Summer 2023 Newsletter

SUMMER ✹ 2023

Newsletter

Alleviating poverty through Christ-centered community, educational, and vocational resources.

ProjectConnectNashville.org

Dear PCN Community, Warmest regards as we exit the heat of August and move into fall. It has been an exciting summer here at Project Connect Nashville as we celebrated the end of the second quarter and kicked off the third quarter of classes. We continue to see growth in programming at both of our sites as God continues to bless PCN through your continued support.

It is a joy for me to come to you with each newsletter full of stories about the impact PCN is making on our communities. One area that we have focused on over the past several months is expanding our relationships with local, similarly aligned organizations. By combining efforts to raise awareness of the affordable housing crisis in Nashville, and intentionally linking with other support agencies, we hope to create a long-term path towards a stable life for participants and their families and to act as a leading voice in Middle Tennessee regarding trauma-informed care.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ .”

- I Corinthians 12:12 We have been able to participate in multiple collaborations and cohorts across the region, leading discussions on challenges facing this city and its people regarding accessible housing and personal growth and development. We have invited area churches and aid-focused relief agencies to come together to discuss traumainformed care and how it can influence service and interaction with the community around us.

These efforts lead to and support our core programming. If you know of a non-profit organization or church fellowship that might be interested in teaming with us at PCN, please call our office so that we can get acquainted. Better yet, please make plans to attend one of our Sunday evening gatherings before the end of the year and experience the PCN community first-hand. Just check the volunteer opportunities listed at projectconnectnashville.org and pick a date and site that works for you. We look forward to seeing you!

Enjoy the stories in this newsletter and know that this ministry is made possible through your prayers and your gifts of time, talents, and resources, which allow us to help our neighbors escape the hopelessness of poverty through the transforming love of Jesus Christ. We are deeply grateful to you and look forward to continuing to share what God is doing through His people.

Gratefully.

Stuart Spears Executive Director

Thank you to our volunteer photographers: Maggie Killingsworth, Angel Pyrz, & Brittany Vernon

This summer was a busy and fun one for us as we got out into the community, shared about the ministry of PCN, and met new neighbors!

Woodbine Cookout

On July 13th, we celebrated with The Church at Woodbine as they invited their Day Camp families and the whole community to a cookout. From waterslides to corn hole, it was fun for all ages! We fellowshipped with our old friends and met some new ones, too!

OU R FI RS T- E VER

Community Game Night

in Madison was a big hit! On July 17th, families and individuals came and enjoyed games for all ages, a craft corner, popcorn, snow cones, and more!

We’re planning to host a similar event this fall, so keep your eyes out for details and make plans to attend!

Lunch & Learn

We had a great time meeting new friends and workshopping strategies that align with trauma-informed care principles at our first Lunch & Learn event in June! It was encouraging to welcome and collaborate with partner organizations, churches, and volunteers. Our next Lunch & Learn will be held on October 4th, and we hope to see you there!

BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH

Youth Training

On July 9th, we shared basics from our Poverty 101 and TraumaInformed Care training with a group of 60 students and chaperones before they left for a missions trip to Chicago. The practiced skills helped prepare the group to listen well and respond with understanding in Chicago and for years to come.

If your church group or class is interested in learning more about poverty alleviation or trauma-informed care, email angel@projectconnectnashville.org to learn more about our community education opportunities.

“It’s like I am a part of a family. Everyone is so caring, ...”

Candace “It’s just some classes,” thought Candace last year when she heard about Project Connect Nashville from friends at Thistle Farms. After signing up and attending, she found that PCN is so much more.

“It’s like I am a part of a family. Everyone is so caring,” she said. Noticing from the beginning that PCN volunteers and staff care for each individual and are not just checking off tasks, she was touched to see PCN friends attend her graduation from Thistle Farms in May. In September, Candace will be celebrating three years clean. In those three years, she learned to embrace growing and looking at things differently, but she always wants to remember where she came from. “I can’t hold myself hostage for my past,” she said, but she hopes to help others with stories of addiction like hers to navigate the justice system and find healing as she has.

by Angel Pyrz

While working two jobs and raising two teenagers, Candace graduated from South College with an associate degree in criminal justice in June. Recently promoted to Residential and Graduate Coordinator at Thistle Farms, Candace is determined to celebrate her successes and find a good fit in the employment world.

She is grateful that PCN has helped her take more steps toward meeting her goals. She has completed several classes, including Faith & Finances, Story of God, and Trauma Healing and enjoys the excellent discussions stemming from an attitude of “no dumb questions.” Candace also appreciates how PCN’s connection management meetings are designed to help her apply the things learned in classes to her life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THISTLE FARMS

Partners for Success

By Jennifer Smithfield Thistle Farms has been helping women escape from the intertwined issues of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. By focusing on community and shared experiences for the past 25 years, Thistle Farms has provided a nurturing and healing environment for women who often know little more than the traumas that shaped them.

Thistle Farms creates this environment and supports the healing process using three categories of support: a residential program, social enterprises, and advocacy & education. The residential program gives women a two-year respite through the provision of free housing, healthcare, counseling, and employment. Nashvillians who have heard of Thistle Farms are probably most familiar with their social enterprises that include the manufacture and sale of body & home products and The Café & Shop at Thistle Farms. The third component of advocacy & education provides women with learning opportunities that encompass both practical training and an exploration of the inspirational.

