EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Seven, Number Three March/April 1998 Church Coalition Organizes Talent Inventories to Develop Entrepreneurs Interfaith Action, a coalition of 24 Catholic and Protestant congregations have been working with Catholic Charities and a neighborhood organization to develop economic initiatives in the Hispanic community of Minneapolis. In 1997, to identify and mobilize the skills of community residents, Interfaith Action used the Community Talent Inventory (CTI) developed by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight [authors of Building Communities from Inside Out, a text for Asset-Based Community Development ($15), 1993, Northwestern University, Evanston IL; available from ACTA Publications, 800/397-2282]. Four Hispanic congregations sponsored five community talent inventories. Interested participants signed up for business start up workshops, organized with development partners. Through the partnerships, the 50 graduates of the workshops can apply for micro loans. An Hispanic business cooperative has been formed, in partnership with Project for Pride in Living, to develop a Mercado Centro to house small businesses. With federal, city and foundation funding, the partners and entrepreneurs expect the Mercado to be open for business in September 1998, Spanish Heritage Month. For more information, write Salvador Miranda, Interfaith Action, 3225 E. Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis MN 55417; 612/729-3220. Home     Table of Contents