The Folktale Brought to Life

(The History of Stone Soup Fresno)

For many years...

The foursquare block of Fresno's El Dorado Park neighborhood was known as Sin City. People lived in fear. Children hid behind locked doors and peered through windows to a world of gangs, drugs, and violence.

One day, a young Cambodian boy, just eight years old, walked into a resettlement office on the campus of Wesley United Methodist Church. He carried a loaded gun and placed it squarely on the desk of Kathy Garabed. Recruited by a local gang to carry out their next hit, he had come in search of help and hope.

Kathy was determined to gain support on behalf of this courageous young man and so many others. To cultivate good will. To bring about change through action. Many doors in the community were at first closed. Still, she persisted, approaching a few concerned citizens who stepped forward to offer their own time, skills and talents. With imagination and real vision, they became the cornerstone for prevention as friends and role models to children through programs offering a replacement to violent activities. They became a source of hope to young and old alike as glorious things happened.

For more than a decade, curiosity has overcome individuals and organizations as they peek into the neighborhood and community to see the progress. A dramatic drop in crime. Kids learning, growing and leading - successfully negotiating college and life. Generations and cultures coming together. Lives changing among volunteers as well as participants.

As the progress continues in our community, other communities and organizations across the country are now looking to Stone Soup Fresno as an inspiration and model for the programs that stir such positive change.