PCN has the privilege of partnering with Thistle Farms in continuing educational opportunities and community growth for these amazing women as they transition out of Thistle Farms’ programming. In doing so, PCN staff, facilitators, and ally volunteers have been blessed to be a part of their continued healing journey and have had the honor of experiencing the joy and dedication they bring to the PCN community.

By Vicki Askew When Steph Carlson took the role of Director of Education and Culture Development for CCF (Community Care Fellowship) she knew that God wasn’t finished with her and her work with PCN! Steph was PCN’s Woodbine Connection Manager and a facilitator for our programs, so she immediately recognized the value of a partnership between the two organizations when she joined CCF in the fall of 2022. With a shared vision of transformational change for those in poverty and homelessness, and a core belief that holistic healing comes through Jesus Christ, Steph and Matt Worley began to find ways to collaborate, beginning with offering the core curriculum of PCN to the “guests” of CCF. “CCF has over 40 years of offering stabilizing services to the homeless community in Nashville,” said Steph. “The education programs of PCN offer the next step to transformation and wholeness for our guests to become working members of society.” One collaboration story that Steph cited was the successful hiring of a CCF guest to the team at a local Walmart. “After completing PCN’s Work Life program, one of our guests was ready to take the next step and look for employment, offering her an opportunity to rent an apartment of her own and live a life she only dreamed of before coming to CCF. PCN stepped in with resume advice, mock interviews, and encouragement as she entered the hiring process. We love that together we were able to see a successful move toward independence and healing through our joint efforts!”

PCN offers wraparound services to the guests of CCF through tested educational programming that meets both immediate needs and leads people toward long-term hope, stability, and change. Both non-profits help their participants and guests discover who God has made them to be and how He is at work in each of their lives and in the world. Both programs are also designed to integrate the church into the work and offer opportunities for volunteers to be equipped for deep involvement in building hopeful, Christcentered relationships.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

Austin Finney

by Adrianne Gott

Austin Finney has volunteered with Project Connect Nashville since hearing co-founder Alan Murdock speak at Restoration Church in Inglewood in 2015.

Fascinated by Alan’s presentation of PCN’s equitycentered work, Austin was led to serve within the community, and he has been a steady ally in a range of Sunday night classes, with his favorites being Faith & Finances and Boundaries.

“When volunteering, there can be uncertainty, but I would encourage anyone considering becoming a volunteer to just be themselves, to be open to God’s plan, and be willing to be present,” said Austin. “Don’t judge based on someone’s demographic because we are members of the same human race. We can all relate to one another, and we best show our care through encouragement.” Austin’s friendly attitude and kindness have encouraged both program participants and fellow volunteers.

After getting to know many PCN newcomers, Austin has appreciated how the Project Connect staff are always helpful and non-judgmental. He’s thankful for staff members who guided him on his journey as a volunteer. If someone is considering volunteering, he recommends attending a Work Life class to experience the “teamwork” mindset and community atmosphere. PCN is proud to celebrate dedicated and caring volunteers like Austin!

Have you considered becoming a Monthly Donor?

By becoming a monthly donor, you can partner with us in alleviating poverty through Christ-centered education and relationships while making a long-term impact in lives like the ones you have read about in this newsletter.

Your contribution enables us to deepen our engagement with our current program participants every month. Together, we can create sustainable change and transform lives.

DONATE

Where Are They Now?

Darby

Intrigued by the community and support that PCN offered, Darby actively participated in programming with us from 2019 to 2022 after seeing one of our Work Life flyers on his parole officer’s bulletin board. During his time at PCN, he was a huge encouragement to others, serving in many capacities at The Church at Woodbine and facilitating our Your Stories Matter class in early 2022.

We recently checked in with him, and he says, “Since being at PCN, my relationship with my Savior continues to grow in trust and dependence.

I have become a much more empathetic, understanding, and giving person.

I am much more aware and appreciative of the countless blessings that have been bestowed on me, never taking anything, anyone, or any opportunity for granted.”

Darby credits many of his current successes to living out the things he learned at PCN, and he’s specifically grateful for the emphasis on implementing a budget into his daily life. He has received several promotions at his job of 4 years, and last year he was able to buy a home.

“Every dollar given, and every hour spent in service to Project Connect Nashville has affected me and many others profoundly. I will always treasure the relationships I have been blessed with, “ said Darby. “PCN is not just a class, a program, or even an event... it is a way of life. We all have needs, and we all have gifts, and to be able to have a way to serve, love, and give hope to fellow community members is a beautiful thing.”

Welcome Gabrielle!

Gabrielle Whitehead joined us in May as our Madison Site Manager! With almost a decade of Middle and High School teaching experience, she has hit the ground running. We appreciate her energy and eagerness to learn while bringing great new ideas to the table, as well.

She says, “The best part about working at PCN has been the program participants that I have met. I see the God of grace interceding for them as they tell the stories of their sufferings and joys. I find that this same grace echoes in my own life as well.

It’s these connections that help create the strong community that exists here. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for the coming year!”

Project Connect Nashville PO Box 295 Madison, TN 37116

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Open to read stories filled with HOPE and JOY!

Whether you want to grow as a volunteer, learn more about poverty, bring a meal, facilitate a class, or simply join us for fellowship, we look forward to seeing you...

THIS FALL! DATE September 17 September 18 Sept. 25 — Oct. 30

EVENT Work Life Graduation Poverty 101 Connector Training

LOCATION Madison Woodbine Online Weekly

APPLICATIONS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 11

September 28 October 4 October 15–20 October 22 October 26 TBD

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on social media for updates!

Madison Madison Online Madison & Woodbine Madison Woodbine

@projectconnectnashville