Jessie and Jordan Schiele (center) receive Outstanding Partner of the Year award from Geoff Jolley,
Exec. Dir. of LISC (left) and LISC Board Chair Cydney Gurgens (right) : Photo courtesy of LISC by Samuel Jordon II
EllieAna Hale
Reporter
On Nov. 9, Jerusalem Farm was awarded Outstanding Partner of the Year by LISC Greater KC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) for their dedicated work and leadership demonstrated through social services in the Northeast neighborhood.
LISC Greater KC is an organization dedicated to the allocation and investment in resources for local organizations to create a sense of community joy and affirmation for the future.
The event itself, named Thrive: A Celebration of Community Development, hosted by LISC, was held in honor of a celebration of those making a community difference in impactful ways ranging from Affordable Housing initiatives to Neighborhood Economic Development projects.
Thrive specifically honored Jerusalem Farm for their work creating access to affordable housing and overall access to social agency and community within the Northeast neighborhood itself, uplifting the community with service and helping out those who need support most.
“We were honored to recognize Jerusalem Farm with the Outstanding Partner of the Year award at the annual LISC Greater Kansas City Thrive celebration,” Geoff Jolley, LISC Greater Kansas City Executive Director said. “They are an invaluable asset and resource to the Historic Northeast community. From their home repair work to their community gardens, their Board, leadership team, and volunteers are uplifting our community in all that they do. They are the epitome of difference makers in our region and we look forward to their continued impact.”
Jerusalem Farm community members, families, and Board attended the annual Thrive celebration,
hosted by LISC Greater Kansas City at the Urban Youth Academy, as they received the “Outstanding Partner of the Year” award
Photo courtesy of LISC by Samuel Jordon II
The award itself serves as a reminder of appreciation for the work that has been done to better the neighborhood that surrounds them in an effort to beautify, sustain, and grow the community that resides in the Northeast.
“A lot of the work that we engage in is long term and you don’t always see the end,” Jordan Schiele, Jerusalem Farm Project Director, said. “You don’t get the instant gratification. So every now and then when we get awards like this, it’s a positive affirmation. It’s a moment to step back and say we have some good things.”
The Outstanding Partner of the Year Award, as written by LISC Greater KC, “Honors an existing LISC KC partner who has provided leadership and collaboration to bring together diverse voices and/or resources to strengthen the community.”
Jerusalem Farm’s acceptance of this award reflects not only their dedication but also their success in fostering positive change within the Northeast neighborhood.
The celebration event allowed the opportunity for Jerusalem Farm to bring all of their worksite companions, most of which being from various refugee communities, to come together and celebrate this recognition bestowed upon the organization.
“For many of our worksite companions, it was their first time just being in a space like that,” Schiele said. “In our day-to-day, we’re just mixing concrete and getting our hands dirty. So, I was happy that they were able to be there and get the food and get the drinks and see the people that care about the Northeast and see what we’re doing.”
This recognition of Jerusalem Farm is not just a personal triumph for Schiele but a success for the entire community. It underscores the positive transformation occurring in the Northeast neighborhood, thanks to the collaborative efforts of dedicated individuals and organizations.
“I think the whole community can also pause and recognize the positive things that are happening in the community as well,” Schiele said. “Hopefully our success can be viewed as the success of the whole community because that’s kind of how we view our work. We are a community organization and we’re all rising together.”
“We were honored to recognize Jerusalem Farm with the Outstanding Partner of the Year award at the annual LISC Greater Kansas City Thrive celebration. They are an invaluable asset and resource to the Historic Northeast community. From their home repair work to their community gardens, their Board, leadership team, and volunteers are uplifting our community in all that they do. They are the epitome of difference makers in our region and we look forward to their continued impact.”
– Geoff Jolley, LISC Greater Kansas City Executive Director
