Project Transformation renews partnership with Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer

Project Transformation Tennessee, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that served more than 200 children and youth last summer in Davidson, Montgomery, Rutherford and Shelby Counties, is pleased to renew its partnership with Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer beginning in 2022.

Every Monday through Thursday from June 6 to July 29, Project Transformation will operate a free, holistic enrichment program at Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer, located at 6200 Robertson Avenue, Nashville. The site will serve up to 40 elementary and middle school children and will be staffed by five college-age young adults.

Project Transformation originally began its partnership with Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer in 2011 when it was gathering as part of Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church in West Nashville. The partnership paused in 2018 when Sixty-First Avenue United Methodist Church closed forcing Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer to begin the process of identifying a new location to gather.

“Our congregation is excited to partner with Project Transformation” says The Reverend Myriam Cortes, Pastor of Iglesia Metodista Unida Ebenezer. “We look forward to the bright light and smiles PT interns bring into our community caring for each child.”

Literacy is a key component of Project Transformation’s programming, including an extensive children’s library and daily one-on-one reading time with each child by a community volunteer.

Beyond the reading component, participating children will engage in creative arts, recreation, and other enrichment activities that build social and emotional skills. The young adults, who will live on the campus of Belmont University, grow as well through weekly exposure to leadership development and vocational ministry opportunities.

Project Transformation Tennessee launched in 2012 in Nashville and has served more than 4,000 children — 98 percent of which have increased their reading level as a result of the program.

In addition to the West Nashville location, Project Transformation will operate six other program sites in Nashville at Antioch United Methodist Church and Matthews Memorial United Methodist Church, in Murfreesboro at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Smyrna at First United Methodist Church, in Clarksville at New Providence United Methodist Church, and in Memphis at Centenary United Methodist Church. Leading these programs will be 50 young adults with the support of more than 1,000 community volunteers.

The mission of Project Transformation is to transform communities through engaging children, college-age young adults, and churches in purposeful relationships.  

To learn more about Project Transformation, visit pttennessee.org or call (615) 810-9620.