Interfaith Coalition Building Blocks for Wilmington

Since spring of 2005, the Interfaith Coalition Building Blocks for Wilmington (ICBBW) has been evolving a comprehensive set of strategies to develop and sustain a caring community of integrated individuals and institutions to reduce violence, restore hope, and instill a more holistic and spirit lifting approach to addressing concerns and opportunities in our neighborhoods and communities. It is based on our fundamental belief that all individuals have within them an intrinsic desire to realize their higher potential and purpose in life.

Organizational Focus
The Interfaith Coalition’s strategic focus is on developing and sustaining a coordinated effort of neighborhoods and faith-based organizations to work with youth in at-risk environments, and their families, in order to minimize the likelihood that they will become involved in delinquent and criminal behavior and to set them on a developmental path towards higher achievement. 

Our operational strategies include:

• Facilitating energies around neighborhood capacities and assets to build a sustainable “neighborhood based delivery system” with a common vision and shared ownership, that will work with hard to reach youth/families by identifying needs, referring them to appropriate existing services, and supporting them during the process
  

• Employing a nationally recognized model (Search Institute) for intentional community asset building and positive youth development

• Mobilizing faith-based organizations for strategic ministry opportunities, to be accountable for the streets around their church, and to facilitate urban/suburban faith-based partnerships

• Using technology solutions to better match youth/family needs with existing resources, and to track and measure our work

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  

Howard Thurman