A Rialto/TRP Update

Many of you have been so gracious to read my ramblings and follow the crazy story of The Reclamation Project's inception and the Rialto's rebirth. Some of you have stuck with me since the beginning of blog #1, which began nearly three years ago.

Well, I'm happy to say that Phase I of the Rialto is now finished (as you can see in these photos).

Already we see God lining up opportunities for this space to be used. This summer we hope to partner with a legal aid clinic called NCLC that operates out of Indianapolis. They want to expand their services to Fort Wayne, so we're discussing the opening of an intake site at the Rialto. NCLC offers free legal aid to low income clients in the realm of immigration law, tenant/landlord disputes, tax issues, housing and other areas where there is a great need within refugee communities.

As you may also know, Fort Wayne is now home to a large population of Darfuri who were forced out of their homeland due to the genocide there. TRP has been privileged to begin discussions with the Darfur Peace and Development Organization as it relates to a potential office share arrangement with them in this newly finished Rialto space.

TRP is nearly done with our rehab project of a house in one of the Rialto's surrounding neighborhoods. As you may recall from other posts, TRP is a CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization), which allows us to receive funding to purchase run down, or shall we say "reasonably priced properties," and through volunteer assistance, equip and rehabilitate these homes for our refugee families. Often refugees arrive here with large families and need more space than the rental units available to them, so we hope to do more of these housing projects in the future, as funding allows.


Lastly, the Circle of Friends program in Fort Wayne continues to offer hope to our new friends and cross cultural appreciation for Americans involved. As can be expected, one of the most crucial resources for international refugees to build a sustainable future is local friendship. Through the Circle of Friends, Fort Wayne residents are connected to newly arriving families with the simple goal of helping them transition well to life here; they assist with various cultural transition points, such as: transportation, financial management, grocery shopping, cooking, etc. Of most importance, a cross cultural relationship is started, which leads toward mutual understanding and long term benefit to both groups and, ultimately, the Fort Wayne community. As you've likely heard before, often it is the American volunteers who find themselves learning more than the refugees they came to serve. Seems like God wants us to remember the level playing field He always had in mind for us.

That's a quick update! Thanks to everyone for your ongoing prayers and words of encouragement.

~ Jeff

P.S. I was able to land a literary agent .. woo hoo! Steve Laube, out of Phoenix is representing me and currently attempting to get a traditional publisher interested in book #1, and while they're at it, hopefully book #2 as well!