Now, Will is more connected to Tepe Park…

Community One held an art pop-up in a vacant lot in Tepe Park.  Through the pop-up, staff met Will, the neighbor who lived next door. Will was interested in art, and staff encouraged him to apply for Community One’s Early Action Project to paint a mural on his house. Staff also connected Will to their home repair program to replace his roof. All this became a catalyst for Will to start working on repairs himself (e.g., porch) before he received the new roof and art funding. Now, Will is more connected to Tepe Park and was one of the first residents to reply when Community One tested Tepe Park’s SMS texting.

*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identities.

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About Community One

Community One connects and mobilizes neighbors across Evansville to serve one another through tangible acts of love. Community One brings neighbors together and addresses tangible neighborhood needs through Neighborhood Revitalization and home repairs and whole-house rehabs.

“The biggest relief came when I regained custody of my son…”

Ellen, A Family Cares Services and GAIN Initiative Participant

One of the worst possible things a mother can imagine is having her children taken away. It’s what nightmares are made of. After spending time in jail and having my son taken away by DCS, I came to the Life Center with limited options and a broken heart. I wanted to do everything I could to get him back and have him home with me where he belonged. I stepped into Family Care Services scared and completely alone. I was having a hard time not only trusting myself but also trusting anyone around me. However, whatever my advocates in Family Care Services told me to do, I did it. Their loving and compassionate encouragement kept me going. I completed virtual courses through BrightCourse, met with my advocate consistently, listened to her advice, let her pray with me, and took every step I needed to move forward. The biggest relief came when I regained custody of my son—holding him in my arms again, knowing I am continuously learning how to be the best parent I can be made the weeks of struggle and uncertainty worth it. I recently joined a GAIN cohort to keep myself on the right path towards complete financial stability. Since then, I’ve been able to buy a house! I continue to meet with my advocates at the Life Center because I know that supporting my son and giving him the best and fullest life doesn’t only mean providing for him financially. It means learning how to help him grow as a whole person. As crazy as it is to think about, he’ll be a grown adult one day too, and I can only hope that he has people to walk with him and encourage him the way I have over the past year. It has made all the difference in the world. – Ellen, A Family Cares Services and GAIN Initiative Participant

*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identities.

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About Evansville Christian Life Center

The Evansville Christian Life Center brings restoration by strengthening families with a stronger foundation. The mission of the ECLC revolves around preparing those we serve with the opportunity to transform their lives drastically. We strive to equip under-resourced individuals in our community with valuable information and resources to move from poverty to their potential personally and professionally.

Evansville Christian Life Center’s Services include:

• GAIN Anti-Poverty Initiative
• Accent on Christ 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program
• Clothing Resource Department
• Food Co-op
• Family Care Services
• A Health Clinic that provides Medical, Dental and Pregnancy Services

Restoring spaces is a tangible picture of flourishing in the community, moving from chaos to order.

Picking up trash and cleaning up the neighborhood was a priority for Natalie, one of the Tepe Park neighbors. So, the community launched their first-ever Dumpster Day, in partnership with Republic Services (who donated dumpsters). Around 4,800 pounds of trash were picked up in one day. Heavy trash can be a challenge for many neighbors.  One Tepe Park neighbor was able to reclaim their front porch because fellow neighbors helped her remove all of her heavy trash during Dumpster Day.  Now, she and her family can sit and enjoy their porch.  Restoring spaces like this is a tangible picture of flourishing in the community, moving from chaos to order.

*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identities.

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About Community One

Community One connects and mobilizes neighbors across Evansville to serve one another through tangible acts of love. Community One brings neighbors together and addresses tangible neighborhood needs through Neighborhood Revitalization and home repairs and whole-house rehabs.

Community One acquired an abandoned rental house through their whole-house rehab program. Alongside volunteers and partners, Community One gutted the house and restored it to a safe and affordable home. Katrina was renting in the neighborhood. As she saw the work being done on the house and the energy around change in Tepe Park, she decided she wanted to make an intentional decision to stay in the community permanently by purchasing the restored home.

*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identities.

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About Community One

Community One connects and mobilizes neighbors across Evansville to serve one another through tangible acts of love. Community One brings neighbors together and addresses tangible neighborhood needs through Neighborhood Revitalization and home repairs and whole-house rehabs.

When Potter’s Wheel staff shared with Sarah their Kids Zone Promise and what they are committing to do for her and her baby, she cried tears of joy.

During Operation Baby Hunt in the fall of 2020, Potter’s Wheel staff knocked on Sarah’s door. She was young and had recently had a baby. Staff shared about Baby Scholars, a new program that would be starting in January 2021. As they spoke further, staff realized that Sarah needed a few things for her baby right away, and they invited her to join the Peaceful Parenting Class. Through the class, staff learned that she lived in an unsafe environment, did not have a vehicle or a job, was not well connected in the community, and was trying to stay sober so she could keep her baby.

Sarah came to Potter’s Wheel and was surrounded by love. When her baby needed to be in Indianapolis for surgery, a Potter’s Wheel staff member drove her and her baby there. Since then, Sarah has become a leader in the Peaceful Parenting Class and is cheering on other moms. She now has access to a vehicle and offers to drive other moms to the class. Sarah has been to church with a caseworker, and staff have seen that her eyes are beginning to light up in a way they have not seen before. When Potter’s Wheel staff shared with Sarah their Kids Zone Promise and what they are committing to do for her and her baby, she cried tears of joy. By engaging with Potter’s Wheel for a few months, Sarah has started looking for a new place to live where she can have self-sufficiency and stability for her child.

*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identity.

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About Potter’s Wheel

Potter’s Wheel desires to transform their neighborhood into a thriving community. To empower community members to live with purpose and hope, Potter’s Wheel provides a host of programs and services to support parents, babies, children, and teens. 

Because the Peacemaker had relationships with these girls, could witness their behaviors at school, and could recognize they were acting unusually, the Peacemaker was able to reach out to GLA’s teachers to get these girls the help they needed.

It was Anisha’s birthday. But, when the Potter’s Wheel Peacemaker went to visit her GLA classroom, Anisha seemed sad, which was not like her. The Peacemaker talked with Anisha during class, but her mood never improved. Later that same day, the Peacemaker was in a classroom with Anisha’s sister, Kari, who was under the table crying. One of the questions the Peacemaker asked was, “Do you feel safe?” Kari said, “No.” The Peacemaker could see that both of the girls were acting strangely, and she shared this with Kari’s teacher. The teacher then spoke with the school’s social worker. The social worker pulled the two girls out of their classes and asked them about what was going on. The social worker heard enough to know that there was an unsafe situation at home, and she called CPS to help protect the girls. Because the Peacemaker had relationships with these girls, could witness their behaviors at school, and could recognize they were acting unusually, the Peacemaker was able to reach out to GLA’s teachers to get these girls the help they needed.

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About Potter’s Wheel

Potter’s Wheel desires to transform their neighborhood into a thriving community. To empower community members to live with purpose and hope, Potter’s Wheel provides a host of programs and services to support parents, babies, children, and teens.