University students use creative partnerships to battle poverty!

From The Dallas Morning News
Editorial: Duke, Paul Quinn and Abilene Christian University do poverty-busting in Dallas

Read all about it here.

ACU@CitySquare

CitySquare and Abilene Christian University formed a partnership earlier this year that resulted in the emergence of ACU@CitySquare! This video captures one visit of Honors College students to South Dallas--Fair Park where they focused on housing and community development. Great snapshot into the amazing potential of the new partnership.

Jacob's Dream

On Tuesday, I visited with faculty, administrators and students at Abilene Christian University regarding "next steps" in a growing partnership among the various colleges of the university and CitySquare.  It was a very good day.

I met with some amazing students who are sold out to justice, compassion and authentic community development.  I know we will have some exciting, new relationships to report out very soon about CitySquare and our connection to this great, Texas university.  I'm very excited about it!

While I was there, I had the joy of seeing "Jacob's Dream," the amazing sculpture by Jack Maxwell standing on this campus.  I've posted a really inadequate photo--no photo can capture it! 

Here are some "Sculpture Facts" about this amazing creation:

The sculpture is 34 feet from the bottom of the pedestal to the top angel.

The site includes a round baptismal pool 10’ in diameter and 30” deep.

Each angel is eight feet tall.

The total metal work, including a stainless steel inner structure, weighs more than 7,000 pounds.

Models for the angels included the artist and six ACU and local high school students, utilized to verify proportions and musculature. With the exception of the second highest angel, whose portrait was based on Jack Maxwell’s son, Matt, the faces were inspired by individuals but not specifically modeled after them.

Several ACU art students assisted on Jacob’s Dream, and Jack’s wife, Jill, who also is an artist and talented sculptor, spent countless hours on the project.