Love Your Neighbor Collaborative - LYNC

Did you know LYNC has its own research committee? LYNC Interns throughout the year also conduct internal and external research to analyze and assess program needs, the needs of our faith-based organizations, and the needs of our neighbors and community. Pictured here is last year's LYNC intern Rebecca Solora, LYNC Director Dr. Mandy Smith, LSU Field Director Daphne Thomas, LSU Chair of Social Work Dr. Marni Straine, and CBU BSW Director Dr. Jennifer Costello. The LYNC Research Team presented at the annual NACSW Conference in Glendale, CA this month. The presentation was to bring awareness of LYNC as a program and to help other professionals implement innovative, successful social work strategies in their communities.
Path of Life Ministries

Thank you to About My Father's Business for belt donations. Many of our local faith-based organizations have oversized donated pants and jeans that do not always fit our neighbors without homes. Ivan's AMFB donations through LYNC collaborations provided many more opportunities for our neighbors to receive warm pants for these cold months. Thank you to First Congregational Church's Project Food for ensuring these needs are met and for taking photos of belt dispersions (with maintaining our neighbors privacy).
Ivan Gooch
Path of Life Ministries

Our intern spotlight this week is Alexandra. Alexandra is a first year at Cal Baptist University and chose social work to get her license in clinical social worker and become a therapist. Alexandra has always wanted to be a therapist and social work offered a unique view where you can focus on not only the individual but also their environment. In her internship at LYNC she enjoys speaking to the neighbors on an individual bases and assessing their needs. Her favorite verse is “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 because she believes you should love selflessly like Jesus loved us.

Sometimes when we are getting ready to work with different neighbors we are crippled with fear that we are not going to help them right. We are going to say something wrong and make their life harder. In actuality ignoring their problems could be worse. We should always aim to help but try not to be so fearful of failure that we feel like we would rather not help them. Every person we work with is going to bring a different story and have different needs, it’s our job as social workers to listen and help where we can.

LYNC intern meeting with Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Councilman Steve Hemenway at City Hall.

Remembered words of truth by her, "we've become communities that outsource our discomforts." Whether it's picking up our own trash, picking up dead animals on our roads, or helping homeless get basic resources, we remove ourselves from helping by relying on someone else to do it, making us less effective as whole communities ❤

Path of Life Ministries

Free Clothes Sunday, 11/7 at Kansas Ave. Church. Please visit this LYNC partner 9AM-12Noon and share with those who may benefit from this outreach. Thanks!
Path of Life Ministries

Faith Lutheran hosted their Harvest Festival tonight from 4:00-7:00 P.M.! So many amazing vendors came out tonight. A special shout-out to our interns Lauren and Cynthia for going above and beyond with assisting the planning and contacting all the vendors. Your guys are superstars! Check out for more pictures of the event tonight!
Path of Life Ministries

Council woman Clarissa Cervantes made an appearance at the Culture Health Fair! It’s so amazing to have our city council coming out to support community events.
Path of Life Ministries

Riverside Hispanic Church hosted a Cultural Health Fair where many vendors came out to promote health and wellness in our community. All together is was an amazing event where all cultures can come together in unity.
Path of Life Ministries

Remember to take care of yourself. No matter how busy life may become, self-care is always important. One isn’t able to help others if they aren’t caring for themselves.

Asking for help is never easy. But how do we expect our clients to come to us and ask us for help if we are incapable of asking for help ourselves. It’s okay to admit you need help.

Check out this week’s events! There’s a cultural fair and a harvest festival this Saturday the 23rd! We’d love to see you there!