common ground montgomery news and updates

board names justin hampton as new executive director

Common Ground Montgomery (CGM), a youth and community development ministry in Montgomery, Alabama, today announced that Justin Hampton was selected as the executive director by the board of directors, effective July 10, 2017. Hampton succeeds CGM founder Bryan Kelly as executive director. Kelly remains on staff, teaching and mentoring, as well as continuing to develop networking and donor relations for CGM's Montgomery efforts and beyond.

Of his new role, Hampton said: "I can think of no greater pursuit than leading the Washington Park focused efforts of CGM. It’s where I played my youth football. It’s where I graduated from high school (St. Jude). It’s where I attended church services as a child. It’s where my mother and her eight siblings were raised. Its love is deeply rooted in my heart and its success in this season is my calling."

"We believe God is shaping our organization towards expanded and deeper impact where we are in the Washington Park community, but also towards growth into other Montgomery areas and beyond," said Kelly. "By expanding our leadership team, we will be able to pivot our organization and grow our impact towards replication and training other leaders to do transformative works in other areas of poverty."

Hampton, a graduate of Tuskegee University, worked with CGM for five years before leaving to get his Master's Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Prior to returning back to Montgomery, Hampton lived in Washington, D.C., and worked as a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton.

CGM is a youth and community development ministry, whose programs include an after school program, summer camp, college internship program, and student mentoring. It was started in 2006 to serve the Washington Park and Gibbs Village community of west Montgomery.

pre-k still has space

Common Ground Montgomery's Pre-K is still accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year. Enrollment is open to all children who will be four years old by September 1, 2017, and who live in Alabama.  

You can register two ways:
1) On your own at http://alpreK.education/A  (use site code: 688464)
2) Go to the main CGM Building at 1516 Mobile Road in west Montgomery, Monday-Friday from noon - 5:00 PM. We will have a computer available that you can use to register online.

The Pre-K is free, and snacks, breakfast, and lunch are provided by us.

mercy fund request for zykel johnson's family

zykel johnson.jpg

Will you please consider helping a hurting family? We at CGM truly believe that we are called to walk with the families of our neighborhood in some of their darkest times. But we can't do this without your help.

This beautiful boy, named Zykel Johnson, went to heaven on April 15. The cause was SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). No parent ever wants to plan the funeral of their child. To assist with the costs, you can do so at www.cgm.life/donate. Place Zykel's name in the notes section so we can direct the funds.

We thank you on behalf of the family.
 


UPDATE:

The funeral has been paid for. From CGM founder Bryan Kelly -

"I am in awe as nine people responded tonight to a simple Facebook "friend" post and paid for the funeral of an infant in our neighborhood.... for a family they have never met.

I have heard thousands of sermons and remember few.

Seeing you all sacrifice so a grieving mother can bury her child and experience the love of Jesus in the provision from "strangers" is the loudest picture of the kingdom of God and a sermon I will never forget.

Thank you for giving me hope, strengthening my faith, and loving a family who has now rallied to God in trust and His love.

In a stream of fight videos, mean and hateful shots at others, political nothingness, and personal boasting..... your example has caused me to want to see one more day in hope of resurrection."

Thank you to all who prayed, to all who gave, and to all of you who love our community and staff and continue to "show up" as ambassadors of our great and mighty risen King.