April 08, 2012
(Submitted by the UMW)
WHEREAS, the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center (hereinafter, “Cooper”), located at 1891 Washington Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, is the only United Methodist National Mission Institution in the six-state area of the New England Annual Conference; and
WHEREAS, Cooper was begun over 95 years ago by Methodist women in the church which is now Union United Methodist Church; and
WHEREAS, Cooper has successfully served children and families in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston during those years; and
WHEREAS, Cooper provides vital educational services that facilitate growth, development and the creative groundwork for the future success of many underserved children and their families through such programs as Infant-Toddler Program, Preschool Program, After-School Program, Summer Camp Experience, All-Day Summer Care for Children and Youth, and Elderly Services Program; and
WHEREAS, Cooper makes a difference in the lives of children so that they might become positive, contributing members of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Cooper has received national recognition for its standard of excellence and its commitment and dedication to high quality early education through accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children; and
WHEREAS, Cooper has been awarded a $50,000 matching grant by the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, and needs to raise $50,000 to qualify to receive those funds,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the New England Annual Conference shall enter into a covenant with Cooper to promote support for its programs so that Cooper may continue to be a place for children to play, learn, grow and socialize in a loving environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such promotion shall include encouraging the congregations within the Conference to recognize the missional work of Cooper by specifying one month of the calendar year as “Celebrate Cooper Community Center Month” (April is suggested), during which they might invite a Cooper representative to speak in order to learn more about its services, plan fund-raisers to financially support Cooper’s programs, and/or volunteer at Cooper; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New England Annual Conference churches shall honor the history and ongoing excellent services which Cooper provides by supporting it through their prayers, their gifts, and their service.