in Pader, Uganda, which provides education for former child soldiers, was named in Brown’s honor.
associate director of the Washington Community Scholars’ Center, a program of Eastern Mennonite University.
“At Goshen College I learned about the importance of giving yourself to Christ and serving the world,” Brown said. “This is truly the cause of my life and I have used music as a way to fulfill this goal. My understanding of the human family and how we are so much alike encourages me to stay on course in the effort to be a part of creating a better day for all of humanity.”
Shank went on to receive a master of divinity degree from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1985. He then served as the executive director of LaCasa Inc. in Goshen from 1988-2001 while also working as an adjunct assistant professor of peace, justice and conflict studies and Bible, religion and philosophy at Goshen College. In addition, he played a significant role in the founding of Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County and Maple City Health Care Center in Goshen.
In 2007, Brown founded the Peacing It Together Foundation, a nonprofit organization that plans, organizes and subsidizes musical events that promote peace and social justice around the world. In addition, he recently worked with playwright Andrew Flack to create “I Go on Singing,” a multimedia stage show about Paul Robeson, a world class singer and international social activist who was involved in the civil rights movement. During the show, Brown sings a variety of songs that are associated with Robeson while accompanied by a pianist, narrator and archival video that plays on a screen in the background. This will be performed at Goshen College during Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 activities. “Tony Brown is everything Goshen College would want in an alumnus,” said Everett Thomas, editor of The Mennonite, and Brown’s former Goshen College roommate. “In his singing, Tony speaks about the Christian faith through the lyrics of AfricanAmerican spirituals, a tradition that could easily be forgotten in Mennonite circles.” Brown released his fifth CD in September titled “How Can I Keep From Singing.” Brown is married to Erika Shinya. He is a member of Seattle Mennonite Church and is active at Albuquerque Mennonite Church and Hesston Mennonite Church.
ARDEN SHANK ’74: ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT The economic and social justice work that has become Arden Shank’s passion started taking shape while he was a student at Goshen College. During his time at Goshen, Shank, of Miami, Fla., learned to think analytically and found his worldview stretched while on Study-Service Term in South Korea and while taking two courses in Europe. After graduating with a degree in religion, Shank served as the urban director of Mennonite Student and Young Adult Services, a department of Mennonite Mission Network, from 1975-81. For three of those years, he was also employed as the
In 2004, Shank graduated as a member of the first class of community development executives in the Achieving Excellence program, which is sponsored by NeighborWorks America and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Currently, he is president and CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF), a nonprofit organization that works to stabilize neighborhoods and develop sustainable housing. “My Goshen College experiences gave me a foundation for my work in multicultural, multiracial, multifaith Miami,” Shank said. As president of NHSSF, Shank recently led a group of six nonprofits and the city of North Miami in applying for and allocating more than $89 million in federal funds to acquire, rehabilitate and rent or sell foreclosed homes, and to acquire vacant land to build new homes. The group is on track to complete over 1,300 housing units, with 60 percent of these units completed and occupied. “Arden’s desire to live, work and worship amongst a diverse community is at the heart of who he is,” said his sister, Ruth Shank Martin ’66. “He cares about the earth, its environment and its inhabitants. He follows clearly the words of Micah to ‘do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.’” Shank is a member of Coral Gables United Church of Christ in Coral Gables, Fla., and an associate member of Assembly Mennonite Church in Goshen. He and his wife, Meribeth ’73, have two children, Nadia Shank Van Eenige and Justin Rothshank ’00, and three grandchildren.
WANT TO NOMINATE SOMEONE TO BE A 2014 ALUMNI AWARDEE? Send us your suggestions of alumni who you believe exemplify the college's motto of "Culture for Service" and core values. You can see the criteria and fill out a nomination form at goshen.edu/alumni. The deadline is Jan. 17, 2014.
Fall 2013 | BULLETIN
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