On July 1, Harambee Christian School became an independent nonprofit ministry with a separate board of directors. Until this time, Harambee had operated under the governance of Dwell Community Church. After much prayer and discussion, leadership teams from both organizations mutually agreed to establish Harambee as an independent organization in an effort to advance collaboration among the broader Christian community in our city and improve outcomes for students & families.
An important point of negotiation between Dwell and Harambee to resolve during this transition was ownership and control of the building the school occupies on Bonham Avenue in South Linden.
Last Friday, the Harambee board unanimously voted to sign a lease agreement with terms agreeable to both Harambee and Dwell leadership. We are grateful to Dwell leadership for their willingness to negotiate a lease that will grant our school the stability it needs in the present to improve outcomes and expand opportunities for students and families in the future.
To that end, Harambee’s board intends to launch a capital campaign to raise funds that will allow us to purchase the building, make essential upgrades to systems originally installed in 2007, and establish a foundation for future growth and expansion.
The Harambee board and leadership are committed to fiscal responsibility. We are grateful to the many donors who helped Harambee finish the 2023-2024 school year with a surplus despite a season of increased organizational expenses. After becoming independent, Harambee leadership enacted $200,000 in annual cost savings. In addition, the board approved a balanced 2024-2025 budget, despite the loss of Dwell’s annual contribution of $115,000.
Increasing financial support still remains a high priority as we launch our capital campaign, promote sustainability, and pursue future expansion. To this end, we are eager to collaborate with longstanding partners and the broader Christian community. We invite past, present, and future donors to join us in expanding access to an eternity-changing education for students in need, with a heart to reach and empower the whole family by connecting them with the local church.
We are excited to grow a movement among the students and families of Columbus - in partnership with the churches of Columbus - to expand God’s Kingdom in Columbus. We invite you to join us as we seek the welfare of our city (Jeremiah 29:7) and reach even more students and families with the Harambee opportunity.
In Partnership,
Harambee Leadership
Alex Steinman
Brandon Grant
Michael Larson
Harambee Board
Wakeshia Ghee
Greg Gordon
Adrienne Hood
Jaques McCoy
John Montgomery
Luke Walker
Joan Zeller
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