Homelessness

Rainbow Village Unveils New Brand to Kick Off 30th Anniversary

February 11, 2021 by Michelle Alcorn

Nonprofit Dedicated to Ending Homelessness – One Family at a Time – Raises the Curtain on New Logo and Programs

Duluth, Ga., February 11, 2021 – First launched in 1991 as an outreach ministry of Christ Church Episcopal in Norcross, Georgia with one house to serve two homeless families at a time, Rainbow Village has since grown to a 2.5-acre campus in the heart of Duluth with five apartment buildings offering room enough to house 30 families simultaneously. But the evolution from Rainbow House to Rainbow Village hasn’t been solely limited to the number of apartments it can provide families in need. Over the last three decades, the nonprofit has built a solid network of staff members, community partners, donors and volunteers to support its mission to end homelessness – one family at a time – through multi-generational programming that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond the “village.” As this transformative program prepares to celebrate its 30^th anniversary, it raises the curtain on a new logo and explores new opportunities for growth as it reimagines and expands its services so the nonprofit can help even more families than ever before.

The nonprofit’s new logo was created with two arcs of a rainbow integrated into a home at its end. The concept of a rainbow symbolizes hope for those who may be facing hardship or a crisis that results in homelessness. The arc could also be viewed as a “road along a life journey.” The home represents the ultimate goal – although its simple shape could also be viewed as an upward facing arrow. The color palette of primary colors also plays a role in the logo’s meaning. Red is the symbolic color of the heart and suggests strong emotions. Physiologically, it’s a call to the adrenal glands to get the body activated. As the color of nature, green represents growth and new beginnings. It is both soothing and reassuring. Viewed as protective in many cultures, blue is representative of dependability and constancy – symbolizing mercy and a sense of calm.

“This beautiful new logo from the talented team at Rock Paper Scissors is the perfect way to kick off our 30^th Anniversary,” said Melanie Conner, CEO of Rainbow Village. “To me, it is also symbolic of the fact that Rainbow Village is on a continuous journey of its own to seek out the most effective ways to help families in need. The growth of this nonprofit over the last three decades has been nothing shy of miraculous, but we want to continue to stretch and grow in new directions to help as many families as we possibly can. Over the months to come, we will begin revealing some exciting updates to the services we provide. It’s just another way we are striving to be change-makers who are moving the needle towards ending homelessness through educational, support driven, compassionate programming that embraces unique paths and sustainable progress.”

In addition to the new logo and new programming, Rainbow Village will be sharing Transformation Tales from its residents, graduates, staff members, board members, donors and volunteers over the months to come. With 90% of its funding privately secured through individual donors, corporations, churches and foundations, the support of the community is paramount to the continued success of Rainbow Village. To join in the 30^th Anniversary celebration, interested parties might consider becoming a donor and/or volunteer at the nonprofit. Volunteer opportunities include mentoring, providing meals, and property beautification, assisting with fundraising events and much more. To make a secure one-time online donation, sign on as a monthly donor or register as a volunteer, please visit www.RainbowVillage.org.

About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991, Rainbow Village is a transformative 501(c)3 nonprofit program located in Duluth, GA that serves families that are currently experiencing homelessness. Our model provides safe housing, education, and community support systems that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond our village. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Rainbow Village Witnesses Outpouring from Community during First Ever Virtual Benefit Gala

November 17, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Largest Fundraiser of the Year to Support the Programs of Nonprofit Dedicated to Ending Homelessness – One Family at a Time – Proves an Unexpected Success

Duluth, Ga., November 17, 2020 – Each year for the last 22 years, Rainbow Village has played host to its much-anticipated We Are Family Benefit Gala – marking the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser. Easily earning the title of the event of the season, guests arrive at The Atlanta Athletic Club dressed in gowns and tuxedos to not only learn about the important work Rainbow Village is doing to help homeless families in need, but also to learn what they can do to help. At the end of last year’s Benefit Gala, the Duluth-based nonprofit had touched the hearts of its 300+ guests and raised an unprecedented $337,893 to support operation and maintenance of Rainbow Village’s campus that houses a community center, family services center and apartments to house 30 families, as well as the life-changing programming it offers that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency and thrive beyond their time at the “Village.” In the face of COVID-19, Rainbow Village made the difficult decision to take this beloved event virtual. It livestreamed on Saturday, November 7, and by the end of the evening, the nonprofit had raised $220,000 – well above its goal.

