History
When Rev. Matt Calkins came to Grace Church as rector in 2014, the vicarage was not being used for church programming, it was instead rented out to a local family. He wondered, “What is the highest and best use for this church asset? Surely we could use this resource to better serve the community.”
Abby Nathanson and Matt came up with the idea for a young adult service learning project. Abby spent a year researching other young adult intentional communities and service learning programs looking for inspiration. Eventually, she came up with the model for Grace Year: a year-long fellowship program rooted in the values of spirituality, leadership, and justice.
In 2017, Matt and Abby got serious about making it happen. They courted local site partners that would provide "praxis" positions for the fellows. Grace Year welcomed its first cohort of fellows in the fall of 2018.
Since then, the program has grown and expanded and welcomed four more cohorts, as well as one summer intensive cohort. The fellows have made a difference through their work sites and the local community. They have worked in immigrant advocacy, affordable housing, environmental research and advocacy, food justice, disability services and more. They created an online aid network during the pandemic, as well as an ongoing zoom interfaith book club.
In 2021, Grace Year affiliated with Episcopal Service Corps, a nationwide network of 17 young adult service learning programs, which has enabled us to share ideas and to help applicants discern the best program for their learning and growth.
Abby Nathanson and Matt came up with the idea for a young adult service learning project. Abby spent a year researching other young adult intentional communities and service learning programs looking for inspiration. Eventually, she came up with the model for Grace Year: a year-long fellowship program rooted in the values of spirituality, leadership, and justice.
In 2017, Matt and Abby got serious about making it happen. They courted local site partners that would provide "praxis" positions for the fellows. Grace Year welcomed its first cohort of fellows in the fall of 2018.
Since then, the program has grown and expanded and welcomed four more cohorts, as well as one summer intensive cohort. The fellows have made a difference through their work sites and the local community. They have worked in immigrant advocacy, affordable housing, environmental research and advocacy, food justice, disability services and more. They created an online aid network during the pandemic, as well as an ongoing zoom interfaith book club.
In 2021, Grace Year affiliated with Episcopal Service Corps, a nationwide network of 17 young adult service learning programs, which has enabled us to share ideas and to help applicants discern the best program for their learning and growth.
