March 5, 2019

Dothan Welcomes New Site Coordinator Angela Smith

Angela Smith first attended a Communities of Transformation meeting in Dothan when the site had just started. While she was interested in what was happening at the site, her time was spent was working on her M.A. Degree in Biblical studies from Birmingham Theological Seminary. Recently, Angela was asked to attend again which led to her current involvement in COT.  When the site searched for a new coordinator, she was eager for the opportunity.  Angela has a passion to see people live more abundantly. "Seeing value in others and investing in them gives us all a platform to encourage one another to realize our  God-given potential," Angela says.  “Walking with others, responding to them with wisdom and discernment, helping them master abundant living on their own is a recipe for serving others in a way that transforms lives.” Angela has been married to the love of her life for 33 years. They have a son, Banks,  and a daughter, Alexandria.  Alexandria and her husband Jorda are expecting their first child soon, and Angela is looking forward to being a grandmother!

 

The Cost of Poverty Experience in South Walton

On Saturday, February 2,2019, over one hundred people gathered at the South Walton Boys and Girls Club to get a taste of the daily challenges that families struggling to make ends meet face in a given month. The event was sponsored by the United Way of Walton and Okaloosa Counties, Caring and Sharing of South Walton, the SoWal Community Chaplain, Inc., and Communities of Transformation. Participants were assigned a role in a particular “family,” and asked to complete certain tasks over the course of a simulated month (four fifteen minute “weeks”), interacting with the community resource centers and institutions along the way (staffed by volunteers).  At the end of the simulation, we all gathered in a large circle to share about our experiences and the impact it had on us.  About a third of the participants were youth, ages 10-18.  It’s hard to describe what this experience was like in generalities, so I will tell you about my experience as a participant. Click here for more
Communities of Transformation is set to launch in Santa Rosa Beach on Tuesday, March 19 following a “Taste and See” open house event at Good News United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 5. This program will include a dinner every Tuesday with childcare, programming, and relational support for participants looking to make positive changes in their lives in the areas of financial, relational, educational, physical, or spiritual health. For more information, or to get involved as a participant, volunteer, or donor, please contact Emily at emilyproctor.cot@gmail.com or 850-783-0237.

 

Our Mobile site has a new meeting place!

After beginning their journey at Spring Hill Ave. UMC in 2015, COT Mobile moved to a new space in the Vision Center in 2017. During those two years, the COT community grew in a new neighborhood, created new partnerships, and was part of collaborative ministry in new ways. We are grateful for the opportunity we have had to meet in a dedicated space, and we treasure the relationships formed while we were are the Vision Center.

Our Mobile site is now meeting at Redemption Baptist Church West Campus. Our new location has allowed for a fresh start and new connections. Leadership team member Elecia Ezell  says she can see God at work in providing for Communities of Transformation. Elecia's friend Amy recently expressed a desire to get more involved with COT, and Elecia knew a childcare coordinator was needed. Amy was a perfect fit and started working with the children almost immediately. Elecia's church, Chickasaw UMC, has committed to providing paper goods for meals for the next few months. Elecia hopes that the partnership between Chickasaw UMC and Communities of Transformation will grow and get stronger. If you are looking for ways to get involved with COT, now is a great time to join us! The campus is located at 879 Snow Road North. For more information contact Rebecca Levins at rebecca.cot.mobile@gmail.com  

 

Investing in Our Future

The Communities of Transformation site in Evergreen is characterized by its work in the garden. People from all over the community gather to plant, tend, and harvest in the garden, but they also gather to visit with each other and plan a better future. 

One of the ways they are ensuring a better future for their community is by supporting the children of Evergreen. February's observance of Black History month means school children all over town are celebrating with programs like concerts and plays. When those children look out into the audience filled with family and friends, some of the faces they recognize are those from Communities of Transformation. Members of the site make a concerted effort to attend the events to show their support for the children they know and love. That support is shown as a member offers childcare so a mother can attend classes to learn about home ownership; as member attends a child's soccer game when the child's mother is working; and as a family visits together in the garden. 

Planting seeds, tending ground, and watching good things grow--that is the story of Evergreen's Communities of Transformation.

 

Events

Tuesday, March 5: Phenix City Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner 

Tuesday, March 5: Santa Rosa Beach Taste and See at 5:30

Saturday, March 9: Evergreen Community Garden work day at 8:00

Tuesday, March 19: Santa Rosa Beach begins weekly meetings at 5:30

Monday, March 25: Eufaula will not meet due to Spring Break