Love Without Agenda
Love Without Agenda (2010 - beyond)
Love Without Agenda specializes in maximizing community service. We have both individual members and partner organizations that are working together to achieve the greatest good in neighborhoods across the globe.
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Our coming plan: LWA's GLOCAL platform:
LWA's Glocal platform is one of a new breed of social engagement websites that will be changing the face of innovation & social justice in the next 5 years. Imagine Yelp for do-gooders. A free platform for socially responsible people, businesses and non-profits to collaborate with one another and catalyze offline projects and change in neighborhoods across the globe.
Our coming plan: LWA's GLOCAL platform:
LWA's Glocal platform is one of a new breed of social engagement websites that will be changing the face of innovation & social justice in the next 5 years. Imagine Yelp for do-gooders. A free platform for socially responsible people, businesses and non-profits to collaborate with one another and catalyze offline projects and change in neighborhoods across the globe.
The Shema House (2005-2010)
Founded in 2005 the Shema House was located in downtown Arlington Heights, IL. It provided a safe place for young people who had little or no family structure. It taught young people the value of
service and loving others as a path to maturity and wholeness. It exposed young people to good role models, opportunities to serve, and helping run the house.
The Shema House, lead by Spencer and Lisa O'Brien-Wentzel, and staffed by young people made a huge difference in the community over the 5 years in existence:
Partnering: We partnered with Trader Joes at 3 locations and distributing over $750,000 of non-sellable organic goods to single mother families and retirement communities. Partnering with local schools the Shema House re-distributed thousands of coats to needing students.
Serving: We gathered together twice a month at homeless shelters and other non-profits. The Shema House donated thousands of volunteer hours into the Chicago area over the course of 5 years
Mentoring: Working with young people happened daily at the Shema House. Chores, life skills, games, fun, and preparing meals all gave Spencer and Lisa and other great adults opportunities to model Love Without Agenda to students.
The Shema House's influence has taken the form of replications across the country. People from across the country have visited Spencer and Lisa at the house to learn and observe their methods and glean their years of expertise. The Shema House has inspired people to start new projects, change their college majors, go back to school for non-profit management, stop abusive lifestyles, and incorporated service into their way of life.
In 2010, having completed its mission of 'raising' the 10 original boys it started with, The Shema House closed and reopened in downtown Chicago as the Love Without Agenda House-which carries on its legacy of influence, love and laughter to this day. The LWA house focuses more on equipping and networking other houses and do-gooders-along with the writing, speaking and consulting of Spencer and Lisa.
The Shema House, lead by Spencer and Lisa O'Brien-Wentzel, and staffed by young people made a huge difference in the community over the 5 years in existence:
Partnering: We partnered with Trader Joes at 3 locations and distributing over $750,000 of non-sellable organic goods to single mother families and retirement communities. Partnering with local schools the Shema House re-distributed thousands of coats to needing students.
Serving: We gathered together twice a month at homeless shelters and other non-profits. The Shema House donated thousands of volunteer hours into the Chicago area over the course of 5 years
Mentoring: Working with young people happened daily at the Shema House. Chores, life skills, games, fun, and preparing meals all gave Spencer and Lisa and other great adults opportunities to model Love Without Agenda to students.
The Shema House's influence has taken the form of replications across the country. People from across the country have visited Spencer and Lisa at the house to learn and observe their methods and glean their years of expertise. The Shema House has inspired people to start new projects, change their college majors, go back to school for non-profit management, stop abusive lifestyles, and incorporated service into their way of life.
In 2010, having completed its mission of 'raising' the 10 original boys it started with, The Shema House closed and reopened in downtown Chicago as the Love Without Agenda House-which carries on its legacy of influence, love and laughter to this day. The LWA house focuses more on equipping and networking other houses and do-gooders-along with the writing, speaking and consulting of Spencer and Lisa.
