the problem: generational trauma & poverty

EFFECTS OF TRAUMA

• Disruption to child development

• Difficulty regulating the nervous system

• Difficulty accessing upstairs brain

• Difficulty learning & applying new information

EFFECTS OF POVERTY

• Unstable housing

• Education inequalities

• Barriers to livable wage jobs

• Barriers to mental health care

• Lowers life expectancy & quality of life

Our city has a history of racial violence that has resulted in deep wounds, broken relationships, and marginalized communities. The lasting impact of our history can be summed up by generational trauma and poverty. Unfortunately, we remain a largely segregated city today, but we believe in crossing bridges to learn and grow together in order to see lasting change. Following the teachings of Jesus, we surrender our rights to serve others above ourselves. We strive to create brave space for people to grieve, repent, forgive, rejoice, and heal together. When this happens relationships can be restored, both within the community, and with those who would otherwise never cross paths with someone in this community. We believe we are stronger together and that we truly need one another.

“Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: ‘Be reconciled to God.’ He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21

OAK TREE’S MODEL

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:3b-4

RENEW - Gospel Centered

• Sharing Jesus with our words & proving our beliefs with our actions

• Justification in Christ leading us to seek justice together

• Striving to be a preview of the Kingdom of heaven on earth

RESTORE - Trauma Informed

• Acknowledging how trauma, past & present, impacts us as individuals & collectively

• Using Trauma Informed practices to promote holistic, healthy childhood development

• Pursuing healing & reconciliation together

REBUILD - Community Development

• Neighbors helping neighbors

• Creating safe community space for mutually transformative relationships to flourish

• Creating accessible jobs
  

Click HERE to learn more about the Roots of Oak Tree.

THE IMPACT

1,963 - neighbors served

4.8% - drop in gun violence

9 - years serving with the community

Generational change takes generational time.

The generation of children who started with Oak Tree as kindergarteners are now entering high school. They demonstrate a palpable difference in core beliefs of the value of self, the value of others, and a hope for the future.

These kids are:

• Taking on the identity of the Oak Tree family & its mission

• Actively applying self-regulation & self-correction strategies to solve relational issues

• Recognizing their own value & the value of others as God’s creation

• Noticing how Oak Tree has changed their outlook, & demonstrating a desire to share the Oak Tree way with friends

• More consistently making decisions that keep them safe & out of trouble in the community

programming

Oak Tree believes in a community and relationship centered approach to ministry, which means a lot of our daily work happens outside of set program times. That said, our programs are a vital way for new relationships to begin and old friendships to deepen. We believe a program is only as good as the people involved and would love to have you join us to see what we’re all about!

ELEMENTARY

• Bible Study

• Hiking Club

• Intervention Tutoring

• Super Saturdays

• Bible Club Bags

• Pre-K Summer Camp

TEENS

• Middle School Girls

• Middle School Boys

• High School Girls

• High School Boys

• YouLead

• Sports Scholarship

ADULTS

• Community Advisory Board

• Women’s Aerobics

• Food Co-Op

• Transportation Assistance

• MomCo

• Diaper Bank

• Christmas in the Village

COMING SOON!

• Mental Health & Community Wellness Resources

• Renew Printing