“ What I hope to see in the future, especially
for young people, is more of a feeling that we can change things,” she
said. “It’s like we’re hopeless in a sense.”
During her winter break from classes at Dana,
Ford-Jefferson hopes to pick up some skills to help empower
herself and those around her at the Impact 2002 Conference
in Washington, D.C., Dec. 27 through Jan. 1 (www.impactmovement.com).
The conference will bring together an expected 4,000 African-American
students, teachers and ministers, including nine from Nebraska,
to help students learn to be better leaders in their communities
and the world.
Workshops in the conference center around developing personal
spirituality and using one’s faith to establish Impact
groups in communities. The conference is the sixth annual meeting
of The Impact Movement, a movement of evangelism and discipleship
among African Americans on the campus, the community and ultimately
the world.
Ford-Jefferson was one of the first to register for this year’s
conference, immediately signing up after she heard about it
in March. Originally from the diverse neighborhood of North
Omaha, and a member of Dana’s diverse campus, she said
she was excited about attending a conference specifically for
African-American Christians. Dana College has a policy of encouraging
students to find their own version of faith, through learning
and exploring.
“ I knew I was going, no ifs ands and buts,” she said. “I told
them that if I have to walk to Washington, I’m getting there.”
Ford-Jefferson has received help both from her church, Mount
Nebo Missionary Baptist in North Omaha, and members of the
North Omaha community, in financing the trip. She said she
hopes to bring back books, training materials and a testimonial
for her church, and the keys to starting an Impact group on
Dana’s campus.
“ What do I expect?” she asked. “To gain
the materials and substance I need to lead people to a saving
knowledge of Christ.”
Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution that currently
enrolls approximately 600 students. The campus is located on
150 acres overlooking the Missouri River Valley in Blair, Neb.
Dana grants bachelor’s degrees in more than 20 liberal
arts, business, education and pre-professional programs, with
an emphasis on personalized teaching from experienced and dedicated
faculty. Dana is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, and its athletic teams compete in the Great Plains
Athletic Conference.
More information on Dana College can be found on its web site, www.dana.edu.
— END —
For more information or photos, contact:
Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
402 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu |
