Teachers Building Bridges

    Unbeknownst to many here at EMHS, three current faculty members are currently serving on the boards of three different community organizations.  John Leonard, an English teacher here, sits on the Gemeinshaft board of directors.  Tina Glanzer, a guidance counselor, serves on the board of New Bridges, and Marj Nafziger, also a guidance conselor here at EMHS, sits on an advisory council for A World of Good Thrift Shop, more commonly referred to as Gift and Thrift.
    Mr. Leonard has chaired the Program Committee for Gemeinshaft since last fall.  Gemeinshaft is a convict transitional community that rehabilitates inmates and integrates them back into society.  The Gemeinshaft campus is just over the hill from EMHS and EMU, and for this reason Mr. Leonard was suggested by Jenny Amison, the Executive Director of Gemeinshaft and mother of recent EMHS graduate Charity Amison, to represent someone from the nearby community.  “I‘ve learned an incredible amount.”  Mr Leonard says of his time on the board.  “I’ve learned about our ‘justice’ system.  Prisons don’t do a whole lot to rehabilitate convicts.  A therapeutic transitional community is crucial.”  As chair of the Program Committee, Mr. Leonard helps plan some activities, but his main task is to “attend meetings and give input.”
    Just across Mt. Clinton Pike from EMHS, Marj Nafziger is serving on an advisory council at A World of Good Thrift Shop which encompasses the Gift and Thrift, Artisan’s Hope, and Booksavers stores.  The Thrift Shop and Booksavers take in items donated by the community and resell them at cheap prices.  Artisan’s Hope sells fair trade handicrafts and coffee and chocolate products from around the world, meaning artisans and farmers were paid a living wage for their product, and our environment wasn’t compromised in the process.  The sizeable profit margin of the three shops goes to MCC and basic improvements for the stores.  Business at Gift and Thrift is booming, says Mrs. Nafziger, “It’s been inspiring to see the steady growth.” Mrs. Nafziger sits on a Committee that advises the general manager of the three stores on personnel and hiring issues.  So whenever a new staff member is hired at Gift and Thrift, you can be sure Mrs. Nafziger was involved in the process.
    New Bridges is an immigrant resource organization in the Harrisonburg community.  It provides support and helps “incorporate immigrants into the community,” says Mrs. Glanzer.  This support takes the form of efforts to get green cards for recent undocumented immigrants, (with the aid of New Bridges 9 green cards were issued last year) reuniting families split up by immigration (two such families reunited last year), assistance with solving financial problems especially in relation to hospital bills, and finally ESL classes and seminary classes for Spanish speaking pastors without theological training.  Mrs. Glanzer helps coordinate special fundraisers for New Bridges.  Her job, she says, is to “raise as much money as I can.  It‘s important to design something that is attractive and will raise a nice amount of money.”  One such event is just around the corner. The Taste of the World dinner fundraiser will feature wonderful food and delightful music.

- Nathan Hershberger