Communities of Transformation

Communities of Transformation (COT) is an initiative that seeks to serve those in our community who are most vulnerable and who live in poverty. Communities of Transformation is sponsored by a non-profit organization, the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church (AWFUMC) that oversees the work of United Methodist Churches throughout the southern half of Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. This innovative community collaborative partners low-income families with volunteers from within the community’s churches. The primary goal of COT is to stabilize the participants and their families through the development of financial strength and to assist adults who are unemployed or underemployed find meaningful long-term employment.

The Communities of Transformation (COT) initiative is built upon the formation of a community. We gather together for a weekly meeting which includes a meal, child care, training or program, and community-building activities. Participants and volunteers are matched in small groups for encouragement, friendship building, guidance, and for building the capacity for the families in poverty to have access to networks among those that can assist them toward a new path forward. As participants enter the COT initiative, they receive twelve weeks of training. Participants consider their personal assets and strengths, as well as areas for growth, and establish goals for the future. This holistic training focuses on five areas of their personal development - Financial, Spiritual, Relational, Intellectual, and Physical. Participants resolve past mistakes and start down the path towards stability. After completing the first phase, participants move into more extensive training. Workshops are provided on financial literacy where participants learn about budgeting, money management, credit, fraud, and other skills to obtain financial independence. Workshops are then provided on resume building, interview skills, conflict resolution and other job readiness skills. Every step of training revolves around the participant’s financial plan for the future and the steps to accomplish their goals. While the adults receive training, children & youth receive interactive lessons on life skills. This enables families to continue the conversation and environment of learning at home.