In response to the Solidarity staff not being able to carry the responsibility of this year's Christmas Festival, Martha & Mamas De Maple stepped up to host one of the first parties to unite Garnet & Maple families together. This event stood as a bridge between to neighborhoods that traditionally have been rival gang communities. The Maple & Garnet neighborhood often are defined by the NOISE of negative labels and unfortunate events.

If one never personally experiences the community, this NOISE has the potential to become a false narrative of a neighborhood.

Read how Martha's & Mamas De Maple's invitational spirit and heart of hospitality helped lift a community party above the NOISE allowing the neighborhood to be viewed as the TREASURE that it is.

Viviana grew up in the Solidarity programs and was used to being a mentee, but for the first time she was asked to become a mentor. As she engaged her mentee, Viviana discovered they had a common story that allowed her to honestly say to her mentee, "You are not alone."

This “noise” becomes almost deafening.  You begin to believe the labels and negative perceptions about yourself.

This is where God’s family & community becomes so important.

This past Thanksgiving, Solidarity’s DISCIPLESHIP program Merge hosted a family dinner for both neighborhood students. Merge has always been a family, a safe place where pushing deeper into the presence of God has been the overarching value.