AMY ANGEL

We are excited to welcome Amy Thompson to the PCN team!

Joining us as our Development Director, Amy has more than ten years of experience in fundraising and ministry work in Middle Tennessee serving as Director of Development at Bethel University and as a minister for the United Methodist Church.

“We are thrilled to have Amy lead our Development efforts at PCN,” said Executive Director Stuart Spears. “She has deep roots in this region and extensive experience with and a passion for fundraising work and the mission purpose of PCN.”

“Project Connect Nashville’s values and mission align with mine as I am rooted in sharing my faith and connecting through authentic relationships,” Amy said. “I look forward to the opportunity to seek support for PCN and am excited to contribute towards restoring relationships through the power of Jesus Christ.”

Angel Pyrz will now be our Engagement & Communications Director!

Angel began volunteering at PCN shortly after moving to the Nashville area almost nine years ago. After joining the organization in 2019, she quickly rose to the Marketing & Communications Manager role where she has enjoyed sharing the inspiring stories of PCN.

“Having discovered my passion for PCN’s mission as a volunteer, I am excited to go back to those roots by stepping into this role and continuing to grow the depth and effectiveness of this amazing community with our current and future church partners,” she says.

“We are thrilled to have Angel step into this new role and continue her important contributions to PCN as we work to expand our mission impact,” Executive Director Stuart Spears said. “God has done wonderful work through Angel during her time with Project Connect. She has consistently demonstrated excellence in her work, compassion in how she leads and a strong commitment to building positive relationships in the Nashville community. Her experience and background are top-notch, and I look forward to what the future brings with her in this new role.”

A New Class! Untangling Relationships: A Christian Perspective on Codependency

By Adrianne Gott

Barbara Harris has been volunteering at PCN for four years now and taught a new class during the fourth quarter of 2022 called Untangling Relationships: A Christian Perspective on Codependency. She was motivated to teach this class because of her past experiences facilitating similar courses at churches and listening to the perspectives of others.

Barbara’s favorite moments of the class include getting to know the students and celebrating their moments of growth. Trusting the processes of patience and empathy guided her through facilitating the course, as well as creating a safe space for all who attend. Both she and the program staff at PCN see how this course is rooted in love and will continue to offer it.

Saying Goodbye to Caleb Johnson

At the end of December, we said farewell to Caleb Johnson, the Site Manager for PCN’s Madison location. Caleb wore many hats and will be missed by both staff, clients, and volunteers. He was fearless and was always willing to help. Many situations he dealt with really did not have “answers,” but he still worked to find the best and most workable solutions. We wish him all the best as he continues in his passion for poverty alleviation at his new position with Soles4Souls!

Alicia, a second-year program participant said about the class, “I am very thankful that I took the class and even though I did not say a word for most of it, I eventually got to a place where I could open up. What helped was the facilitators and the allies. They looked at me and basically said, “I know you...to share, but we can all wait until you are ready to share.”

Even if you have lived just a short time in Nashville and the surrounding areas, you have noticed many changes. For those who have lived here longer, the changes are significant and even life-changing. Beloved old buildings and businesses are gone; new ones have replaced them. Many new faces are in our city while neighbors have moved away. While those visible changes certainly have our attention, the steep rise in prices is perhaps the most noticeable change of all. Inflation seems to have hit everything, including the most basic necessities like food, utilities, housing, etc.