Chicago Dwell unit focuses on advocacy and policy

 

 

 

 
Krista Dutt (right) with Jim Jordan
Hannah Heinzekehr
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
CHICAGO (Mennonite Mission Network) – Volunteers serving with the DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) Dwell program in Chicago during fall 2009 will bring a new focus on business and advocacy for faith-based justice.
 
Dwell is one facet of the DOOR program, a partner to Mennonite Mission Network’s Christian Service ministries. Dwell participants are invited to be a part of God’s transformative work in the city by spending a year living in an intentional Christian community while serving at an area non-profit organization.
 
In Chicago, rather than partnering with homeless shelters and other social work agencies, Dwell volunteers will work in agencies that directly address policy and the systems that perpetuate injustice throughout the city.
 
“We are recruiting the people that have not typically been recruited for volunteer positions, like business majors, accounting majors, city planners, and folks with community development background,” said Krista Dutt, DOOR national program director and the director for Dwell in Chicago.
 
Volunteers will use their gifts and skills with local agencies to work at policy advocacy, grant writing, data gathering and a number of other behind-the-scenes tasks that have direct impact on education and housing policies, environmental justice, and other causes throughout the city.
 
Chicago is a good place to test these skills. According to Dutt, in the initial city planning years ago, Chicago was laid out with highways and buildings meant to separate people by class, race and other criteria. Public transportation is still laid out in ways that naturally make it difficult to get to and from certain neighborhoods. In their work, volunteers will be thinking about ways to undo these systems of injustice.
 
“At DOOR, our philosophy of ministry emphasizes seeing the face of God in the city. We want to be a mutual exchange of info and ideas between the folks that come to volunteer and the city,” said Dutt. “This form of data gathering and mutual exchange is a new piece for us. DOOR has always advocated in some ways, but this is another step.”
 
For more information on DOOR’s Dwell program and to apply online, visit Service.MennoniteMission.net. Dwell placements are also currently available in Atlanta, Denver, Hollywood, Miami and San Antonio.

 

 
  • Subscribe
    Sign up for the weekly e-mail with the latest stories.

 Related articles

 

 

Honoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of DiscoveryDismantling the Doctrine of Discoveryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5123/Honoring-Indigenous-pathwaysHonoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of DiscoveryGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Elkhart, Indiana
Eric Frey Martin named director of constituent engagementPress Releasehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5122/Eric-Frey-Martin-named-director-of-constituent-engagementEric Frey Martin named director of constituent engagementGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Christ at the Borders pilgrimages give perspective on immigrationJust Peace Pilgrimagehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5106/Christ-at-the-Borders-pilgrimages-give-perspective-on-immigrationChrist at the Borders pilgrimages give perspective on immigrationGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476South Texas
Peace and reconciliation workshop empowers Ecuador's evangelical leadersPeacebuildinghttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5102/Peace-and-reconciliation-workshopPeace and reconciliation workshop empowers Ecuador's evangelical leadersGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Quito
Podcast episode explores building faith through serviceLead/Follow episodehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5081/Building-faith-through-servicePodcast episode explores building faith through serviceGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Master’s program in conflict transformation ignites vision for justice/peace in BeninPassion for peace!https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5099/Master’s-program-in-conflict-transformation-ignites-vision-for-justice-peace-in-BeninMaster’s program in conflict transformation ignites vision for justice/peace in BeninGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Urgent prayer request for VenezuelaPrayer requesthttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5098/Urgent-prayer-request-for-VenezuelaUrgent prayer request for VenezuelaGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Jonah and Memee Yang contextualize the gospel in the Hmong cultureSoutheast Asiahttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5095/Jonah-and-Memee-Yang-contextualize-the-gospel-in-the-Hmong-cultureJonah and Memee Yang contextualize the gospel in the Hmong cultureGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Bekah York invites Mission Network supporters to give to new ministriesSupport new ministries!https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5091/Bekah-York-invites-Mission-Network-supporters-to-give-to-new-ministriesBekah York invites Mission Network supporters to give to new ministriesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
MTAL celebrates 20 years of faith and resilience20th Anniversaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5083/MTAL-celebrates-20-yearsMTAL celebrates 20 years of faith and resilienceGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Three decades of transformation in Mongolian mission workMongolia updatehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5085/Three-decades-of-transformation-in-Mongolian-mission-workThree decades of transformation in Mongolian mission workGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Mission worker used comforter-making to knot God’s people togetherObituaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5082/Mission-worker-used-comforter-making-to-knot-God’s-people-togetherMission worker used comforter-making to knot God’s people togetherGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
MC USA files new amicus brief in support of Apache-StrongholdApache-Strongholdhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5076/MC-USA-files-new-amicus-brief-in-support-of-Apache-StrongholdMC USA files new amicus brief in support of Apache-StrongholdGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Oak Flat
Mission Network announces 2024 Anti-Racism Grant awardsNewshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5073/2024-Anti-Racism-Grant-awardsMission Network announces 2024 Anti-Racism Grant awardsGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Finding fresh hope at PSMC conferenceChurch plantinghttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5071/Finding-fresh-hopeFinding fresh hope at PSMC conferenceGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476

 

 

 Related

 

 

Honoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of Discoveryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5123/Honoring-Indigenous-pathwaysHonoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of Discovery
Eric Frey Martin named director of constituent engagementhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5122/Eric-Frey-Martin-named-director-of-constituent-engagementEric Frey Martin named director of constituent engagement
Christ at the Borders pilgrimages give perspective on immigrationhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5106/Christ-at-the-Borders-pilgrimages-give-perspective-on-immigrationChrist at the Borders pilgrimages give perspective on immigration
Peace and reconciliation workshop empowers Ecuador's evangelical leadershttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5102/Peace-and-reconciliation-workshopPeace and reconciliation workshop empowers Ecuador's evangelical leaders
Podcast episode explores building faith through servicehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5081/Building-faith-through-servicePodcast episode explores building faith through service
Master’s program in conflict transformation ignites vision for justice/peace in Beninhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5099/Master’s-program-in-conflict-transformation-ignites-vision-for-justice-peace-in-BeninMaster’s program in conflict transformation ignites vision for justice/peace in Benin



 

 

Episode 1: Multiethnic (A vision for the church in mission)https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/5125/Episode-1-Multiethnic-A-vision-for-the-church-in-missionEpisode 1: Multiethnic (A vision for the church in mission)4 Ms
Episode 2: Multiplying (A vision for the church in mission)https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/5126/Episode-2-Multiplying-A-vision-for-the-church-in-missionEpisode 2: Multiplying (A vision for the church in mission)4 Ms
Episode 3: Maturing (A vision for the church in mission)https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/5127/Episode-3-Maturing-A-vision-for-the-church-in-missionEpisode 3: Maturing (A vision for the church in mission)4 Ms
Episode 4: Mutual (A vision for the church in mission)https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/5128/Episode-4-Mutual-A-vision-for-the-church-in-missionEpisode 4: Mutual (A vision for the church in mission)4 Ms
Bonus Episode: Spirtual gifts (A vision for the church in mission)https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/5129/Bonus episode-Spiritual-gifts-A-vision-for-the-church-in-missionBonus Episode: Spirtual gifts (A vision for the church in mission)4 Ms
Honoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of Discoveryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/5123/Honoring-Indigenous-pathwaysHonoring Indigenous pathways and challenging the Doctrine of DiscoveryDismantling the Doctrine of Discovery