It was no longer about teaching them to fish so they’d eat for a lifetime...
This movement began by answering the question, "Who owns the pond?"
Mission: To restore southwest Fresno to a safe and healthy community through empowered community leadership; social networks; collaborative partnerships and sustainable, holistic programs.
It began with seven African American men who together represent a total of 145 years of ministering to southwest Fresno. Without hesitation any one of them will admit that years ago they were part of the problem. Each has their own story that led them to commit their lives to building health and hope back into the very streets they once corrupted. The defining moment happened at a funeral for one of the kids in the neighborhood. It had been a double homicide. One of the mothers stopped three of them on the street corner and asked for help with the funeral. During the reception following the funeral on one of the busy corners in southwest Fresno another kid was sent for ice at a nearby store and was shot and killed on his way back to the reception. There, together, these men realized that restoring healthy families and safe neighborhoods needed to be their responsibility and this restoration needed their leadership. Together with all they had collectively learned from the numerous organizations they had either worked for or benefited from, they knew that it was no longer acceptable to be viewed from anyone’s rear view mirror. These are their kids, this is their home and the time had come for someone to lead this effort who would not leave……. who could not leave.
"We need to educate our people and open their eyes to opportunity out of poverty."
Pastor Jerry Jones
Board Member, Fresno Street Saints
"These are our streets and we are committed to becoming the visible leadership inside of this community to the people we are serving and demonstrating to them that they are precious children of God with hope and a life full of promise and opportunity."
Bishop Bernard Hall
Board Member, Fresno Street Saints
