Andrew Bodden, Program Coordinator South FloridaSouth Florida is a very diverse area. Dade County, which surrounds Miami and encompasses 2.5 million people, is 65% Hispanic (40% of these are Cuban) with White, Blacks and Haitians making up the next largest groups. There are 152 languages spoken in Dade County and 70 percent of the people speak a language other than English at home. With the diversity also comes mistrust and tension between the ethnic groups of South Florida. Ethnocentrism, polarization and ongoing injustice are frequent here. It is in this diverse context that 36 Brethren in Christ, 28 Mennonite and, three Amor Viviente congregations minister in the name of Christ. These MCC constituent congregations reflect the diversity of the area — 47 are Hispanic, 7 are Haitian, 13 are Anglo and one congregation is Garífuna. The MCC South Florida program responds to the needs of the community through immigration services, creative after-school programs for youth, home ownership training, as well as food collection, food pantries, tax preparation and other services through the South Florida Urban Ministries organization. As program coordinators, Andrew and Raquel Bodden lead the program and also relate closely to Hispanic and Haitian congregations in the area, building bridges between MCC and local constituent churches and assisting in training for Hispanic pastors and leaders.
Contact Information: Washington Square Building Tel: (305) 249-3477 E-mail: mccflorida@bellsouth.net |
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