Love Out Loud

LOVE OUT LOUD CONNECTS AND MOBILIZES PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS. LOVE OUT LOUD IS A NETWORK OF CHURCHES, GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING OUT CHRIST'S CALL TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR. LOVE OUT LOUD PARTNERS WITH ANYONE WORKING FOR THE FLOURISHING OF OUR COMMUNITY-INCLUDING WELL OVER 150 FAITH-GROUPS, 300 NONPROFITS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL HUNDRED BUSINESSES. IN THE PROCESS, LOVE OUT LOUD WORKS TO FIND ALIGNMENT ACROSS ALL OF THESE EFFORTS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES WHILE MOBILIZING THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR UNIQUE PASSIONS AND SKILLS.

ACES NOURISHING FORSYTH: THE A,B,C'S OF ACES (ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES) IS A COLLABORATION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE GOAL IS SHARED KNOWLEDGE, LANGUAGE, AND UNDERSTANDINGS AND COMMUNITY-LED RESEARCH. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN IN FORSYTH COUNTY TO CREATE AWARENESS AROUND ACES TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE STEPS TO SUPPORT HEALTHIER CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO LESSEN IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM HARM OF ACES AND TO PROMOTE RESTORATION BY ACHIEVING EQUITY AND JUSTICE THROUGH BRINGING SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND HOME IN ALIGNMENT.

CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY: CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY BEGAN IN 2008 AND IS A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT. IN 2023 (OUR SIXTEENTH YEAR), WE PARTNERED WITH 70 CHURCHES, 95 NONPROFITS, AND 107 BUSINESSES. TO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE, APPROXIMATELY 1000+ VOLUNTEERS HOSTED THE FREE CHRISTMAS PARTY AND WELCOMED 10,000+ PEOPLE FROM WINSTON- SALEM, NC AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE EVENT HAS CONSISTENTLY CONVENED A WIDE NETWORK OF MULTI-SECTORAL PARTNERS AND WELCOMED PEOPLE ACROSS WIDE GENERATIONAL, RACIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC LINES. FEARLESS WINSTON-SALEM: FEARLESS WINSTON-SALEM IS A COLLABORATIVE COLLECTIVE, SOCIAL COMMUNITY AND MUTUAL AID FUND FOR AND BY FOLKS IN WINSTON-SALEM. MUTUAL AID SUPPORT ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH RENT, UTILITIES, GROCERIES, MEDICAL PAYMENTS AND OTHER NEEDS. GIFT MART: GIFT MART IS A PROGRAM IN DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO SHOP FOR NEW AND LIKE NEW TOYS, CLOTHES AND OTHER GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN FOR CHRISTMAS. THESE ITEMS ARE DONATED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SET UP WHERE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS CAN SHOP FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME UNDER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS OLD AT REDUCED PRICES, ALLOWING THEM THE DIGNITY OF PURCHASING GIFTS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IN 2023, GIFT MART SERVED APPROXIMATELY 130 FAMILIES, PROVIDING GIFTS TO APPROXIMATELY 650 LOCAL CHILDREN. STUDENT CAMP: UP TO ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES ATTEND A ONE-WEEK OVERNIGHT (OR DAY) CAMP EXPERIENCE AND ARE MOBILIZED IN THE WINSTON-SALEM AREA TO MAKE LASTING TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT ON THEIR CITY AND THEMSELVES. EACH DAY STUDENT CAMP SENDS TEAMS OUT INTO OUR CITY TO SERVE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, EAT MEALS TOGETHER AT CHURCHES HEARING MULTIPLE LOCAL EXPERTS ON TOPICS OF FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, HEALTH, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT AND THEN WORSHIPPING AS A COMMUNITY AT THE WINSTON SQUARE AMPHITHEATRE DOWNTOWN. STUDENTS FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, CHURCHES AND SETTINGS ATTEND STUDENT CAMP EACH YEAR. REPAIR THE BODY SOLIDARITY FUND: THE REPAIR THE BODY SOLIDARITY FUND IS A CALL TO WHITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP REPAIR CHRIST'S BODY IN OUR TIME. IT IS A CALL FOR REPENTANCE THAT PRIORITIZES THE GOOD OF BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FOR THE SAKE OF THE SPIRIT HEALING US ALL. THROUGH THIS FUND, THE VISION IS TO SEE DEEPER CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP, MORE FAITHFUL AND THRIVING CONGREGATIONS, AND A MORE JUST WINSTON-SALEM. A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL BLACK PARTNERS IS UNITED IN CHRIST TO SEEK THE FLOURISHING AND FREEDOM OF OUR BELOVED BLACK COMMUNITIES. THESE PARTNERS SEEK TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES RECEIVED THROUGH THE SOLIDARITY FUND TOWARD THAT END, DISTRIBUTING FUNDS TO BLACK-LED, GRASSROOTS, HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS THAT ADDRESS HISTORIC AND PRESENT INJUSTICES AGAINST BLACK WINSTON-SALEM. UNA BENDICION: UNA BENDICION CONNECTION CENTER IS A VOLUNTEER-RUN PROGRAM WHICH SERVES FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NORTHEAST WINSTON SALEM. THEY HOLD LARGE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS EVERY OTHER SATURDAY SERVING BETWEEN 80-110 HOUSEHOLDS AT EACH OPENING. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY OFFER EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, SHARE BILINGUAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION, TAKE CLIENT REFERRALS FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND HOST MEDICAL CLINIC SERVICES. WINSTON-SALEM PICKUP ASSOCIATION: THE WINSTON-SALEM PICKUP ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A WELCOMING SOCCER COMMUNITY THAT FACILITATES ORGANIZED YEAR-ROUND OPEN-PLAY SOCCER THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, AGES, AND SKILL LEVELS, CREATING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS TO PLAYING SOCCER FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH IN FORSYTH COUNTY. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES: ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: BROWNSBORO COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, CYCLE RECYCLE, DRUM MAJORS ALLIANCE, EDUCATION, FREEDOM SCHOOLS, HOUSING, JOY PROM, OTHER LOVE OUT LOUD INITIATIVES, RESTOREONE, AND UNIFORM MART.

SCHOOL OF LOVE SCHOOL OF LOVE DIRECTS COHORTS OF APPROXIMATELY 30 PARTICIAPNTS. THE PARTICIPANTS COME FROM DENOMINATIONALLY DIVERSE CHURCHES IN WINSTON-SALEM, SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CONGREGATIONS AND CONGREGATIONS OF COLOR. THE COHORTS ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISH A RHYTHM OF LIFE TOGETHER, WHICH REQUIRES COMMITMENTS TO: (1) COMMON RHYTHMS OF LOVE, SUCH AS COMMON PRAYER CONFESSION, SABBATH, EDUCATION, JUSTICE, BREAKING BREAD MEALS, AND MORE (2) PERSONALIZED RHYTHMS OF LOVE, AND (3) INTERCULTURAL LIFE TOGETHER.

LIT CITY LIT CITY'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES SEEK TO BUILD IN SOLIDARITY WITH UNDER-SERVED WINSTON-SALEM TEENS FROM THE "CLASSROOM TO THE CORNER, FROM THE COURT TO THE CONCERT". LIT CITY SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING/ADVOCACY, AND URBAN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. LIT CITY PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL SCHOOLS TO LEAD AFTER-SCHOOL GROUPS THAT HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, PURPOSE, DESTINY, AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS. IN THE SUMMER, LIT CITY SPONSORS AND LEADS ONE OF WINSTON- SALEM'S NINE FREEDOM SCHOOLS, A SIX-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE LITERACY, SELF-ESTEEM, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, A LOVE OF LEARNING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.