Water Park Trip in Dothan

Dothan volunteers Les Pinckard and Eddy Keel treated the children to a fun outing at Water World in Dothan during a recent meeting. Looks like a great way to spend a hot summer day!

   

 

Montgomery Celebration

The first class of COT in Montgomery completed the Awaken leadership training and had this to say. 

"COT gets me away from the group of people who are going to keep me in poverty and puts me into a group of people who are going to help get me out of poverty."

"I thought this class would help me with finances, but I realized I needed more.  I was just seeing the surface of the problem, but not the root."

"When I have a really hard week, just coming to COT to see smiling, encouraging faces means so much to me."

"The facilitators of the class allowed us to work together and encourage one another; to develop a family."

Also co-trainer Gene Ramsey said that being involved in COT has really opened his eyes to the Montgomery community.  Learning about other community resources has piqued his interest, and now he watches Alabama Live on a regular basis to learn more about programs in Montgomery.

Dr. Gene Ramsey presents a certificate to Deloisa for completing Awaken, a personal leadership training class.

Mark Osgood pastor at host church Perry Hill UMC; Rev. William Larkin, retired CME pastor; Brian Miller pastor at Aldersgate UMC; Rev. Richard Carter, pastor at Hall Memorial CME; and Jackie Slaughter, trainer and pastor at Metropolitan UMC.

 

Mobile Job Readiness

Mobile participants recently completed Work Ready, an eight- week job readiness program. Pamela Irby from the Mobile County Extension Office provided the educational side of the four- part Work Ready program.  The participants learned about resume building, job applications, interview skills, and professional dress.  Week four included a discussion panel featuring Kipp Bedford, Manager of HR at TruBridge, Jonathan Hollinger, manager at Wells Fargo Bank, and John Russell, who has ten years’ experience in the retail/hotel industries. They shared work experiences, best practices, advice, and answered questions. The participants enjoyed a really great night of conversation.   Week six featured mock interviews.  Site coordinator Katy Wrona invited guests from the community to conduct mock interviews with each of our participants. Each participant was interviewed twice in a rotation. Afterward there was a time of discussion and reflection.  Katy shared  that the experience was encouraging and uplifting as the participants gained a better understanding of the hiring process.  Week eight culminated in a shopping trip to Ross, provided by a grant from Ross. Each participant chose a complete professional dress outfit. Younger participants learned tips about the cut of clothing like shirts and dresses, length, straps, and so much more. It was a community of strong women helping each other advance while laughing and having fun. One participant got a new job this summer and said she used the information she learned at her interview. All the group members came away with a better understanding of work-readiness.

 

Professional Development in Phenix City

The COT staff met recently for four days of Professional Development. It was a wonderful time of learning and fellowship! Pictured are (l-r, bottom row) Beverly Brown, Eufaula site coordinator;  Courtney Albrecht, communications; Joan Gatewood, Phenix City site coordinator; Reba Wiley, Demopolis site coordinator; and Jennifer Lancaster, Montgomery site coordinator; (second row) Katy Wrona, Mobile site coordinator; Suzann Tibbs, program development; and Shae Hines, Brewton coordinator; (third row) Anita Watson, Evergreen site coordinator; Laurel Blackwell, COT coordinator; Rosaland Harrison, trainer; and Janet Wooten, administrative assistant; (top row) Tara Sanders, Dothan site coordinator; Heather Allen, performance measurement; and Margaret Bennett, Selma site coordinator.  

 

September Events

All meetings are 5:30 - 8:00 p. m. unless otherwise noted.  Please check the website Events page for locations.

Brewton
Tuesday, September 5 Meeting
Tuesday, September 12 Meeting
Tuesday, September 19 Meeting
Tuesday, September 26 Meeting

Dothan
Tuesday, September 12 Meeting
Tuesday, September 19 Meeting
Tuesday, September 26 Meeting

Eufaula
Monday, September 11 Meeting
Monday, September 18 Meeting
Monday, September 25 Meeting

Evergreen
Saturday, Sept. 2 Work day at Community Garden 8:30- 11:30 a. m.
Thursday, Sept. 7 Launch Team Luncheon at Evergreen FUMC 11:30
Thursday, Sept. 7 Meeting at Community Garden 5:30
Saturday, Sept. 9 Work Day at Community Garden 8:30-11:30
Monday, Sept. 11 Financial Workshop at Crestview Housing Authority 5:00 
Thursday, Sept. 14 Meeting at Community Garden 5:30
Saturday, Sept. 16 Work Day at Community Garden 8:30-11:30
Thursday, Sept. 21 Taste and See at Evergreen FUMC 5:30
Saturday, Sept. 23 Work Day at Community Garden 8:30-11:30
Thursday, Sept. 28 Meeting at Community Garden 5:30
Saturday, Sept. 30 Work Day at Community Garden 8:30-11:30  

Mobile
Thursday, September 7 Taste and See
Thursday, September 14 Meeting
Thursday, September 21 Meeting
Thursday, September 28 Meeting

Montgomery
Tuesday, September 5 Taste and See
Tuesday, September 12 Meeting
Tuesday, September 19 Meeting
Tuesday, September 26 Meeting

Phenix City (all times Eastern)
Tuesday, September 5 Meeting
Tuesday, September 12 Meeting
Tuesday, September 19 Meeting
Tuesday, September 26 Meeting

Selma
Monday, September 11 Meeting
Monday, September 18 Meeting
Monday, September 25 Meeting