Where We Call Home

The Impact Learning Center is currently held at Central Alliance Church in Lincoln. This has been the home of Bible Club for ten years. Bible Club is a ministry of City Impact that serves and ministers to over 120 kids ranging from preschool to high school. Learn more about Bible Club by visiting City Impact’s website, www.cityimpact.org.

Central Alliance Church is a central location to many of the schools, students and families that City Impact targets. Equipped with many classrooms, a kitchen and a gym, Central Alliance Church is a great fit for the Impact Learning Center. So far, two rooms are being used for the Reading with Meaning or Read Room; one classroom for Rotations, where Dramashop and Artshop is held; a behavior room, titled the Reroute room; the sanctuary for the tutoring room (a.k.a the R.E.A.L room); and the gym for the Rec room. Another room is also set aside as the Relax room, where middle school students can “chill” before the elementary students get there since, their school dismissal is later than the middle schools.

The ILC staff and directional team have created these names to distinguish each room that creates a fun and comfortable setting for the students. For example, instead of “going to the gym,” students “will ball it up in the Rec room.” Although these terms may seem foreign to outsiders, this common language helps create a bond with every member of ILC. Keep posted for explanations on the room names and what goes on in them!

Along with adjusting to the new rooms and names, students had to learn how they can and should respect the building and the things in it, for it is not our own. That includes cleaning up after snack, picking up any messes made and putting back things where they found them.

It is a blessing to have the staff and members of Central Alliance Church to allow us to use their building daily. Especially thanks to pastor, Paul Howard, for working with City Impact and cooperating with us so that this building can be used as a tool to impact so many students.

Meet Miss Miriam

My name is Miriam Heider. I was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Aurora, NE when I was 7. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and we were all proudly raised by my single mother. I remember coming to the Lord in my first grade class in Chicago, but my faith didn’t mature until high school. I went on a missions trip with my youth group to Urban Impact Ministries in New Orleans. It was there that I first felt that God had a purpose for my life and was actively pursuing me. After graduating high school, I interned with Urban Impact for one year. I then returned to Nebraska to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I met my amazing husband, Joe. We were married in May, 2006. We live in one of City Impact’s target neighborhoods. We have been a part of City Impact’s Bible Club for the past 3 years and hope to someday be full-time missionaries in a Spanish-speaking country.

My official title for the ILC is Reading Tutoring Coordinator. I will oversee the R.E.A.L. (Read, Educate And Listen) Room. I will assess the reading level of the youth and train volunteers in how to effectively use the tutoring materials.

Putting the Pieces Together

With much anticipation and preparation, the Impact Learning Center (ILC) opened its doors for the first time. Students ranging from grades 1-8 were picked up from school and transported to Central Alliance Church, where the Impact Learning Center staff awaited there arrival.

As students arrived, they got acquainted with the building and with the staff. Since the middle school students get out of school earlier than the elementary school students, they had a chance to hang out until the elementary students came. During this time, the girls decided to tackle this 500 piece puzzle pictured above.

When the elementary students arrived, snack was served and then the students headed to their team rooms. Team rooms are divided into grades: 1-2, 4-5, 6-8. All three teams have a name representing some kind of impact. Team 1-2 are Drops, Team 4-5 are Prints, and Team 6-8 are Splats. Here rules and procedures were discussed, along with introductions. Eventually in this room students will get a chance to explore their strengths more, learn life skills, and participate in group building activities.

After team time students participated in a rotation of activities: Reading with Meaning time, recreation time, and workshop time where Miss Ondrea introduced her Dramashop. At 5:45, the first day ended and the students were picked up by their parents.

With day one in the books, all the pieces that were prepared months in advance were put into place to help make this first day possible. And as we stand back and look at the big picture of the day, it was a great first day.

Meet Mr. James

My name is James Pruch. I grew up in the Omaha, Nebraska, with my parents and younger sister and brother. I grew up in a Christian home and I accepted Christ around the age of seven. Still, this faith in Christ was more of a habit than a personal relationship as I got into junior high and high school. After my sophomore year in college, I finally began to realize that spiritual things and pursuing God were important. I rededicated my life to Christ in August of 2005 and thus began a faith journey that has been both challenging and exhilarating. During the last three years I have been involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and through this organization, God has used relationships I have made to shape and mold me to look more like Him. I am a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will be graduating this May with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Religious Studies.

My official title with the Impact Learning Center is a site coordinator. I will assist the director in setting up and tearing down the program each day. Also, I will oversee logistical operations and help the teachers and volunteers in any way needed.

Meet Miss Sarah

My name is Sarah Miller. I grew up in Hickman, Nebraska, and graduated from Norris High School. From there, I went on to attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where I graduated with a degree in secondary math education. During my time at UNL, I was involved in Christian Student Fellowship, one of the campus ministry groups there. I grew so much during those years through activities and friendships with the people there. I had the opportunity to go on mission trips to Mexico over spring break and even went to Romania for a summer and worked with the children there. After graduation I took a bit of an unusual turn and accepted an internship in children's ministry in Grand Island, Nebraska. I knew that I wanted to work with kids and that God had really given me a desire and a talent for doing that, which is what led me to pursue the degree that I did in the first place, I just wasn't sure what setting I wanted to do that in. It was a wonderful experience working with the kids in the church there as well as in their after school program. I learned a great deal during my time there about working with kids and planning events and activities for them. I moved back here in September with plans of moving again.

As with so many things though, God's plans are very different than mine and it appears that I will be in Lincoln a bit longer than I had thought. I'm very excited about the work that He has given me to do at City Impact and with the Impact Learning Center. I love working with children and teens and am excited to see what new adventures and lessons this brings for me as well as the students involved. I have no doubt that God is working here and that we will see and experience wonderful and challenging things in the weeks to come.

Meet Miss Anna

My name is Anna Zach. I am a native of Long Beach, California, although I grew up and have lived in a variety of locations since. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor’s degree in biogeography I substitute taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District and eventually settled into my own 4^th grade class at Culver City Christian School. I was transplanted to Lincoln in 2003 when I married the most wonderful man in the world, my husband Daniel. The previous few years have found me traveling nationally on a full-time basis with my husband and his ministry. After an exhausting 3 years of travel, I now enjoy being exhausted by my pup Ringo.

I joined the Impact Learning Center in January 2007 and will be serving as the Reading with Meaning Coordinator for grades 1-5. My primary responsibility will be to teach reading labs.

Meet Miss Leslie

I grew up in Kearney, NE and moved to Lincoln in 2001 to attend UNL. I studied horticulture and graduated in May of 2006 with my Bachelor’s. I began working for City Impact in January of 2007 and I am getting married in April. I have four younger siblings who all still live in Kearney.

I love spending time with my brothers and sisters, my friends and my fiancé Travis. I am interested in development, particularly in the area of agriculture. I have worked with the middle school students at my church in Lincoln for the past couple years, which has instilled a love of working with kids. This experience, combined with the belief that education and literacy are important parts of personal and community development, brought me to work with the IMPACT Learning Center as the part-time Reading With Meaning Coordinator.