“Because we weren’t hosting the Gala at our favorite ballroom at the Atlanta Athletic Club, we didn’t charge admission – which usually helps cover the cost of the venue but also goes towards our fundraising goal,” said Melanie Conner, CEO of Rainbow Village. “For that reason, our goal was a bit more conservative than in years past. Not to mention the fact that our livestream was running up against some contentious college football games and we weren’t certain how much our donor base had been affected by the pandemic from a health and financial standpoint. There were a lot of uncertainties going into the event, but uncertainty is what our residents have faced for much of their lives – they’ve lived and breathed it – but kept the faith. That faith… that HOPE… is what brought them to our door. So, we chose to keep the faith, too, and host the best virtual Gala event we could possibly design. It was different, for sure. We didn’t get to see the faces of those who gave so selflessly and watched our livestream from beginning to end. We could definitely feel the love by the time all was said and done, and we are so incredibly grateful for the amazing show of support.”

In addition to direct donations, the bulk of the funds raised were from sponsorships, purchases from the wine wall and mobile bidding that allowed guests to participate in the silent and live auctions. During the livestream event, virtual attendees were treated to banter from Conner and auctioneer Dean Crownover, a heartfelt testimonial from a former Rainbow Village resident and a “behind-the-scenes” virtual tour of the Rainbow Village campus. For anyone unable to attend the Gala who still wants to show their support for the nonprofit and the families it serves, Rainbow Village has launched its year-end campaign to meet all operational costs for 2020. Included among these costs are the maintenance of its facilities and the unforeseen expenses of Digital Learning support for the children of Rainbow Village, such as the purchase of new technology and the hiring of full-time instructional coaches.

Sponsors of this year’s event, dubbed the 2020 Rainbow Village We Are Always Family Benefit Gala, included: Northside Hospital-Gwinnett, Metro Waterproofing Inc., Wilson-Lewis CPAs, Porter Steel, Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, Rock Paper Scissors Branding & Marketing, Quantum National Bank, Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, Peachtree Corners Business Association, SRD Photography, CIBO & VINO, Jeremy Whigham Design, The Lorentzen Family, The Bass Family, The Fletcher Family, The Morgan Family, The Kress Family and Leslie Harrison.

Donations to Rainbow Village can be made securely online at www.RainbowVillage.org.

Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner Named to Gwinnett Chamber Board

October 15, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Woman at the Helm of Georgia Nonprofit with a Mission to End Homelessness through Educational, Support-Driven, Compassionate Programming Becomes Chairman’s Appointee for One-Year Term

Duluth, Ga., October 15, 2020 – With the belief that an active, involved and supportive leadership is an indispensable asset for the continued success of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the organization with a mission to champion local businesses has named Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner to its 2021 Board of Directors. At the helm of Duluth-based nonprofit – Rainbow Village – since January 2018, Conner has led the ongoing evolution of a transformative program that serves families experiencing homelessness. The Rainbow Village model provides safe housing, education, and community support systems that allow families to confidently embark on the journey to self-sufficiency. The vision and leadership she displays daily at Rainbow Village will no doubt prove an asset to the Chamber’s core group of influential members who are responsible for directing and upholding the mission and goals of the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett.

