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SB NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT: CASA

SB Magazine — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:09:49 +0000

Volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) dedicate their time and effort to being the voice for children in the foster care system.

Cathy and Ralph Tomlinson are part of Volunteers for Youth Justice’s CASA team. Ralph Tomlinson joined the team in 2017, shortly after retiring from working in the oil and gas industry for 35 years. His wife Cathy followed in 2021, soon after retiring as a registered nurse. She was compelled by Ralph’s stories of having had a positive influence on several children’s lives.

Ralph has advocated on behalf of 15 children in five different court cases, while Cathy has advocated for five children in three. They are both strong advocates who work endlessly to make a difference for each child assigned to them. Theirs is the kind of dedication that has led them to travel without hesitation, even as far as places like Natchitoches and Sulphur, to meet personally with their child, seeking to connect and build trust with them. The couple have been a great asset to the CASA team taking pride in their work, ensuring safety and permanency for a child in foster care.

1.What inspires you about Volunteers for Youth Justice’s mission?

It’s inspiring to see how many children’s lives VYJ has been able to impact. The obvious part is that we see change and make a difference in each individual child’s life. But we also help improve the trajectory of not only that child’s life but that of their own children and countless other lives that he or she will have the chance to impact.

We get a chance to speak and help and advocate for children who are abused and neglected, children who are definitely in need. I think we just want to be part of the change to help each child get to live in a better situation. These are children that the Department of Child and Family Services has removed from their home, and judges have to make decisions about a given child’s placement. As advocates, we speak with the child at least monthly and otherwise interact with everyone involved in the child’s life, whether it is foster parents, therapists, doctors, or teachers, in order to help inform judges’ decisions. As CASAs, we have been appointed by the court and have access to gain whatever insight is important in order to make our recommendations according to what we learn.

2. In what ways do you personally gain purpose from the work you do for VYJ?

Cathy: As I have spent time with these children, I’ve felt fulfilled from the chance to be a positive and stable influence. It is rewarding to help these children realize that their feelings are important and that we are there to listen to them and help them to help their voices be heard. Spiritually, it gives us the chance to grow in our prayer life, asking for wisdom as we make our recommendations and asking for positive change for the child and their family.

Ralph: It gives me a sense of self-worth to have a case that clearly has turned out for everyone’s good. The reality is that doesn’t happen every time, and so there also are times of frustration. Yet, even then, I know the situation quite possibly would have had some less fortunate outcome had I not been involved. Until I became involved in this work, I didn’t have a good grasp of just how many children experience circumstances that require removal from their parent’s care and how deeply stressful and painful it can be for them. I see how even when I only can help in the smallest of ways, it often has significant benefits to my child’s quality of life.

3. What are some shorter- and longer-term goals that keep you passionate and motivated to continue working with them?

Volunteers for Youth Justice has initiated and maintains so many different programs that are so important for children who are having to grow up under difficult circumstances, and CASA is just one of those. So, it is easy to be passionate about an organization that is so intensely interested in intervening in whatever ways can possibly help those children enjoy better stability and develop into adults prepared to break any negative cycles for their own families. And specific to our work as CASAs, VYJ is so good about providing educational opportunities and a whole variety of resources. The support we receive from Kelli and the entire staff is exceptional. We feel motivated because of that and also because we see how real the need is for adults just like us to fill the void for these children. So, in the short term, we not only want to continue doing what we can, but we want to help attract even more compassionate, qualified adult volunteers to carve out time to be trained and to help. In the longer term, we know there will continue to be multiple ways, even beyond CASA, that we can benefit children facing difficult conditions, and so we expect to be making a difference for years to come.

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NON-PROFIT SPOT LIGHT: MLK HEALTH CENTER & PHARMACY

SB Magazine — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:00:03 +0000

It is said that not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear scrubs.

Hurricane Rita made landfall in September 2005. Roads were filled with debris. Many parts of Shreveport lost power for days, including MLK Health Center & Pharmacy.

