2019 march update: spring break

Spring Break!

Dear CGM friends and family,

 Our students just got back from Spring Break. Even though our office was closed for the week, that didn't mean staff weren't out spending time with our students. We took high school students that were on the A/B honor roll to Orange Beach for the week. One young woman saw the beach for the first time in her life. Another student found the joy of humility while being schooled on the basketball court (to his chagrin, by shorter, older women). He also discovered the sensitivity of the body when you put it in motion in an amusement park ride (he was so confident at first, and so sick with nausea afterward!).

Locally, staffers took small groups to places like Rockin' Jump; they had sleepovers and swimming pool events and went out to eat. One young woman spent 8 hours dress shopping with one of our staff. Some middle school boys got to attend a civil rights celebration breakfast presented by national Greek-letter fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

We had all these interactions and more on a week when the office was closed... And we couldn't be here doing any of this without your support. You provide us the means to help change the landscape of Montgomery and beyond. Not because you help us beat the odds for these students, but because you help in CHANGING THE ODDS for the students in our community.

Thank you for your continued support, whether financially or in volunteering, and your earnest prayers. Though the pendulum of life swings often between valleys of tears and mountain tops of laughter, our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ continues, and in no small part to your faithfulness towards us.

Summer Camp is soon upon us! 

The 2019 Summer Camp is coming up and we are expecting many children in attendance. For over eight weeks we will be able to invest wholeheartedly in these children. Our staff and interns will be able to work on academics with them, share the gospel through bible studies, build lasting relationships, and honestly just HAVE FUN some days!

CGM's Summer Camp is vital in keeping so many children off the streets and among the influence of positive role models like our staff and college interns. Without the structure, stability, and loving influence provided in the Summer Camp, many of the children would be on their own throughout the day and left to occupy and fend for themselves.

The cost of a child attending our camp is $500.

Would you consider donating to our Summer Camp Program? Click the Donate Now button below and select Summer Camp as the fund to apply your donation towards.

2018 end of the year letter

Bryan Kelly, Founder and Executive Director

I am deeply grateful to report that 2018 has been a great year at Common Ground Montgomery. We understand that there are so many wonderful nonprofits that are worthy of your investment, but we are thankful you have chosen us. Your support allows us to transform lives, families, and our community.

Over this past year, while I focused on expanding our efforts to other areas beyond Montgomery’s westside, Justin Hampton served as our local director and worked to make us more effective in our mission.

Recently, he felt a calling to devote his efforts towards the renewal of Montgomery’s Public School system. We are extremely grateful to Justin and look forward to seeing his future impact on our kids’ educational development as he works with the Montgomery Education Foundation. I have stepped back into the executive director role and I am excited to see God continue to use us for the transformation of our city.

This last year we established a new sending and training mechanism, Common Ground Alabama, in Birmingham. We helped establish our first plant, Common Ground Shoals, that is now seeing wonderful things happen in Florence, Alabama. We are on the verge of helping start a new kids camp in Montgomery’s southside (Camp Tenetke). This endeavor will not only provide an affordable camp and developmental experience for underprivileged youth, but will also focus on bringing kids together from all walks of life. Additionally, the Mercy House officially launched in October (as its own 501(c)3 non-profit) to help meet the needs of many through a daily presence that helps homeless families, latch key kids, and families struggling to make ends meet.

We are continuing to see the grace of God shared and shown in our midst, and that’s why I’ve included Quanda’s story from how she went from a parent with kids in our program to working at CGM.

Your giving has allowed us to put full-time people in a distressed community who continually show up and are present in a chaotic context. As Quanda has expressed so well, God loves to be present to us through people. He is using your generosity to show His love.

We are beyond thankful for your love and support because we couldn’t be here without it. Would you please consider a year-end gift and commit to a recurring monthly donation in 2019? Thank your for your prayerful consideration to help change Montgomery and beyond!

march 2018 newsletter is out

Check your emails for CGM's latest newsletter, which features our 2017 Year in Numbers, some info about the Mercy House, and an article by executive director Justin Hampton.

For a PDF version, you can click here: CGM March 2018 Newsletter

from after school program to leadership development program

Executive Director Justin Hampton shares why we changed the name and focus of our After School Program to Leadership Development Program.

leadership (after school) program applications

If you want to enroll your child in CGM's new after-school program, the Leadership Program, you can stop by the main office Monday, August 14th through Friday, August 18th to pick up an application. Both the priority list (returning students) and secondary list (students that live in our zone of operation) for students is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The name "Leadership Program" is not a name change only from the former After School Program, as there have been several changes. A mandatory meeting for parents of students accepted into the program will be held at CGM's main building (1516 Mobile Road) on August 25th at 6:00 PM - failure to attend will result in your child's application being withdrawn.

For a PDF version of the application, or to start an online reservation (which is a partial application that time stamps your start of the application process) visit the program page: http://cgm.life/leadership-program/