| From the Director,
Eric Lindh |
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At a recent visit to one of our after school program sites at Elmwood UMC in Oak Cliff, I was reminded of the importance of community. At Project Transformation, we frequently talk about community when referring to our young adult interns who share communal housing during their service and build lasting relationships with one another. But when visiting Elmwood UMC, the sense of community that I witnessed was focused on the children. During a time of sharing, Rev. Sandra Cabrera, pastor of Elmwood UMC, asked the group of 25 children if they had any joys or prayer concerns to lift up to the group.
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| Wish List |
In providing daily programming for children and youth, Project Transformation depends on in-kind donations from its supporters. We are so thankful to those who think of us and provide program items, and we are in need of more supplies and items to continue the work we do in our communities!
A current need is for new or gently used bookcases for our sites that have broken or wobbly ones. If you are able to supply this need, please contact our office at 214-946-3600.
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| Books needed for Children's Site Libraries |
An increasing need we have at our sites, for both after-school and summer, is updated books for our children. We receive many donated books, and are grateful for what we receive, but we are in need of certain series books for our youth program, as well as a certain number of dictionaries/encyclopedias for our after-school program.
If you are interested in purchasing books for either of these needs- youth series books or study books for our after school program- consider making a donation today of $25 that will allow the children and youth of the program greater access to reading and studying! |
| After School Program Sites 2009-2010 |
Casa Linda UMC
Elmwood UMC
Oak Cliff UMC
Pleasant Mound UMC
Wesley Rankin
Community Center
We would love for you to visit one of our sites this fall and volunteer! Click here for ways to become involved with our after-school programs. |
We're building our list of online contacts! Please click here if you would like to receive the PT Connection!
(approximately 6 per year) |
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| Welcome Back to the PT Connection!
Our goal in producing this e-newsletter is to keep our volunteers and partners connected with the stories occurring at our sites each month, and to share opportunities to become involved in the needs of our program.
The after-school program is now in its 6th week, and in this time, our interns have begun to build lasting relationships with their children and youth. Meet our newest interns below in our ASP article.
Sarai Gonzalez shares her perspective on Project Transformation, as a child of the program, and now as an intern. Read her story below, as we celebrate the future of Project Transformation.
We also encourage you this month to SHOP for a good cause! Barnes and Noble- NorthPark is hosting PT for profit sharing days. More information is below, so please come and shop for a good cause on October 23 and 24!
Enjoy this installment of the Connection! Please let us know your thoughts, and please forward on to a friend. |
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Welcome After School Program Interns!
After-school Sites Set Record for Program Attendance
 In the fall of 2000, the first Project Transformation after-school program began, giving college-age interns opportunities to be in a position of leadership, as well as to continue building relationships with children from the summer program. Today, the after school program has taken on its own culture, forming tight-knit peer friendships between interns, creating lasting relationships with children in the program, and allowing each site coordinator to present "trainings" on subject matter in interest areas that increases each team's knowledge. The leadership course that full-time interns lead increases their understanding of social justice, education and vocational discernment.
This fall, the after-school program set record numbers. Each of our 5 site locations filled all of their participant slots within two weeks, bringing the number of children attending PT daily to 150. At our 5 site locations, 19 interns have been hired in full or part time capacity; the greatest number of interns hired in the 9 years the after-school program has been operating.
"I am so blessed to be experiencing the mission that is Project Transformation", Abby Seibel says, site coordinator of the Wesley Rankin elementary program. "It is surely transforming the children's lives, but I have no doubt that it is transforming mine as well."
Meet our site coordinators at our after-school sites here
And please read more of the stories and relationships that occur daily at our after-school sites in our PT blog. |
The Future of Project Transformation
Sarai Gonzalez and Moises Hernandez Understand the Importance of Giving Back in their Communities
There are a few of us who can say we remember the start of Project Transformation back in 1998. Sarai Gonzalez is one of them.
She was 5 years old, about to go into 1st grade, and she remembers how excited she always was to come to the program at Oak Cliff UMC. "I loved the togetherness of the program, how everyone was so close and so friendly." That excitement now translates, years later, into becoming a college intern at the site where she grew up. "I cannot wait to come each day. When you enjoy what you're doing as much as I do, it doesn't seem like work."