“I am beyond humbled and honored to be named to the Gwinnett Chamber’s Board of Directors as a Chairman’s Appointee,” said Conner. “I look forward to serving alongside other visionary leaders who are wholly committed to the health and well-being of Gwinnett County’s thriving business community. From my purview at Rainbow Village, I see daily how the nonprofit community, business community, faith community, civic community and the citizens we serve are all interconnected. I look forward to having a hand in strengthening those connections, welcoming new businesses to Gwinnett and learning a great deal from my fellow board members during my term at the Chamber.”

Conner’s commitment as a member of the Board will help enhance the ability of the Chamber to continue its high-quality services and programs that assist in promoting and sustaining a pro-business environment in Gwinnett. Established in 1947 as a rural chamber of commerce serving farmers and banks, the Gwinnett Chamber grew and changed alongside Gwinnett County. Today, as the leading advocate and innovative resource for businesses to connect and thrive, it serves more than 2,200 members throughout metro Atlanta by delivering programs that strengthen and connect businesses locally, regionally and globally. Dedicated to creating jobs and wealth while growing businesses, the Chamber’s calling to strengthen the community and quality of life aligns beautifully with Conner’s talents. Since assuming the role of CEO at Rainbow Village, she has made great strides in improving the nonprofit’s technology and tracking capabilities and establishing the Success Coach program to help instill initiative, self-development and accountability to foster meaningful growth in the lives of all who encounter Rainbow Village. Along with her leadership team, she has successfully navigated the Coronavirus Pandemic to ensure the well-being of the nonprofit and the families it serves.

“The incoming leadership of the Gwinnett Chamber’s board of directors strongly represents our great county,” said Gwinnett Chamber President & CEO Nick Masino. “I look forward to working with Melanie Conner and the board as we continue to serve our members and the community.”

To learn more about Rainbow Village and its programs or to make a donation to support the nonprofit’s efforts, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

About the Gwinnett Chamber: The Gwinnett Chamber serves as the voice for businesses, facilitating quality job growth opportunities while enhancing the community’s vitality and quality of life. The Chamber offers the metro Atlanta business community a wealth of growth opportunity by collaborating with regional partners to drive economic and community development initiatives throughout Georgia. Through its fundamental objectives to help create quality jobs and wealth, strengthen the community, and grow business, the Chamber serves more than 2,200 member companies in metro Atlanta while delivering innovative programs to connect businesses locally, regionally and globally. To learn more, visit www.gwinnettchamber.org.

Rainbow Village Welcomes Northside Gwinnett CEO to its Board of Directors

August 21, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Debbie Mitcham Represents the Newest Addition to the Leadership Team Behind the Scenes at the Georgia Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence

Debbie Mitcham – President & CEO of Northside Gwinnett Hospital

Duluth, Ga., August 21, 2020 – While COVID-19 has slowed many industries to nearly a halt across the globe, the needs of families facing homelessness, poverty and domestic violence are greater than ever before. Rainbow Village – a Duluth, Ga.-based nonprofit that provides a community of transformation for families in need through transitional housing, programs designed to serve the whole family and a system of accountability, remains steadfast in its mission to help pave the way back to self-sustainability. One of the many ways it stays the course is by building a board of directors – made up of community leaders who are passionate about making an impact. After the recent announcements of the additions of Michelle Livingstone – VP of Transportation for Home Depot, Dr. Jann Joseph – President of Georgia Gwinnett College and Jill Edwards – Senior VP of United Community Bank, Rainbow Village is pleased to also welcome Debbie Mitcham – President & CEO of Northside Gwinnett Hospital to its board.

