History & Locations
1992-2012
Peace of the City began in 1992 with one after-school program called “Homework Club”. Over the years, four priorities – Literacy, the Arts, Advocacy and Transformation have gradually emerged and now drive POTC’s vision and ministry forward.
1992
Our first location at Vermont and Prospect
Homework Club begins in an unused Episcopal fellowship hall at Vermont and Prospect.
1993
In response to the great needs of older kids in the neighborhood, we begin Teen Club and Teen Employment programs. Word spreads and a waiting list is begun for some programs.
1996
Our second home at a former TV station located at 184 Barton St.
The old Episcopal property is sold. After utilizing a few temporary sites around the West Side (including our second floor apartment!) in time we land at a former TV station located at 184 Barton St.Thus begins ten amazing years of adding staff and building programs, community and memories. During the Barton Street era we formally become “Peace of the City” and obtain the 501(c)3 designation. Near the end of our time at Barton Street, POTC increasingly comes to terms with the fact that offering quality programs is not enough; the root causes of generational poverty must be addressed. We affiliate with the Christian Community Development Association and add programs and staff aimed at not only loving and serving young people but empowering them with the skills and mindset needed to break the cycle of poverty. This recalibration of our vision changes everything.
The underused church building at Bird and Hoyt that we utilized from 2006-2008.
2006
Expansion of the Jericho Road Family Health Practice (also located at 184 Barton) causes us to move on to an underused church building located at Bird and Hoyt. Here the staggering reality of illiteracy among many of our children further grips POTC and the Ephraim Initiative Literacy intervention program is begun. Utilizing three unheated, makeshift rooms, our professionally-trained literacy tutors go to work, creating new hope for kids and teens with few options for serious reading assistance. In time, the results will be amazing.
2008
Renovation church and it’s pastor, Brek Cockrell, gave us a home in 2008.
As we prepare to get underway with summer programs, we are informed that the church at Bird and Hoyt has been sold. Peace of the City is given 45 days to clear out with no obvious place to go. Our programs and staff have multiplied over the years, so this sudden news temporarily stops us in our tracks. Enter a new church plant called “Renovation” and it’s pastor, Brek Cockrell. This young church had recently purchased a former Catholic Church campus on Hertel Avenue and offered us seven classrooms — rent free(!) — on the third floor of the former school on the property. That’s cooperation in the Body of Christ. Although this new location is away from the West Side neighborhood we have invested for the prior sixteen years, our staff and board soon sensed that this is where God wants us to relocate. Our “give back” to Renovation Church is to help them establish an authentic presence in their new neighborhood. We offer our hard-earned expertise and set up programs that Renovation can continue after we identify a new home back in our West Side neighborhood. This vision has happened and is no small thing.
Peace of the City's current location
2010-???
The former Our Lady of Lorretto campus will soon become Peace of the City’s new home. Westside Ministries, a faith-based operation focusing on creating first-time home ownership opportunities for low-income families, had recently purchased this Catholic campus located in the heart of where we were praying to return (and within blocks of our original location at Vermont and Prospect). The leadership of Westside Ministries are friends and after substantial conversation, prayer and discernment, POTC decides to “walk by faith, not by sight” and signs a lease to rent a section of the second floor of the former Catholic school. After 18 years of living “rent free” we are committing to $22,000 in annual rental fees. With the current economy and decreased giving to non-profits–including Peace of the City–this is a major step of faith. Our board chairwoman said it plainly: “We have nothing if we do not have a home. We will pay that bill first.” The rental fee requested by Westside Ministries is more than fair, but it is $22,000 in new expenses that we need to raise as soon as possible. Enter YOU. Everything that you read about in this section – from the cover to the charts to the programs – cannot happen without an adequate “home”. Being the Dutch girl that I am, we checked out other low or no rent options for POTC and found nothing suitable. We feel certain that this new location is where God wants us to be. I’ve asked God how is He going to handle this new cost. He told me that I needed to do my part and He would do His. Will you help us “find a way home, full circle” to the neighborhood we began planting seeds in 18 years ago? This will be the most dangerous neighborhood yet that we will call home. Two recent daytime shootings near our soon-to-be home, gang and drug activity, prostitution and generational poverty all around us. Recently, my middle daughter asked “Why on earth would you move Peace of the City there, Mom? That is a terrible neighborhood!” I paused, looked straight in her eye and said to her (and now to you] “Because there are children there.” She gave me a resistant yet knowing look and said no more. We covet your prayers and need fresh generosity from those who support our vision.