Fortunately, MLK Health’s backup generator kicked on, enabling their community pharmacy to be functional. Together, MLK Health’s executive director, their pharmacy team, and a devoted volunteer, Dr. Philip Kinnebrew, worked through that crisis, determined to continue providing their patients with uninterrupted access to their vital medications.

Dr. Kinnebrew joined MLK Health Center & Pharmacy’s volunteer provider team the previous year and has been providing exceptional care to patients ever since.

According to Jordan Ring Scroggs, Executive Director, “He arrives on Saturday mornings around 7:45 (or a little earlier during the fall, if his beloved Tigers have an especially early kickoff), ready to see his patients. Dr. Kinnebrew’s people-focused approach to care creates the feeling for each one of his patients that he or she is his most important patient. He listens, and works hand-in-hand with each one to build a plan to help them live their healthiest lives.”

Sue Walden, MLK Patient Advocate, added “We are the ones blessed to have Dr. Kinnebrew on our team.”

What inspires you about MLKHC and its mission?

“I have long been inspired by the MLK Health Center and its mission. For many years, I have volunteered my time and resources to help uninsured patients in our community, most of which would not otherwise be able to receive the care that they so desperately need. MLKHC has made this possible for many individuals in our area. Also, because the clinic has its own in-house pharmacy, patients are able to receive necessary medications that they might not otherwise be able to afford. It is our mission at MLKHC to help uninsured adult patients struggling with various chronic diseases. We provide no-cost primary health care, including doctor visits, lab work, pharmacy services, and patient education. I am continually encouraged and motivated by our entire staff as they generously and compassionately fulfill this mission.”

How do you personally gain purpose from the work you perform for the cause?

“Offering my services to the patients at MLKHC always has been personally rewarding to me. Interacting with all of the individuals I meet there is very special. I have gotten to know so many patients personally over the years, and participating in their care has enriched my life tremendously. Working alongside the wonderful and caring staff has given me great satisfaction and pleasure. I believe in a small way I have been able to give back to our local community in a fulfilling manner. When I decided at a fairly young age that I wanted to become a physician, I knew that I wanted to choose a profession that would allow me to help others, especially those who, due to special circumstances, were unable to help themselves. Being involved with the MLK Health Center has helped me achieve that goal and with great personal satisfaction.”

What are some shorter- and longer-term goals of the organization that keep you passionate and motivated to continue working with them?

“Our goal at MLKHC is to continue to serve our community as we have for the past 40 years, providing health care to those who are in need but unable to afford it elsewhere. We are working hard to ever increase our capacity to do more, adding partners who are willing to invest in the health and welfare of those in our community. The goal will continue to be to serve compassionately those in need for the next 40 years and beyond. These goals help me to remain committed and passionate to the cause and keep me motivated to continue to do what I can to help. I plan to continue to dedicate my time and effort to helping MLKHC to grow and provide the community with quality and affordable care.”

W. Philip Kinnebrew, M.D.

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Literacy Volunteers at Centenary College

SB Magazine — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:17:54 +0000

By Ursula Brantley

Illiteracy among adults in America is a tragic reality that affects thousands of individuals and families. Studies done by the National Literacy Institute show that around 54% of adults in the United States read below a 6th-grade level and around 21% are illiterate. In Northwest Louisiana, around 1 in every 4 people are functionally illiterate. Since the mid-1980s, Literacy Volunteers at Centenary College have been dedicated to fighting the battle against functional illiteracy in northwest Louisiana. LVCC Executive Director Patrick Quick began volunteering with LVCC in 2021 and officially accepted the Executive Director offer from the board of directors in July 2023. “The idea of tutoring may sound a little daunting, but it’s not. My first student was a Basic Literacy learner. With online tools, student workbooks, a little bravery, and a strong sense of humor, my students and I have had wonderful times together. It’s rewarding for teachers and students,” says Quick.