Mitcham first learned about Rainbow Village when Michelle Alcorn, a dear friend and Community Engagement Director for the nonprofit, invited her to attend the annual We Are Family Benefit Gala last year. She was immediately impressed and liked the fact that Rainbow Village’s mission was right in line with her desire to give back to the community that surrounds her hospital. No stranger to giving back, Mitcham has previously served on the board for Sacred Hearts – a Georgia-based nonprofit that helps girls who’ve been sexually trafficked in Costa Rica. She has also been on mission trips to Haiti, volunteered with Missionary Flights International, served as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and participated in education sessions with Street Grace – an Atlanta nonprofit that seeks to end domestic minor sex trafficking. In addition to her wealth of involvement with other nonprofit organizations, Mitcham hopes her 30 years of experience in business – a large part of which is in the financial arena – will prove valuable to the board. She has served as CFO and VP of Finance for Northside Hospital since 2004 and assumed the role of President & CEO of Northside Gwinnett Hospital in August 2019.

When asked why she was drawn to Rainbow Village, Mitcham shared, “If you don’t have safety, structure and security – and by security, I mean things like food, an education, a home – it’s difficult to find your way and succeed in this world. I really like the residential aspect of Rainbow Village. They have room enough to serve 30 families at a time, and that goes such a long way in providing that safety, structure and security needed to help families get back on their feet and flourish. Knowing that I have even a small hand in helping people find their way back to self-sustainability will be extremely rewarding for me.”

“We have been truly blessed to add Debbie, Jann, Jill and Michelle to our Board in the midst of a pandemic,” said Melanie Conner, CEO of Rainbow Village. “That speaks volumes about their dedication to this community and their passion for helping families in need. Debbie’s reputation as a consummate leader and true visionary paired with her down-to-earth personality will undoubtedly prove invaluable to our leadership team and the families that Rainbow Village serves.”

For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Rainbow Village CEO Named Finalist in Gwinnett Chamber Moxie Awards

July 30, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Melanie Conner in the Running for the “Pay It Forward” Category for her Role at the Helm of Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence in Georgia

Duluth, Ga., July 30, 2020 – After assuming the role of CEO of Rainbow Village in January 2018, Melanie Conner has been busy redefining the self-described “community of transformation” dedicated to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence in Georgia families with children. With the nonprofit’s campus built out to include offices, a community center and five apartment buildings with room enough to house 30 families, Conner has shifted the focus to the creation of more robust programming for the families Rainbow Village serves, solid partnerships with community leaders and corporations, streamlined data systems to track progress and a compelling brand to let the public know what Rainbow Village is all about. Two and a half years later, she is being recognized for her hard work by being named a finalist in the Gwinnett Chamber Moxie Awards in the “Pay It Forward” category.

“I am incredibly honored just to be nominated, not to mention make it to the finalist phase,” said Conner. “Particularly when you consider the incredible women who are being recognized alongside me and those who have preceded me over the last two years. While I am grateful to be in the running, the true rewards of my job come from working with my incredible team and seeing a family rise above the dark cloud of homelessness and food insecurity to a promising future of self-sustainability. It is a privilege to do what I do with and for the families I am blessed to serve every day.”

Presented by Northside Hospital, the 3^rd Annual Moxie Awards are designed to honor women who are making it happen. The “Pay It Forward” category for which Conner has been named a finalist seeks to pay tribute to an individual who is generous with her time, talent, or resources. In doing so, the community is a better place because of her contributions and efforts to helping others. Winners will be announced at a hybrid Virtual/In-Person awards ceremony on August 28 at Infinite Energy Forum.

For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

View from the Village: Quilter Michelle Collins

March 9, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Having recently launched her own quilting company with a debut collection called “The Rainbow Village Collection,” we are elated to share the motivation behind Michelle Collins’ decision to use her artistry and talent to benefit our organization.

Armed with a Psychology degree from Georgia College and State University, Michelle left her idyllic college campus knowing one all-important truth… she wanted to help people. She got involved with the Department of Family and Child Services (DFCS) in Gwinnett County, focused primarily on the foster care program. She found a great deal of fulfillment bridging the gap between foster children, foster parents and birth parents. Her work eventually led her to Jesse’s House – a home for girls in the foster care system where she felt a real connection to the children she served.

