The Street University and Matt Noffs

For the second time in only a few weeks I heard Matt Noffs on the radio again today and was impressed!! He has started a ;fairwear' very cool shoes label which will raise money for those in need and you can pursue that here

But today Matt spoke about the 'Street University' he and partner Naomi have founded in an old city building in Sydney. The space looks run down outside but inside has basketball courts, rooms and slowly developing spaces for learning where young people come who have experienced some difficulty at school or in other learning environments and who somehow find their way to the space... which was opened by 'Public Enemy'!!
It was a study in post modern Gen Y generational differences to hear Matt talk about wanting to create opportunities for young people to take best advantage of.... rather than language of helping or serving... yet that is what they do... He spoke of dislike for beaurocracy etc and yet wanting to 'somehow' get organised and grow their efforts.
He was speaking today because Phillip Adams had given his weekend column over to a letter from Matt about the need for funding help for the University. He shared a couple of great stories about different young people and how this approach had really found and helped them!! It was inspiring and made me want to volunteer to do some 'leadership' stuff with them or listening skills training as my contribution.
Seeing a few spots on the net where Matt was offering to visit anyone to talk about young people motivates me to invite him to a training day and/or to suggest him as an excellent candidate for the 2011 'May McLeod Lecture' offered by our Board of Education annually at North Parramatta!!
Matt is grandson of Tedd Noffs who founded the 'Wayside Chapel' which is doing such great work in the city and he speaks fondly of what he learnt from Ted as someone who doesn't espouse a Christian faith but has the same drive to serve and help others out of a sense of empathy and humanity which is obvious and inspiring as he talks.