RECTOR CHURCH WARDENS & VSTRY MMBRS OF CHCH OF ST LUKE IN FIELDS OF NY
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Mission Statement
The Church of St. Luke in the Fields [St. Luke's] is a vibrant, inclusive city parish embracing values traditionally associated with small towns. We believe St. Luke’s has never lost this sense of community. Making a difference in our neighborhood has always been of pivotal importance. We look to accomplish this by identifying unmet needs and designing unique programs and services to meet those needs. Under the umbrella of On the Block, St. Luke’s has developed a menu of quality Outreach Programs, including Art & Acceptance for LGBTQ+ Youth, and the GO Project.
About This Cause
Art & Acceptance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Youth and their Allies The mission of Art & Acceptance at St. Luke's is to improve the health, safety, and well-being of homeless and marginally housed LGBTQ+ youth and their allies between the ages of 16 and 29. St. Luke's is committed to addressing the dangers of homelessness, combined with health disparities and social stigma associated with LGBTQ+ youth. At St. Luke's we provide a non-judgmental and culturally sensitive space staffed by professionals providing links to life changing services. Our location gives us a distinct advantage. The Stonewall Riots of 1969 geographically position Greenwich Village as the center of LGBT rights--attracting youth from up and down the east coast. Pier 45 (also known as the Christopher Street Pier) is a popular social scene for LGBTQ youth. Youth are looking for a place where they can be authentic and express themselves freely without fear of repercussions and judgement. Many of our attendees are victims of homophobic violence. Most are homeless or marginally housed; their families rejected them because of their sexual orientation--permanently closing the door behind them. The harsh reality is that these youth have been thrown away. Once on the streets, they are vulnerable to all sorts of abhorrent dangers; they experience higher rates of violence than other groups, depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, HIV infection, other untreated chronic medical and mental health conditions, substance use, and homelessness. (National Alliance to End Homelessness). On Saturday evenings we offer a menu of arts based activities including arts & crafts, yoga, writing, dance, as well as board games and basketball. Our pop up shop features gently used clothing and sample size toiletries. In addition to supervised activities, we serve a nutritious, communal meal. For many youth, our Saturday night meal is their only meal of the day. Thanks to our partnership with Project STAY, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals offers comprehensive health services, including pregnancy/STI/HIV testing, education, and cutting edge preventive measures, including access to the new medication PrEP. The LeGaL Foundation, in conjunction with the LGBT Committee of the Pro Bono Council of Sanctuary for Families, provides legal services. The clinic serve as a "first responder" for the legal needs of LGBTQ youth. Most of the teenagers and young adults we serve are not used to healthy attention from adults. People take advantage of their chaotic lifestyle. As a result, it is very difficult to earn their trust. We attract youth by offering enjoyable arts based activities and essential services delivered by caring staff and vetted volunteers. Once they cross our threshold, youth workers are in position to triage their needs and make referrals for social services and behavioral health care. The GO Project at St. Luke's New York City's public school system is failing to provide an adequate education for students--especially for those from low-income areas--which perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Today 30 percent of New York City children live in poverty. Forty percent will not graduate on time. As a GO Project site, St. Luke's takes public school students who are the most at-risk of academic failure and puts them on the path to success. By the time a student graduates GO, they have received more than 2,000 additional instructional hours. Early intervention is essential, because it is proven to be the most effect time to make an impact in a child's life. GO SUMMER is a rigorous, five-week, full day academic and enrichment program led by a certified teacher. Class sizes are kept to a maximum of 14 students. By staying academically engaged throughout the summer, students gain new skills and combat "summer loss." On average, GO students gain 3 months in math and reading. GO FAMILIES is a year-round social service program designed to empower parents/guardians of participants to create positive learning environments at home and in school. School visits, parent meetings, workshops, and individual counseling sessions give parents the knowledge and tools they need to understand and address their child's academic, social, and emotional development. GO SCHOOL is a focused 7-month Saturday program with a staff of certified teachers and skilled volunteers tutors. Students attend 22 Saturday sessions from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm between October and April. Lessons are designed to build essential skills in reading, writing, and math. In Our Fields In Our Fields is a mobile program to distribute meals, water, and health care kits to people in our neighborhood who are experiencing homelessness or hunger. This program was launched in 2020, in response to our community’s emerging needs. Community Closet Every Saturday, we provide clothing, personal care items, and brown bag sandwich meals to anyone in need. All items are provided free of charge.