In the middle of it all, she had gotten married and became pregnant – making the difficult choice to leave the emotional stress of her job behind to come home and be with her new baby. While being home with her first and soon to follow second child was a dream come true, Michelle felt like she’d had a plan for her life and – while she dearly loved her children – her once clear purpose had become blurred. She longed to help people again and wanted to create something every day to feel productive. She started quilting – tackling a quilt of t-shirts from college in the beginning and was delighted that she had suddenly stumbled across this random passion. After quilting daily for three years, she had an epiphany – there was a way she could combine her passions.

After six months of praying to find the ideal way to have her quilts serve a purpose and give back to the local community somehow, her quest led her to Rainbow Village. As a member of Perimeter Church and during her days with DFCS, she had heard about our community of transformation with a mission to break the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence in the lives of the families we serve. She felt Rainbow Village would prove the ideal fit for her new company, Meesh Quilts. Her Rainbow Village Collection features gorgeous modern baby quilts in a variety of bright colors – like a rainbow – all handmade by a mom dedicated to empowering vulnerable children and their families.

When a person purchases a quilt from the Rainbow Village collection at Meesh Quilts, 15% of the proceeds benefit our organization. But Michelle doesn’t want it to end there. She’s looking to build a community of passionate individuals who are willing to partner with her to strengthen the local community. A great place to start is by joining her newsletter or becoming a follower of her Instagram page. She is also considering becoming more involved at Rainbow Village and hopes to start volunteering in the afterschool program with a focus on middle school girls – much like the ones she worked with at Jesse’s House.

Michelle and her husband Daniel live in Duluth with their two young daughters, Sawyer and Scout – just five minutes away from Rainbow Village. To learn more about Michelle and her brand-new company – Meesh Quilts – visit www.meeshquilts.com. “Quilts that give back” from the Rainbow Village Collection can be purchased online.

Rainbow Village Recognized as Best of Gwinnett

March 5, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence Honored as One of the County’s Foremost Providers of Family Services

Duluth, Ga., March 5, 2020 – After a rigorous process that’s 10 months in the making, the votes are in and Rainbow Village has once again been recognized among the best nonprofits in Gwinnett County. Earning its “Best of Gwinnett” title in Family Services, the nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence in the lives of the families it serves is incredibly honored to achieve this recognition.

Created by Guide to Gwinnett, the Best of Gwinnett poll spans a wide variety of industries – from Auto Dealers to Wedding Venues and everything in between. Best of Gwinnett winners and nominees are chosen by a combination of readers’ votes and editors’ input. The process begins with a nomination on the Best of Gwinnett website. After tens of thousands of votes have been received and tallied, the voting culminates with the publishing of the annual Best of Gwinnett issue. Best of Gwinnett marks the highest designation given to the businesses with the most votes in their category, followed by Among the Best and Ones to Watch/Others Worth Noting.

“Because Best of Gwinnett involves the votes of our Gwinnett County neighbors, that makes this recognition all the sweeter,” said Melanie Conner, CEO for Rainbow Village. “We don’t do what we do for the recognition and fanfare, but it’s awfully nice to be thought of so highly as to be declared the BEST in our local community. What’s equally important is that recognitions like this shine the spotlight on our all-important work of helping homeless families find their way back to lives of self-sufficiency. It validates our work and our perception in Gwinnett County, while making us more visible to people who didn’t know about us – whether that be a homeless family seeking help or a local leader seeking a nonprofit for his or her company to partner with. We are truly grateful to Guide to Gwinnett and everyone who voted on our behalf for this honor.”

To determine the Best of Gwinnett, reader opinions are vetted thru several ranking sites, Better Business Bureau complaint reports, and voting pattern analysis reports before Guide to Gwinnett approves Best of Gwinnett winners. Winners are named in more than 20 broad business and community sectors.

