A former rundown house in Memphis’s Orange Mound community has been transformed in the last three years to a support and learning center for some 30 women a month.
“The House” Women’s Resource Center, 3028 Carnes, is a part of the Neighborhood Christian Center and targets women in the Orange Mound community. The goal of the house is to teach women life skills that will help them excel in everyday life.
“The vision for The House was to have a Women’s Resource Center in the Orange Mound area to assist women through vocational and educational courses whereby the women could become self sufficient and empowered,” said Zachary Kerr, the NCC’s chief programs officer.
The House offers GED, sewing, cooking and gardening classes and bible studies to cater to all aspects of the women’s body, mind and spirit. Kerr said this variety of skills is offered so that women can “better support their families without relying on government assistance.”
“We are open for all ladies 18 and up to come on in The House and just find family,” said Diane Bowen, the facility’s housing placement coordinator.
Bowen has been working at The Orange Mound House almost a year. She was asked to put in an application to work at The House when she came for a couple’s retreat and said that she fell in love with the facility.
“Seeing the people transform from not caring and not smiling and when they come here they feel joyful, they look joyful, it uplifts my spirit,” said Bowen.
LaShall McClain, an intern for The Orange Mound House, has been working there since January. She is an alum of the University of Memphis and was raised in the Orange Mound community.
“One of my goals was to just be investing back in to Orange Mound, which is where I’m from,” said McClain.
McClain said that she enjoys working at The House because participants accept her for who she is and she is able to experience God in another way, working through the women there.
Deborah Chalmers has been coming to The House since last June. She spends most of her time gardening and sewing, but she also enjoys the cooking classes and bible study. She took interest in the house 2012 when they started remodeling it, because she said families would move into the house but they wouldn’t stay long.
“The House” Women’s Resource Center, 3028 Carnes, is a part of the Neighborhood Christian Center and targets women in the Orange Mound community. The goal of the house is to teach women life skills that will help them excel in everyday life.
“The vision for The House was to have a Women’s Resource Center in the Orange Mound area to assist women through vocational and educational courses whereby the women could become self sufficient and empowered,” said Zachary Kerr, the NCC’s chief programs officer.
The House offers GED, sewing, cooking and gardening classes and bible studies to cater to all aspects of the women’s body, mind and spirit. Kerr said this variety of skills is offered so that women can “better support their families without relying on government assistance.”
“We are open for all ladies 18 and up to come on in The House and just find family,” said Diane Bowen, the facility’s housing placement coordinator.
Bowen has been working at The Orange Mound House almost a year. She was asked to put in an application to work at The House when she came for a couple’s retreat and said that she fell in love with the facility.
“Seeing the people transform from not caring and not smiling and when they come here they feel joyful, they look joyful, it uplifts my spirit,” said Bowen.
LaShall McClain, an intern for The Orange Mound House, has been working there since January. She is an alum of the University of Memphis and was raised in the Orange Mound community.
“One of my goals was to just be investing back in to Orange Mound, which is where I’m from,” said McClain.
McClain said that she enjoys working at The House because participants accept her for who she is and she is able to experience God in another way, working through the women there.
Deborah Chalmers has been coming to The House since last June. She spends most of her time gardening and sewing, but she also enjoys the cooking classes and bible study. She took interest in the house 2012 when they started remodeling it, because she said families would move into the house but they wouldn’t stay long.
She was dealing with an illness that caused her to have to learn how to walk again when she got involved with the house.
“When you isolate yourself and you have an illness, you really don’t know who to turn to or what to do,” said Chalmers.
She turned to The House for support.
“I got to meet a lot of friends and a lot of people that loved me,” said Chalmers.
The ladies of The House want it to be a place where women can come together in a safe environment and realize that they are important.
“I love coming here Monday through Friday. Like, if I don’t come, I miss something,” said Chalmers.
Kerr said The House is located in Orange Mound because the area is rich in history and has close neighbors that generally own their homes.
“Orange Mound is the first city in the U.S. built by African Americans and NCC is committed to being a part of both the physical and social revitalization of the area,” said Kerr.
She turned to The House for support.
“I got to meet a lot of friends and a lot of people that loved me,” said Chalmers.
The ladies of The House want it to be a place where women can come together in a safe environment and realize that they are important.
“I love coming here Monday through Friday. Like, if I don’t come, I miss something,” said Chalmers.
Kerr said The House is located in Orange Mound because the area is rich in history and has close neighbors that generally own their homes.
“Orange Mound is the first city in the U.S. built by African Americans and NCC is committed to being a part of both the physical and social revitalization of the area,” said Kerr.