The Shalom Project - Lancaster, PA

05/29/2026

For seminar today we talked with Rev. Dr. Chynaah Maryoung-Cooke at Lancaster Theological Seminary Library about the concept of Ubuntu, which comes from a Zulu phrase meaning "I am because we are," and popularized by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Chynaah shared with us about how Ubuntu is about community and hospitality, and creating spaces of true belonging, equity, and safety, where everyone brings what they have, whether material or emotional resources, so that everyone has what they need and are able to flourish. We discussed some ways we have experienced this in our lives, and how the library is intentional about cultivating this kind of space.

05/28/2026

We would love for you to join us in Lancaster! Our application deadline for the 2026-27 Shalom Project cohort is coming up on June 1! If you are a recent college graduate and you want to serve your neighbors, live in community, explore spirituality, and grow professionally, then you should apply now at https://shalomlancaster.org/apply

05/27/2026

The participants navigated an escape room together for their May monthly outing!

05/22/2026

For seminar today we went to the new Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy, a museum in downtown Lancaster that focuses on Thaddeus Stevens, a lawyer and Congressman, and Lydia Hamilton Smith, a Black businesswoman who ran his household, and their work supporting the abolition and Reconstruction movements in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and beyond. The museum also highlights the many people and moments in Lancaster and around the country that played important parts in the fight for abolition and equal rights for all, both in the Constitution and in reality. We were struck by the relevance of issues of the past to struggles of today, such as things like birthright citizenship and voting rights, and recognize that the work to achieve true freedom and justice for all is ongoing.

05/20/2026

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We celebrate the many Asian cultures and people that enrich our Lancaster community and The Shalom Project! We have had participants from India, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, both through MCC’s IVEP program and as international students. Many participants have service placements where they have the privilege of interacting with people with a variety of ethnic backgrounds – one example is a past internship with Habecker Mennonite Church, where three-fourths of the congregation are native-Karen speakers originally from Myanmar.

Joy Hammond, a Shalom Project alum and board member, shares, “For me, Asian American Heritage is about acknowledging where you came from and the experiences that have shaped who you are today. I was born in China and adopted at age one by white parents in the U.S. Because of this, I’ve grown up between two cultures and often felt like I didn’t fully belong to just one group or community. Being part of two cultures has come with confusion, doubt, imposter syndrome, and discrimination. At the same time, it has also helped me appreciate my family, friends, and the different cultures and perspectives that shape the people around me. Asian American Heritage, to me, is about embracing the complexity of identity and learning to value every part of where you come from.”

Shanika Churchville, IVEP Program Lead at MCC, shares, “I recently had the privilege of meeting with participants of The Shalom Project to discuss Sarah A. Lanier’s book Foreign to Familiar, which provides a shorthand for understanding interactions across different cultures. Having grown up in Sri Lanka, the conversation was a welcome time for me to reflect with nostalgia and curiosity on my upbringing and how it compares with what I encounter in the United States. My Sri Lankan parents instilled in me a value for the collective and a heightened awareness of the direct impact of my choices and lifestyle on others. Living in the US, I am grateful for the many protections of individual rights, but I also prize my Sri Lankan experiences with the beautiful and complex interconnectedness of people.”

05/19/2026

The participants went bracelet making and pottery painting for their April monthly outing!

05/15/2026

We join MCC and many others in standing with Palestine and calling for an end to the genocide and settler violence in Gaza and the West Bank (see links below). We echo MCC's belief that following Jesus means working for peace - true peace where everyone experiences safety and justice, dignity, wholeness, and well-being.

Today we commemorate the Nakba, or the catastrophe. The Nakba occurred when as many as 750,000 Palestinians were internally and externally displaced as refugees after the State of Israel was formalized. During the War of 1948, Israeli paramilitary groups depopulated or destroyed more than 500 Palestinian towns and villages.

Palestinian refugees lost almost everything they owned. Their land, buildings, businesses and bank accounts were expropriated without compensation. Many of these families still hold the keys to the houses they were forced to flee from, with the enduring hope of return.

For the past 77 years, MCC has accompanied Palestinian churches and communities facing unrelenting violence and dispossession and has supported efforts by Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders who envision and press for a shared future and an alternative to the politics of separation and violence.

Today, Palestinians continue to experience an ongoing Nakba as Israel commits genocide in Gaza and forcibly displaces communities in the West Bank. Please join us as we continue to cry out for an end to the violence, and for a just peace in Palestine and Israel.

https://mcc.org/campaign/continue-call-peace-and-restoration-gaza

https://mcc.org/campaign/rising-violence-west-bank

05/15/2026

As we start thinking about the end of the Shalom year and what comes next for the participants, our seminar today focused on some practical adulting topics such as housing, resumes, and job searching. We talked about strategies and networking opportunities for finding housing and jobs as well as what to look for when renting, practiced some mock interview questions, and gave feedback on resumes.

05/13/2026

Jakyra is serving at two organizations this year, and one is a new internship partner - Attollo Prep! Attollo Prep is a college success and leadership program that brings together students from diverse backgrounds to explore and prepare for life after high school. With a focus on equity, mentorship, and access, students are supported in making informed decisions about their futures.

Beimnet Getahun, Chief Program Officer and Jakyra’s supervisor, shared that “Jakyra is a special soul whose presence brings a sense of calm to any space. During her time at Attollo, she has played an integral role across programs, including Voices, a poetry course for Attollo’s scholars. In that role, she helped organize the final Voices Showcase at Prima Theatre to a full house. Throughout the process, she offered thoughtful feedback, collaborated on the creation of the scholars’ poetry booklet, and worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. In addition to her work on the showcase, Jakyra has co-led Attollo’s BLACK (Black Leaders Advancing Culture and Knowledge) affinity group. She has also supported program logistics, including helping to plan the upcoming Unblocked writing workshop this summer, which she will co-lead. She will further contribute as a chaperone on a college tour this summer. Jakyra has been an incredible support in curating meaningful and impactful experiences for our scholars.”

Thank you Jakyra, Beimnet, and Attollo, for your work supporting and empowering the next generation!

05/09/2026

For seminar this week we went on a walking tour of the Southeast neighborhood, with the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania. Nelson Polite Jr. was our tour guide, who shared with us about the character and contributions to the community of the African American residents and leaders in the Southeast part of Lancaster over the years, many of whom he had personal connections with. We heard example after example of people who cared deeply for their neighbors, built up their community, and fought for their rights, from doctors and educators to barbers and funeral home directors. We also learned about the struggles and injustices this community has faced and continues to face, from slavery to the intentional destruction of homes and community spaces through urban renewal. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn about this history, and the impact it has on us and our neighbors today.