Sponsors Being Sought for the 2020 Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic

February 20, 2020 by Michelle Alcorn

Local Nonprofit with a Mission to Break the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence to Host Benefit Golf Tournament in May – Presented by Duluth’s Columbia Engineering at TPC Sugarloaf

Duluth, Ga., February 20, 2020 – Rainbow Village is a place that’s intimately familiar with the concept of second chances. Families come to this community of transformation after facing challenges like homelessness, poverty, food insecurity and domestic violence in search of a second chance. Playing host to two major fundraisers each year – one a formal gala hosted in the fall and the other a charity golf tournament in the spring, it makes sense that the latter has become known as the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic. Touting the tagline “The course of life can be a challenge. Sometimes we need a mulligan,” this year’s Golf Classic will be hosted at TPC Sugarloaf on Monday, May 4. With its first major sponsor – Columbia Engineering – already lined up as Presenting Sponsor for the second year in a row, Rainbow Village is issuing a call for additional sponsors in hopes of making this year’s event the most memorable and successful tournament to date.

“Let’s equate this event to a big beautiful potluck dinner, where everyone is tasked with bringing something to the table,” said Melanie Conner, CEO for Rainbow Village. “The more people involved, the greater the gathering. As our presenting sponsor, Columbia Engineering has effectively signed on to bring the proverbial ‘steak.’ There are plenty of spaces for companies, churches, families and individual donors to have an impact on not only this event, but also on the families who call Rainbow Village ‘home.’ The proceeds from events like our Golf Classic and Benefit Gala support programs carefully designed to transform lives and put our residents squarely on the path to self-sufficiency. Not to mention the fact that the Classic represents a really fun day on one of Atlanta’s most beautiful and challenging courses. Many of our sponsorship levels come complete with a foursome, so it’s an opportunity to do good works while having a blast!”

Remaining sponsorship levels for the 2020 Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic include:

Premier Sponsor: Includes Two (2) foursomes – Three (3) hole signs – Lunch, dinner and beverages for eight (8) players – Marketing table/tent on course – Logo on signage and Rainbow Village website – Logo on leaderboard – Speaking opportunity at shotgun start and 19th Hole Reception – and MORE!
19^th Hole Sponsor: Includes One (1) foursome – Two (2) hole signs – Lunch, dinner and beverages for four (4) players – Logo on signage and Rainbow Village website – Logo on leaderboard – Speaking opportunity at 19th Hole Reception – Company Brand at 19th Hole Reception – and MORE!
Player Gift Sponsor: Includes One (1) foursome – Two (2) hole signs – Lunch, dinner and beverages for four (4) players – Company branded player gift – Marketing table/tent on course – Logo on signage and Rainbow Village website – Logo on leaderboard – Speaking opportunity at shotgun start – and MORE!
Corporate Sponsor: Includes One (1) foursome – One (1) hole sign – Lunch, dinner and beverages for four (4) players – Option to set up Marketing table/tent on course – Logo on signage and Rainbow Village website – Logo scrolling on leaderboard – and MORE!

Additional opportunities available for Beverage Station Host, Lunch Sponsor, “Bloody Mary” Breakfast Bar Sponsor, Golf Cart Sponsor, Contest Sponsor and Hole Sponsor. Slots for individual golfers and foursomes are also available for purchase. Lunch, beverages, snacks and dinner will be provided for each golfer. To sign on as a sponsor or golfer for the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic, interested parties can visit the Golf 2020 page at www.rainbowvillage.org.

About Columbia Engineering: Founded in 1963, Columbia Engineering and Services, Inc. (CES) is a regional Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and privately-owned professional services civil engineering firm headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. The firm’s services include land planning, site development, land surveying, transportation design, water resources, LEED® project design, landscape architecture, and construction engineering inspection. Columbia is proud to be an active contributing member of the Duluth community. www.columbia-engineering.com.

