The Power of Together for Nick, Ebonie, Community and Body of Christ
God uses two willing hearts to build new friendships and opportunities, which began through Rally CLE
It wasn’t long ago that Nick Nowak, a volunteer lead from King’s Church, would drive through Cleveland’s Brooklyn Centre community for work and remembered thinking, “this is a place I would not want to live or be.” Everything changed at the 2020 Rally CLE event when partnering with the “outgoing, lovable, trusting” Ebonie Joiner from Shalom & Tranquility Garden located in the neighborhood. “She had a spark in her that I wanted to follow. She is a positive light to so many people, especially those struggling, including myself,” Nick shares.
A one-day event turned out to be so much more – a glimpse into the beautiful relationships possible across the body of Christ when people of faith partner to make a difference in a big way – in the community, but most importantly, in each other’s lives.
Rally CLE is an annual event led by Building Hope in the City (BHITC), where churches like King’s Church, partner with resident leaders, like Ebonie, to work together to positively impact a disinvested community. Last year and again at this year’s event on September 11, Nick was the site coordinator for Ebonie’s community garden project, and this was a match made in Heaven.
“Nick is beyond amazing,” says Ebonie. “Since meeting him last year during Rally CLE, we’ve worked well together. Nick is a very straightforward go-getter. Nothing stops him. Where I’m weak, Nick is strong. On the day of Rally CLE in 2020, I was feeling very overwhelmed, but Nick was there to hold me up. That was one of my driving forces in wanting to continue my relationship with King’s Church and Nick.”
Following last year’s Rally CLE, Ebonie found herself desiring an ongoing relationship with Nick and the team from King’s. Yes, they worked hard and got the work done, but what she was after were the relationships with the people she had met. “Not only were they so committed to the garden, but they were so committed to me,” says Ebonie.
By March, Nick and Ebonie were making plans for his team of volunteers to continue working with her throughout the spring and summer. And that they did! Over a series of eight workdays, King’s Church brought 40-50 people to serve with her on Saturday mornings where they got their hands dirty in the garden and ended their day by sharing a community meal together. Shalom & Tranquility Garden is a place of beauty, community and refuge. Ebonie’s vision and perseverance has transformed the once-abandoned lot into a kaleidoscope of vegetable and flower beds, a place for learning about healthy eating and meeting spaces for all, especially the kids of the neighborhood.
“That’s the dream for us,” says Anthony Giambroni, Community Development Manager at BHITC. “To see residents want that ongoing relationship and feel like they were leading the way and churches were following, listening and leading alongside. That’s a beautiful thing.”
At the 2021 event, Ebonie planned a carnival behind the garden where kids and people of many cultures from the community came together to celebrate diversity, enjoy potluck-style food, games, music and more! While it was Ebonie’s project, something was distinctly different about this year’s project – Nick and the team from King’s Church were equally invested in the project AND the neighbors.
Rally CLE started with the intention of being so much more than just a one-day event, and Nick and Ebonie are just getting started in the ways God is empowering them. They are already making plans to continue working together and dreaming about next spring and how they might continue blessing others!