Cynthia Mickens Ministries, Inc.

http://www.cynthiamickensministries.org/

The mission of Cynthia Mickens Ministries (CMM) is to “Transform Lives to Transform Communities.” We address the needs of single mothers of young children who lack safe housing and adequate income to care for themselves and their children. Several thousand of these women have the capacity to become economically self-sufficient if provided services specifically designed to achieve this outcome. Needs Addressed Housing Insecurity – To build capacity for self-sufficiency, mothers must be free of fears about their children living in unsafe neighborhoods and fear of eviction. Unfortunately, the Dallas area has a significant shortage of affordable/subsidized housing for single mothers with children.  Children at Risk – A mother's lack of personal security reduces parenting effectiveness. Many children living in poverty have witnessed or experienced trauma. As a result,  many children are behind in intellectual and social development. The COVID-19 Pandemic caused the abrupt closure of schools, thus moving to virtual learning. Children in the underserved community of Hutchins were left without computers and internet service to access virtual learning. Lack of Opportunity – Rather than lack of intelligence or capacity, most women live in poverty due to educational deficits stemming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Most have lacked an opportunity to discover/develop their inherent abilities. Food Insecurity – Families in underserved communities often lack access to foods that meet dietary guidelines for a healthy life. Statistics show children in underserved communities go hungry when school closes and during the summer. Mental Health Services – Of the estimated 440,000 Dallas County residents with a mental disorder, only 15% seek treatment. Less than one-third of children under 18 with a severe mental disturbance receive mental health services. Parents experienced additional stress due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Numerous parents lost their jobs, health insurance, and the resources to care for themselves and their families. Overnight, they had to become full-time teachers and caregivers. Programs The programs and services of CMM are fully staffed and operated by volunteers, partners, and contract laborers. All components of programs and services play a vital role in meeting the complex needs of low-income families and single mothers with young children. The Path-Way to Purpose® (PWP) Course coaches women, men, and children to discover and activate the greatness within. There are three phases of the course: Phase I – Discovery of Your Created Purpose. This 12-week curriculum is a guided study that leads each participant to discover the greatness within (i.e., personality profile and strength assessments, name meaning, etc.) and its connections to purpose. Phase II – My Life Strategic Plan is a 12-week curriculum that provides coaching to participants on how to write their life strategic plan to take them from their current status to living a purpose driving life. Phase III – Practical Tools to Starting a Business. This 12-week curriculum coach and supports individuals in creating and implementing a sustainable business model. Sessions on the different pillars of building a lasting business are part of the course. Those not inclined to start a business identify educational and training opportunities to develop high-level skills for the competitive marketplace. CMM developed relationships with business owners in the City of Hutchins to employ clients. In addition, CMM has a relationship with Cedar Valley Community College to provide educational and training linkages for women and men served by CMM. Housing Insecurity – The Path~Way to Purpose® Residential Housing for Women with Young Children – This program is a shared housing concept on CMM's campus. The model allows for one mother with up to two young children in each bedroom, and the two parents share responsibility for cooking and housekeeping. CMM requires background checks of residents, and each must pass the screening process before being accepted into the program. Extensive efforts are taken to ensure the program stays drug-free. Additional interviews are performed to ensure the women's relationships do not pose any potential threats to their safety or the safety of others. If employed, the women pay nothing; if mothers are employed, they pay up to 30% of their income, considering particular financial circumstances (i.e., healthcare and transportation, costs, etc.). This releases mothers from the burden and fear of their children living in an unsafe neighborhood, homelessness, eviction, and domestic violence. With the assurance of stable housing, mothers can focus on building their new lives. CMM envisions building 100 housing units with 20 units designated for single mothers with children on the vacant land. This allows CMM to accommodate more single mothers with children while meeting the workforce needs in the area. A long-term goal is to develop a path to homeownership for those who desire homeownership. Children at Risk – Path~Way to Purpose® For Kids and Youth Free Summer Learning and Feeding Program – The Path~Way to Purpose® free summer learning and feeding program is offered to children ages 6-14. The summer program provides coding and website development classes and reading and mathematics sessions. Through the PWP course, students discover the definition of their names, personality types, natural gifts, and talents. The City of Hutchins Fire Department provides fire safety and CPR classes. Through a partnership with Esposure, a leading gaming company, students learn the business of Esports, a form of competition using video games. Students are exposed to recycling through our Junk-Journal class. Students take items that once were considered junk during the course to create junk journals. Each student receives two hot, nutritious meals and a snack daily, along with so much more.  Lack of Opportunity – Path~Way Out of Poverty™ Asset Building – CMM developed collaborations with financial institutions and wealth-building services to tailor a course that fits each person's circumstances and earning potential. The emphasis is on when each person has determined a course toward sufficient earnings. Asset-building is introduced during the Path-Way to Purpose Course and implemented after participants establish an earnings base. Food Insecurity – Health and Wellness Programs – CMM addresses the healthy nutrition and health care needs of those it serves. CMM has a collaborative relationship with Methodist Family Clinics that ultimately may lead to establishing a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on-site. In addition, CMM helps individuals access health insurance (Medicaid) and services they are eligible for and help them find employment that provides healthcare benefits. Through collaborative relationships and program initiatives, CMM also provides education on adopting healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits. The City of Hutchins is considered a "food desert," which means the community lacks access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Through a collaborative partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, CMM provides free nutritious foods with education to clients. With the organic community garden and free summer learning and feeding camp, CMM teaches adults and kids the art, benefits, and business of farming. The gardening and culinary skills developed through the program may create paths to economic sufficiency through employment or entrepreneurial ventures. The plan is to one day have a farmers market and organic restaurant on-site to serve the Hutchins community, and CMM will employ clients. The Cynthia Mickens Ministries Organic Community Garden and Gathering Place were launched in March 2022 because of the lack of access to fresh, healthy foods. Urban agriculture is beneficial to the health and well-being of community members. The introduction of a community garden can reduce the impact of a food desert in a low-income area and allow residents greater access to nutritious food that is necessary to live a healthy life. Poor nutrition and obesity are both challenges to low-income neighborhoods. Low accessibility to nutritious foods can cause health problems for residents located in food deserts. The addition of the garden to this area may improve nutrition and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The community garden can mitigate some of the problems that plague urban neighborhoods. It can be a beneficial addition to the community by increasing the availability of nutritious foods, strengthening community ties, reducing environmental hazards, and creating a more sustainable system. The garden is needed to help reduce negative environmental impacts by promoting sustainable agriculture, reducing food transportation costs, and reducing water runoff. Humans, plants, and animals can all benefit from urban agriculture since it creates habitats and improves the area's ecology. Social ties are essential to the well-being of people in the community since they can bring positive health effects and community involvement. The community garden allows for the creation of social ties and builds a greater feeling of community. These connections help reduce crime, empower residents, and enable residents to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Mental Health Program –To address the mental health needs of parents, CMM partners with Momentous Institute to host parent support groups specifically designed to identify points of stress and practical ways to destress. The group meets weekly for a total of nine sessions.