re:loom, Initiative’s newest program, is helping low-income adults learn job skills while up-cycling used clothing into hand-woven products. This unique service is centered at Initiative’s Weavehouse in DeKalb County, where expert weavers are teaching the homeless and low-income to create hand-crafted gift products for sale.

re:loom now has its own website. www.reloom.org which features many of the handcrafted textiles produced.

“One of the most important aspects of the project is that it is a place where we can train our homeless clients and other low-income workers to re-enter the job market and become better equipped members of our community’s workforce,” says Lisa Wise, executive director of Initiative.

The planning phase of re:loom started with one donated loom from Agnes Scott College and a master weaver in late 2009. The enterprise now employs ten weavers-in-training, operations staff and weaving instructors. <more>

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, volunteers from three diverse congregations in Atlanta came together to clean up and renovate an Initiative-owned property on Robin Road in DeKalb County.

Nancy McDaniel, volunteer coordinator for Sandy Springs Christian Congregation (SSCC), says the idea of an interfaith effort seemed appropriate. “I contacted the Interfaith Institute in Atlanta, who put me in touch with a mosque and a synagogue who were interested in working on the project.”

Ms. McDaniel contacted Dr. Moiz Mumtaz of the Islamic Center of North Fulton and Rabbi Mario Karpuj of Congregation Or Hadash. Together they planned a full day of activities, which began with an interfaith service. The congregation began with an Islamic call to prayer, and included a Hebrew song and a communion service, and closed with the blowing of a Hebrew shofar or ram-horn.

The interfaith group arrived at the IAH Robin Road property and spent the rest of the day with hands-on work. “We did yard work, cleaned gutters, removed some old cabinets, replaced
windows, painted walls and installed overhead lights.

“It took some planning. We were going for world peace,” she says, almost tongue in cheek. “The way it came together was just magical.”

For more information on how you or your group can volunteer for Initiative, <click here>