New office strengthens West Coast MCC’s community vision
by Ed Nyce for MCC
New local partnerships are enabling West Coast Mennonite Central Committee to expand its community-building services in Reedley, Calif., and consolidate administrative offices in Fresno, Calif.
Beginning July 1, West Coast MCC will move its operational functions to the Administrative Services Center located on the Fresno Pacific University campus, adjacent to the Center for Peacemaking and Victim Offender Reconciliation Program offices.
West Coast MCC's material resource and quilting work, as well as its women's and immigration ministries, will continue to operate in their present location in downtown Reedley above the two MCC-related stores, Nearly New Thrift Shop and World Handcrafts. West Coast MCC Executive Director Sheri Wiedenhoefer says these programs offer important services to the community, churches and MCC's international work.
With the additional office space in Fresno, West Coast MCC will be able to fulfill a request from the Reedley Police Department for expanded community services. These services include mediation and neighborhood dispute resources, victim and offender services, conflict management training and violence prevention education and awareness training as well as VORP and Neighborhood Watch.
Wiedenhoefer says communities and churches have asked for help with establishing these types of services in their areas. She hopes that as a result of these changes, West Coast MCC will be able to provide training to groups that are interested in working for peace in their communities.
Strengthening partnerships and improving operational efficiency are major elements of the recently implemented five-year strategic plan, according to West Coast MCC Board Chair Bill Braun, pastor of College Community Church in Clovis, Calif.
West Coast MCC is one of four MCC regions in the United States. The West Coast region has staff in the Northwest, central California and the Southwest.
