Project Transformation
Project Transformation is a nonprofit, Christian organization serving communities in Dallas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Project Transformation provides two primary services: (1) Socially conscious leadership training and ministry exploration for college-aged interns; and (2) Academic, health, spiritual, and recreational programming for children and youth.
Project Transformation provides the first service by offering young adults who are interested in service and ministry a one-year internship during our after-school program or a ten-week internship during the summer months. During the internships, young adults participate in ongoing training and service opportunities, live in community with their peers, and take part in regular meetings with community and church leaders to explore different careers in ministry and service.
The interns, in turn, plan and provide the academic, spiritual, and enrichment programs for children and youth, including after-school programs, summer day camps, mountain biking excursions, and an overnight camping experience. Components of Project Transformation's programs include one-on-one reading enrichment, arts and crafts, nutritious meals, and interaction with the young adults interns who encourage students to stay in school and attend college.
Project Transformation in Dallas is an AmeriCorps agency, with the 100 annual interns serving as AmeriCorps members.
Mission
The mission of Project Transformation is to engage young adults in purposeful leadership and ministry, to support underserved children and families, and to connect churches to communities in need.
Vision
The vision of Project Transformation is to be a respected national model of service and ministry through which leaders emerge, communities change, and lives transform.
Core Values
In all that we do, Project Transformation will:
- Encourage young adults to discover their God-given purpose;
- Value the gifts and ideas of young adults;
- Exemplify servant leadership;
- Expect excellence;
- Embody Jesus' example of integrity, respect, and compassion;
- Create and strengthen meaninful relationships;
- Be faithful stewards; and
- Uphold the Wesleyan heritage of the United Methodist Church.
History
Project Transformation was founded in 1998 by Sarah Wilke and Dr. Leighton K. Farrell, two leaders of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. They recognized several challenges facing the conference at the time: the impending shortage of young leadership in the church, the need to connect churches together to help revitalize struggling urban congregations, and a way for United Methodist-related institutions to collaborate more effectively. Over lunch one day, they sketched out an idea on a napkin of how one program could address all of these challenges. Several months later, they launched Project Transformation with financial and in-kind support from the annual conference and key partners, such as Texas Methodist Foundation, Southern Methodist University, and Perkins School of Theology. Several Dallas-area churches, Sunday School classes, and United Methodist Women’s groups provided stipends for interns, children’s books and supplies, and volunteers to read one-on-one with the children.
The first summer began with 22 college interns serving at five urban site church locations, providing a summer day camp for 250 underserved children. Today, Project Transformation - Dallas is serving at nine site churches, with 100 college interns providing after-school and summer programs for approximately 1,000 children and youth, grades 1-12, annually. Project Transformation connects over 90 partner churches and 1,500 volunteers within the North Texas community to serve the organization. Project Transformation has also expanded through a strategic replication plan and now operates two additional chapters in Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Locations
External Links
References
External Links
- Project Transformation Website
- Project Transformation on the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church Site