About Us

Through Toys for Tots, Nabhi Christian Ministries Distributes Toys to help struggling families

Goodfellows: With 10 kids to feed, toys are hard to come by

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08358/937059-52.stm

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 By Mackenzie Carpenter,

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Bringing Christmas to these children "is not an easy job. There's nothing easy about being poor," said Deborah Ashby, a volunteer at NABHI, which is trying to help Ms. Thompson and nearly a dozen other women in the neighborhoods near Larimer Avenue -- mostly grandmothers raising grandchildren -- make it in "a poor if not the poorest neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

NABHI CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC. (NCM)

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.”

Tragically, many at risk youth in Greater Pittsburgh don’t know where they are going, why they exist or that they have a vital purpose and destiny. This is particularly true in our targeted communities where a high rate of delinquency (includes violent and drug-addicted behaviors) continues to frustrate goals of at risk youth due to a lack of positive afterschool and summer activities. As a result, many at risk youth turn to a life of crime to express their inner distress and feelings of hopelessness. Therefore, it is imperative that NCM provide positive and creative activies through NCM Programs that targets high-risk youth. Our targeted youth are from low to no income families and are often sleeping in inhabitable houses or on the streets. The streets where these youth dwell are real life examples of the impact that deprivation has had on their environment. Because of the lack of positive alternatives to poverty and violence, most at risk youth choose to live a life of delinquency using survival as their weapon. Many youth are lacking basic life skills, proper heath care and are engaging in risky behavior that leads to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Addiction, STD, AIDS, etc.

Statistics

99% of our targeted youth are from single parent/and or drug-addicted families that decreases parental supervision and stimulus and increases their vulnerability. Youth may often drop out of school and get involved with gang activity to receive a sense of belonging, substituting, parental or family support for gang support. Many at risk youth began building walls at very early ages that often interfere with their ability to concentrate and maintain classroom discipline necessary for a stable learning environment. The results of un-addressed and uncontrollable anxieties can become very serious and sometimes fatal hindrances not only to the lives of our targeted youth, but also to the lives of their teachers, families and sometimes their own peers. This is particularly true with African American males. Based on data from the Coroner’s Report, African American males are 6 times more likely to be victimized and 8 times more likely to commit homicide than are whites. Approximately 33% of murder victims and nearly 50% offenders are under the age of 25. In 2002, 85 homicidal deaths occurred in Allegheny County. The sex, age, race characteristics have remained stable since 1998 with 65% African American males as victims. White males followed with 15%, African American females at 12% and white females at 11%. In 2001, 59 homicides (65%) occurred in the city of Pittsburgh with over 70% being black males. Among the 32 Allegheny County homicides, 44% were black males between the ages of 15-34 years of age. Homicidal tendencies exist in angry, delinquent youth in Pittsburgh Public schools. There were 95 homicides in 2006, 75 of those victims were African Americans and 70 were black males. As of August 31, 2007, there has been 71 homicides in Allegheny County. 57 of those victims were African Americans and 52 of them were black males. Out of the 64 murders as of October 2009, 45 were Black and 39 were Black men.

NCM Community Outreach Components:

VIP (Violence Intervention Production) Multi Media Program

(Funded in part by the City of Pittsburgh Projects Safe Neighborhood’s grant)

Minority communities in the East End section of Allegheny County are flooded with rapid and deadly epidemics of gun violence. This threatens the safety of our youth, schools and communities. The youth of these communities, mostly black, mostly poor — are often forced to adapt to the negative impact of gun violence, creating harsh learning environments as defense mechanisms that minimizes and jeopardizes community tranquility. This is particularly true with African American males who are 6 times more likely to be victims of this violence and 8 times more likely to commit homicide than are whites. To minimize further deterioration of our youth, NCM operates a life skills multimedia campaign through its outreach. This campaign mobilizes communities and increases public awareness of the dangers and consequences of illegally possessing and using guns. VIP targets youth with the possibility of starting or continuing delinquent behavior. The short-term goals are focused on linking delinquent youth and their families with life skills support systems that deters youth from resolving conflicts with gun violence and keeps them positively connected to their families, schools and communities while performing anti-violent campaigns for the public through the arts. Digital Multi Media Campaign: (digital media, including digital photography, digital audio, and digital video). VIP Touring Theater helps mobilize high-risk

communities through Violence Prevention Campaigns. VIP Key feature addresses the audience and provokes “live” dialogue about possessing and using guns after every show. It raises awareness and discourages the use of gun violence by promoting respect for and appreciation of racial/ethnic diversity and cultivates moral values.

Through the generosity of partners, less fortunate youth are given the opportunity to attend local cultural and sporting events at no cost.

CPR (Crisis Prevention & Rehabilitation)

High Risk families engage in conflict resolution and life skills development seminars and/or workshops designed to mee their needs and challenges them to “Dare to Dream” beyond their current circumstances. Expected outcomes from CPR are to develop an innovative approach to helping families decrease anti-social and violent behavior, raise an academic standard and increase positive decision-making skills.

CPR Components:

BOB (Brothers Overcoming Barriers)

Male Conflict Resolution Program Includes, career and job readiness, employment referral leads for males with no life debilitating issues who have fallen into hardship and have lost or can't find jobs.

EXHALE

"The Attitude Behind the Act: Certainly our actions count, but considering actions while ignoring or minimizing the true motivations behind them is a mistake."

EXHALE is a Conflict Resolution, case-managed support component of the mentoring program that is designed to help transitioning women of all ages Break Silence and give Voice to Their Pain and Rejection in a society that has been less than encouraging to them. EXHALE help women Remove Hidden Barriers that Obstruct Spiritual and Emotional growth and Self-Sufficiency. Promotes healing and forgiveness and resolves conflict through therapeutic sessions. EXHALE provides counseling, referrals and follow up to transitioning women to help ease the process to sustaining a healthy and independent life.

SMART TEENS

A holistic approach that promotes self-esteem and empowers males and females to develop productive futures by helping them to improve their sexual literacy and perception of consequences of sexual activity.

C-DAP (Children with Drug-Addicted Parents):

Conflict Resolution reduces the possibility of high-risk children starting or continuing addictive behaviors. Helps Foster Care Youth move to Independence. Promotes healing and forgiveness through Theo-therapeutic group sessions.

Life Skills Community Service

Reduces violence and the possibility of high-risk youth starting or continuing delinquent behavior through provisions of life skills training, mentoring, and positive alternatives that promotes healthy lifestyles and safer communities.

ON-SITE LIBRARY

Makes its resources available and useful to residents of high-risk neighborhoods to promote literacy development and lifelong learning skills for all ages.

Distribution: This multi million dollar, in-kind operation has been