Tuesday, Santa Rosa County Bridges out of Poverty and Men in Action Outreach received recognition and a $2,500 award from Gulf Power. The two groups were the Santa Rosa County recipients of the fourth annual Power of Service award from GP along with the Health and Hope Clinic and the Town of Century for Escambia County. “When selecting Power of Service recipients, we look for organizations that may fly under the radar screen and aren’t as well known as many others in the community,” said Gulf Power President and CEO Stan Connally. “The recipients this year provide services that are specifically tailored to the needs of our communities, and we want to not only recognize and celebrate this, but help them further enhance their programs.”
Bridges out of Poverty
The mission of Santa Rosa Bridges out of Poverty is to enhance lives in the county by building bridges to prosperity. Established in 2012, the non-profit organization is comprised of citizens representing K-12 public and post-secondary education, health care, faith groups, business, government, criminal justice, and service providers under Dr. Karen Barber with the SRC school district.
Connally said, "Dr. Karen Barber's vision for improving the educational and professional outcomes for individuals led her to bring this nationally recognized program to Santa Rosa County. The program teaches families to move out of poverty and build sustainable lives through education, mentoring and positive reinforcement.”“It’s thrilling to get recognition from Gulf Power,” Barber said. “I think that recognition continues to strengthen our credibility.” She said she hopes other organizations will see this recognition and Bridges’ track record and want to be a part as well.
Only in the organization’s third year, Barber said Bridges is currently holding its fifth Getting Ahead class, a 15-week course helping individuals in poverty gain the resources they need to help build a more prosperous life.
The money attached to the award, Barber said, will go towards funding class number six. The childcare and meals during the GA classes are all voluntary so the money will in part go to the participants directly through the stipends, Barber said. “Every little bit helps. (Some participants have) trouble getting food on table. It’s a big confidence builder. When participants show up, I'm writing their checks. We give them $30 every two sessions. One participant said to me, ‘You're going to pay us to learn?’”
Barber said she also appreciated being in the same company as the other three organizations. “The whole ceremony was really invigorating…You kind of get
inspired by hearing what others are doing to be of service in the community.”
Two items on Bridges’ radar right now, according to Barber, are mentorship and public transportation. “One thing we really need are for people to step up and be mentors,” she said. Mentors are community members who support the Getting Ahead graduates so they can continue to build their resources according to Barber.
Barber said Bridges is also working toward improving the resource of transportation, namely reestablishing public transportation. March 24 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Public Works building transportation providers and community members will meet to discuss the area’s transportation needs. “Commissioners are watching this, and seeing momentum build.” She added a faith-based ecumenical response is in the works to meet transportation needs as well.
Men in Action
Connally said, “This group recognized the need to provide positive male role models and influence in the lives of young men in Santa Rosa County. Through their dedicated outreach, these young men are doing better in school, and volunteering in the community. The impacts on these lives will make for a stronger community."Morris Smith, president of Men in Action Outreach, Inc. said, “I was honored but shocked so soon as far as recognition and support from the community. It's such a blessing to have people and a company such as Gulf Power to support you in this form and fashion, especially with a grassroots organization that uses things as carwashes and raffles to generate funds. To have them support us is amazing.”
While Bridges is young, MIA has been around an even shorter amount of time. Smith said, “My wife keeps saying it’s just been two years…God has been so good, we’re not even ready for Him half the time.”
Smith was appreciative of GP’s consideration. “That's something I appreciate about Gulf Power. They're servicing this community (in a way) that most electric companies don't. Sitting in the office with CEOs and executives from very different companies, one of the mentors who went, he couldn't stop smiling. He kept repeating how happy he was to be there. Some mentors and volunteers were overwhelmed. We just got $2,500. We work hard for our money so when we get a blessing like this, it’s overwhelming.”
The monetary award, Smith said, will go toward something fun for the whole organization since everything on the calendar this year has been budgeted, he said. “This money is a blessing and opportunity to expose these kids to something they haven’t seen,” he said.
The growth he’s seen in the MIA youth, Smith said, is in their self esteem, attitude, and grades. Self confidence is one of the biggest areas he said they try to improve. “These kids come in and they light up now. Some who came to few events now are at everything. I just got a message on Facebook (from a youth) asking for another mentor’s phone number. Eleven to thirteen-year-olds are not just going to open up. They’re way more confident than what they were, way more outgoing.” He also said, “We hear from parents their attitude has changed tremendously.” Lastly, he said MIA does check grades and he’s seen improvement there as well.
With school tours, a NAS Whiting Field tour, a Manners & Respect Workshop, and community service activities coming up, the MIA youth have a lot in their immediate future. They’re also looking beyond. Smith said, “There’s always conversation about life after high school. We’re here to prepare for life after high school.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Helping the young and broke