Sarai (pronounced Sarah) was part of PT from 1998-2005. She started in the elementary program and grew up through the youth program. She attended Urban Camp for 3 summers, and even served one summer as an interim cook. She is now a part of the program again, but as an intern. She is attending El Centro College, with her focus on nursing. Helping other people is what drives her and is the reason she is back at PT. When asked how she sees the program today, and working with children, she says: "They're like family to me; I'm learning how to love them and how to be loved by them. I want to be a role model that they can look up to and come to."
Last fall, Moises Hernandez, a participant in the youth program at Oak Cliff, returned to us as the first participant turned intern. He attends Mountain View Community College, and is pursuing a dual degree program, with a focus on education. Sarai and Moises remember one another from the program, and now work together at the Oak Cliff site, that they attended together. Both are very passionate about Project Transformation making a difference in their lives. "Had it not been for Project Transformation I think I would've been lost, I truly do", Moises shared at a luncheon event recently where he spoke. "Had it not been for this program I don't know where I would be, or what type of career I would be in. But, I know definitely that this program has really helped me out".
We are blessed, and thankful for Sarai and Moises returning to Project Transformation, and the example they are to the children of our community. |
Casa Linda UMC Creates "PT"A
Church Site Parents and Congregants Launch Program for Community Children in After School Program
 On Tuesday evening, October 6th, Casa Linda's Fellowship Hall was bustling with Project Transformation activity.
But for once, there were no children present.
This day marked the inaugural meeting of "Groupa de Familia" at Casa Linda UMC. Parents of the children of the after-school program came up with the idea that a PTA would be beneficial to their children, and something they wanted to lead for the community. Church members of Casa Linda were excited to see parents in their community meeting in the church, and became involved as well, in supporting the needs of the church community.
Twelve families of the program registered and committed to be a part of the monthly meetings, as well as church members and clergy from Casa Linda. At this meeting, the group elected officers; the president and secretary, both parents of first-year Project Transformation participants, and vice-president and treasurer both Casa Linda UMC members, who volunteer weekly in the PT program. Groupa de Familia's first goal is to plan a fundraiser to purchase music equipment for the site.
PT's mission of connecting churches to underserved communities is at the heart of this initiative, and is celebrated as a huge success of the after-school program. "The purpose of this group is to bring families of the program into the church, for them to find a home, and be connected in the ministry, as well as provide support to their kids", site coordinator Sheena Logan said. "I am excited to see this program grow over time." |
Project Transformation Welcomes Barnes and Noble as a Community Partner for our Literacy Programs!
Opportunity to Raise Funds through Retail Sales
Project Transformation is partnering this fall and holiday season with the NorthPark location of Barnes and Noble Booksellers, to raise funds and donate books for PT's after-school and summer programs.
PT is being hosted for a Profit Sharing Event, Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. On these two days, when shopping at Barnes and Noble NorthPark, a portion of each sale will be given back to PT, going toward children's reading programs. The percentage of sales we receive are dependent on the amount that is purchased. So, please support PT this weekend, by shopping at Barnes and Noble! Please click here for additional information!
In addition to this, Project Transformation has been selected by Barnes and Noble to be the recipient organization of their annual holiday book drive! From November 1st to December 24th, all shoppers can designate to purchase a book for Project Transformation from our wish list. Each customer that shops in store between these dates will see our table, and become familiar with our children's literacy program. We are very excited to be the featured book drive recipient, and celebrate this new partnership with Barnes and Noble, NorthPark! Please help us thank them by shopping at their location. We hope to see you this weekend for profit sharing days! |
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 PT Speakers Available Is your Sunday School class in need of a speaker this fall? Is your Bible study or covenant group looking for a project to get involved in? Project Transformation is available to speak to your church or class, and has many projects going on this fall for groups to be involved in.
Topics of conversation for Sunday School classes include the needs of low-income communities and raising up student leaders in ministry. We also have projects at our sites for volunteers, as well as a need for homework tutors and mentors for the children of our program.
Contact Janalee Shadburn for more information. We would love to share what God is doing in this ministry this school year in the lives of children and interns!
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We hope you've enjoyed your second installment of the PT Connection! Look for our next edition to hit your inbox in December!
Until then, stay "connected" to all the work God is doing through this ministry by visiting our web and social networking sites often!
Project Transformation Blog
Have a wonderful and blessed fall season! We hope to see you at Project Transformation soon! |
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Welcome to the 2nd installment of the PT Connection!