Formerly Literacy Volunteers of America, LVCC stands by their mission: teaching literacy; bringing hope; changing lives. When the organization initially opened its doors, it only offered Basic Literacy. They’ve since grown to add programs such as Pre-HiSET (GED) Learning, English as a Second Language, and Spoken English Learning as the need presented itself. Students are tutored one on one or in small groups by volunteers from Centenary and the surrounding areas. Quick explains, “Literacy is the closest we come to true magic. It unlocks individual potential in terms of improved personal satisfaction, family life, work opportunities, the standard of living, and so much more”. The number of tutors at LVCC varies depending on the time of year, student demand, and tutor availability. For example, there were 12 active tutors during this past school year and eight this summer.

When COVID hit, LVCC took some blows like several other organizations. Programs like US Citizenship assistance, Health Literacy Learning, Digital Literacy, and Safety Learning came to a halt due to limits on on-site classes. Quick explains, “These program offerings will be re-enlivened as student demand and tutor availability increases. ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Learning is on the table, too. The ASVAB test measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in military training. LVCC’s goal will be to prepare young men and women for the ASVAB test to broaden their options for military specialty positions.”

Although COVID was a cause for adjustment, there was some light that came from the darkness. Zoom classes were offered to students during the pandemic and continued even after the world began to open back up. “If necessity is the mother of invention, then adversity must surely be the father of reinvention. (Johnny Flora) held true for both LVCC and ProLiteracy America, of whom we are an affiliate,” says Quick. He went on to say, “Our LVCC tutors decided out of necessity that they would not abandon their students to the COVID unpleasantness. Several of our long-time loyal tutors reinvented their tutoring style to accommodate their students with Zoom learning. As a result, they can successfully tutor anyone, anywhere, even in other nations. We can do so locally, as well”.

LVCC has begun to partner with various organizations, such as Providence House and Heart of Hope, to assist more adults that need their services. LVCC shares its ProLiteracy print and digital curriculum in exchange for teaching knowledge and potential tutoring opportunities to further its reach. LVCC also works with BPCC College Transition Program by providing access to their Basic Literacy programs in exchange for access to state-approved literacy skills assessments and admission to their Transition Program for LVCC students. LVCC is currently recruiting tutors and volunteer mentors/cheerleaders in anticipation of student demand in September, especially for their new online Pre-HiSET (GED) students. Those who are interested in experiencing the fun and gratification of tutoring and volunteering are encouraged to contact LVCC offices by email, literacyvolunteers837@gmail.com, or by phone, 318-869-2411.

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The Fuller Center for Housing

SB Magazine — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:40:53 +0000

By Ursula Brantley

Being able to wake up in a safe place of your own that’s decent, and not being forced to live in poverty or as one of America’s working poor is a privilege that countless individuals and families take for granted. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 7,373 people were experiencing homelessness in Louisiana in January 2022, and an estimated 16.8% of them were unsheltered. Since 2005, The Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana has done their due diligence to battle homelessness in NWLA. The faith-based nonprofit’s mission is to build decent and affordable homes for working families that cannot afford a home through traditional means while keeping founder Millard Fuller’s vision of building communities and empowering people through homeownership alive.

The Fuller Center for Housing came about in 2005 after Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity, had disagreements with the board of directors of Habitat. Fuller believed that affiliates should not accept government funding, but the board of directors disagreed. He believed that every community should have the capability to support the construction of decent, affordable homes in their community. The board ended up firing its CEO, but Fuller still had a desire to serve the community by building homes for those in need. Fuller made the decision, along with his wife Linda, to change the name and start a new organization. Headquarters were set up in Americus, GA and the NWLA chapter was the first under the new flagship. Today, there are 75 affiliates across the United States, some of which are former Habitat affiliates that knew Millard, loved his vision, and wanted to continue with The Fuller Center. FCHNWLA Executive Director Lee Jeter began volunteering when the first homes were built in 2005 in the Allendale neighborhood. Since becoming Executive Director in 2009, he has worked tirelessly to be a catalyst for change in the SBC area. “What I like about the Fuller Center model is it allows the communities to determine how they want to proceed, whether they want to do rehab projects, whether they want to do new construction, whether they want to do a mixture of both. It’s really based upon the needs of your community and your local capacity. All the money that’s raised for Fuller House NWLA, is raised locally in our community, so we want to keep that money in our community,” says Jeter.