Rainbow Village Welcomes Cheryl Carter as Success Team Leader

October 24, 2019 by Michelle Alcorn

Seasoned Veteran Brings 25 Years of Experience as Nonprofit Executive to Organization Dedicated to Transforming Lives of Homeless Families with Children in North Metro Atlanta

Duluth, Ga., October 24, 2019 – Cheryl Carter is never one to shy away from a challenge. From the moment her career as a nonprofit executive began 35 years ago, she’s found great success in not only tackling, but overcoming challenges. From her role as Development Director for Friends of Zoo Atlanta paving the way for the raising of $25M to transition the zoo to natural habitats to launching her own company – Strategic Solutions – to aid destinations like the Tennessee Aquarium and Creative Discovery Museum, her journey to Rainbow Village almost seems written in the stars. Particularly for the time in her life when she found herself a divorced single mother of four – struggling to get by. At that time, she pledged to use her skills to help single moms and – in her new role as Success Team Leader at Rainbow Village, where many residents are single moms who recently faced homelessness – she’ll get to do just that.

With a reputation for being a change agent who isn’t afraid to dig in and do the hard work, Carter’s colorful resume also includes stints at the YMCA and Family Promise of Gwinnett. During her time at Family Promise, she became keenly aware of the issue of homelessness throughout Gwinnett County. Feeling the need to prepare the families for sustainable success, she was instrumental in retooling the organization’s aftercare program. It is here that she really began collecting data, researching empowerment methods and applying self-sufficiency metrics to her strategies. The data she collected was invaluable to learning what worked and what needed to change. She quickly discovered that “measuring the extent of homelessness is essential to combating it”.

“In moving families from homelessness to housing, you need to be intentional about your purpose and the desired outcomes,” said Carter. “With many facing systemic issues, it’s vital to change their thinking and provide them with learning experiences rather than ‘things.’ Most importantly, “we have to create interventions that allow individual participants to exercise choice in their approach to skill building and goals completion”. It’s vital that we meet them where they are and empower them to attain three main goals: to earn a living wage, build their credit and pay off debt. Beyond employment, career management and financial coaching , we also need to address other barriers to housing such as the lack of strong social support networks, physical and mental health and family well-being.

In her new role as Success Team Leader, Carter will be responsible for directing and managing Rainbow Village’s Success Coaches – who move families along the continuum towards self-sufficiency. She insists that – since Rainbow Village addresses the needs of the whole family – it’s critical to move every member of the family along the continuum simultaneously. Carter also has oversight of the youth afterschool program – where she intends to create connections between the students, parents and the school. Lastly, Carter is excited to tackle alumni programming – to collect data and measure results from former Rainbow Village residents in hopes of developing a more robust alumni program in the near future.

“I’ve never had resources and support before like I’m experiencing at Rainbow Village,” said Carter. “I’m no longer a ‘Lone Ranger.’ I’m part of a team dedicated to seeing that every graduate is prepared to successfully transition from this program and into market rate housing. I love that the Rainbow Village team also strives to ensure that when families are employed, it’s not just a job, but a career with room for growth. Earning a living wage is a vital part of breaking the cycle of homelessness and paving the way to a promising future. We want to help the families we serve see beyond the challenges and view the possibilities. When they embrace their ability to transform possibilities into realities, that’s a very important first step in the right direction.”

Carter is happily married with a supportive husband, a wonderful mother who lives nearby and four daughters – one of whom is an Advertising Executive in Manhattan, two in college at Elon University and one at home who loves to play soccer. She considers her family to be her greatest blessing.

Answer to a Prayer

October 22, 2019 by Michelle Alcorn

Spotlight on Rainbow Village Graduate: Carrie Chaney

Carrie Chaney was doing just fine. She had a good job, roof over her head, beautiful teenage daughter, committed boyfriend of three years and bouncing baby boy on the way. In 2009, a “perfect storm” took hold in her life, turning her whole world upside down. That same year, the economic downturn wreaked havoc on the construction industry. Her company – a construction adhesive supplier – laid her off and shuttered their doors. Over the course of the next two months, her boyfriend went from being a productive member of society to an abusive daily drug user. Not wanting to raise her children in that environment, she told her boyfriend to leave – even though that meant raising her children all on her own with nothing to live on but government assistance, food stamps, unemployment and child support checks. By 2010, she was sued by a former creditor – requiring her to declare bankruptcy. Carrie’s mother moved in with them to help alleviate some of the financial and childcare issues while Carrie returned to school to become a certified medical assistant. Unfortunately, the jobs she was able to find either paid too little or required a long commute.

