at the River of Life Church and found members of the congregation who were eager to help.

If “Get Involved” succeeds in Riverdale Park, she said she plans to expand through the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia and become a leader in providing programs and services for those in need.

“The group held its first event on September 10, and it went very well,” Akinwumi said. “It was a great starting point, and we hope to start planning for a Thanksgiving and Christmas event where we can give out more than water and provide turkey and food items.”

Councilman Raymond Rivas attested to the success of the first outreach event and said the community could benefit from the future programs and classes. 

“I saw several different families that day right in my apartment building who were ecstatic about it and said the event had a fun atmosphere, different than just a regular giveaway,” he said. “They were really appreciative of the church.”

Rivas added that the community needs more English classes and more ways for people learn about career-change options, as well as more counseling, especially for children, many of who come from broken homes.

“Most people here work as landscapers, painters, carpenters, and in the wintertime it’s sometimes hard to feed a household of five or six people, especially if their work is outside and they’re losing hours by not being able to work,” Rivas said.

According to Awotula, the classes and programs the two organizations will offer will also change the mindset of the community from what Awotula called a “handout to a hands-on” mentality.  

“Get Involved Summer 2011” places emphasis on self-discovery, he said, adding, “Our goal is to provide the necessary tools to ensure these people live the life they’re supposed to live and climb the ladder of success… We really believe that everybody has something to offer and that with the right support, anything can be realized.”