The Fuller Center has 61 established properties in the SBC area and 3 currently under construction in the Stoner Hill neighborhood. Their goal is to build 2-4 homes per year. Each client must complete first time homebuyers’ classes, credit/financial counseling, a certain number of sweat equity hours, and save 1/3 of their closing cost before they can move into their new home. Following that, all homeowners are required to do 52 hours of sweat equity a year. Most Fuller Center homes are in the Allendale and Stoner Hill neighborhoods though they would like to reach as many neighborhoods in the SBC as they can. Jeter explains, “We don’t spend money buying land so wherever we can get property donated is where we will build. We don’t want just one or two lots. We want 10-20 lots. We want to lift up the entire community and it’s difficult to do that with only one or two houses. Our vision in the Cedar Grove area was to build 20 houses in that community, but we’ve only been able to build two on the properties that were donated to us by the Catholic Diocese and Catholic Charities. The vision is to build in Cedar Grove, Queensborough, and the Martin Luther King area in a similar way to what we’ve done in the Allendale and Stoner Hill communities, and what we’re trying to do in Bossier”. The Stoner Hill area is currently where most of the homes for veterans are located. In 2013, Grammy-winner John Mayer contributed his time to help build a veteran’s home in Stoner Hill. The funds for that home were donated by Pink Floyd member Roger Waters.

FCHNWLA doesn’t begin construction of a home until they have the exact amount of budgeted money needed to build that home so that subcontractors are able to be paid within 48 hours of completing their work and passing the necessary inspections. Being that 100% of all donations go towards the construction of new homes, homeowners are paying it forward when they pay their monthly mortgages. That means 75% of their mortgage payments help cover FCHNWLA administrative costs that aren’t taken out upfront and 25% goes into new construction. Jeter explains, “My staff is very, very small, we have a staff of three. We try to keep our administrative costs less than 20%. Ideally, we want our administrative costs to run our programs to be somewhere between 13% and 15%, no higher than that because we really want to focus on the core mission of building homes.” He goes on to say, “We don’t spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising. Those dollars go to build houses. We will use whatever free services that we can get from our media. When construction costs go up, like what has happened over the last ten years, houses that we were building for $85,000 are now costing $100,000. That’s a $20,000 gap.”

To help fill that gap The Fuller Center operates their Surplus Store. Materials are donated by individuals and businesses and the Surplus Store sells those gently used and sometimes new construction items at a significantly lower price than you’d find in a typical hardware store. All proceeds from the Surplus Store go towards filling the administrative cost gap. When asked about the surplus store, Jeter replied, “If it’s brand new, then we will take it and use it in the construction of a new home. We’re never going to put anything used in a new home. If it’s something that’s been slightly used, we’re going to sell it to individuals that are trying to fix up their property. These are individuals that may own rental properties or individuals that may own an older home and they’re on a limited income, so they don’t have the financial resources to fix their home. They know they can come here and buy stuff at a price that’s affordable for them. That’s going to help them maintain their current home, but also is going to help us build future homes. It saves those items from going to the landfill and it reduces landfill waste. We like to look at it as we’re recycling, reducing, and reusing”. To become a Fuller Center client, an individual can go online and print an application or stop by their offices on Linwood Avenue and pick up an application. Churches, individuals, and organizations are always encouraged to volunteer their time or make monetary contributions of any amount to help uplift those in our area that so desperately need it.

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