By 2013, Carrie was at her wit’s end and barely staying afloat. Her former boyfriend continued to hound her – even showing up at the apartment with a gun. She filed a restraining order but remained frightened at all times. As luck would have it, her teenage daughter was able to land several scholarships and a student loan – allowing her to move on to college and a brighter future. Sadly, at home, Carrie was no longer able to cobble together enough to stay in her apartment and she wanted to get as far away from her former boyfriend and his threats as possible. She took her toddler son and moved from Rockdale County into her sister’s small home in Gwinnett County – where they slept in the only space available, a pallet on the floor of her nephew’s bedroom. Before the move, Carrie held an estate sale and sold off nearly all of her possessions. The rest she tucked away in a 5×10 storage unit or loaded into her Toyota Corolla. She soon landed a sales job making $200/week + commission – only she never saw any of the latter because she learned that she did not have an affinity for sales. Carrie recalled on numerous occasions taking her son for rides in the car to get out of her sister’s hair for a little while, and then sitting in parking lots crying and praying because she didn’t know where to go or what to do.

“I didn’t know how I was going to find a full-time job or afford childcare,” said Carrie. “I felt desperate and broken. The emotional side of what I was going through was just as big as the financial side. I was in my mid-30’s and having to start all over again. I’d never felt so helpless or hopeless before in my life.”

Little did she know, Carrie’s prayers were already being heard and answered. She learned about Rainbow Village and applied for our program. Not long after, she received a call from United Parcel Service stating that they’d come across an old application she had submitted. She was hired on in a part-time managerial role and felt as though she had won the lottery. The money was still meager, but she had benefits for the first time in a long time. She soon learned that she had been accepted into our program – where she moved into an apartment with her young son and began benefitting from our childcare program, life skills classes, counseling and sense of community. Our job placement program found a full-time position for Carrie not far from the Rainbow Village campus working at Howard Brothers in Duluth. Marking her first full-time job since 2009, she started in the summer of 2015 and has been there ever since.

“I wasn’t looking for a hand out, I needed a hand up,” insisted Carrie. “I remember praying to God in my car ‘Open the door and I will do the work to walk through it.’ Having a place to stay was a huge relief, but to have a support system to show me the way, assess my skills and place me in a job I love helped me feel as though I had finally dug my way out of a hole and could see forward progress. Rainbow Village helped me get on my feet in every way possible and never ever passed judgement.”

Carrie recalled that our life skills classes that encouraged participants to pull together vision boards, take part in mock interviews and learn how to dress for success were essential to her regaining a great deal of the confidence she had lost. Leaving Rainbow Village was bittersweet and a bit scary, but Carrie also felt the pride of striking out on her own was a powerful motivator. Today, she lives in a place of her own with her son Hayden, who continues to participate in the afterschool program at Rainbow Village’s community center.

“A lot of the people I met at Rainbow Village had a hard life from the get go as a result of generational poverty – one of the cycles the program strives to break,” said Carrie. “I enjoyed a middle-class upbringing and early adulthood, and NEVER would have dreamed that what happened to me could have ever happened. Never say never. I’ve learned that it can happen to literally anyone. I feel so blessed to have found a community that supported me – that continues to support me – at Rainbow Village. If anything good has come from all of this, I believe I have a bigger heart now and more compassion for others.”

Today, Carrie serves as a Program Alumni Representative on Rainbow Village’s Board.