Partnerships Take Service to the Next Level
Reposted from Alabama Cooperative Extension System blog
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY, Ala. — The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has a long history of forming community partnerships. That is why ELI Thrive, a nonprofit organization in Birmingham, Alabama, did not have to look far to find a partner with a desire to serve people.
Myron Thomas, the chief operating officer of ELI Thrive, said he first heard about Alabama Extension when his organization desired to improve its internal entrepreneurial program.
“Our workforce development coach was attending a job fair, and in connecting with some other organizations, she found out that Alabama Extension provided resources regarding an entrepreneurial program,” Thomas said. “We started conversations and established a partnership to form the Birmingham Community Incubator (BCI), which we have been doing for about two years.”
The Appeal of Alabama Extension
The Incubator project has been a huge success, quadrupling the number of program participants and the reach of ELI Thrive across Birmingham.
“What appealed to us was the quality of the content at Alabama Extension, as well as the desire to serve clients,” Thomas said. “That was a desire we also had, so if we could align two or three organizations around that same like-minded ability to serve our clients, then we knew that the sky would be the limit.”
Following the success of the BCI, ELI Thrive partnered with Extension again to offer Financial Literacy in Progress.
“We used to serve about five clientele with our financial literacy program, but we have now moved to serving anywhere from 20 to 25 people,” Thomas said. “We give that credit to the partnership with Alabama Extension.”
Program Impacts
ELI Thrive has received encouraging comments from some of its clients regarding these programs, such as the following:
“This is one of Birmingham’s best-kept secrets.”
“The information you provide is a wealth of knowledge.”
“I feel supported and it’s helping me to build confidence not only with my budget but also with my business.”
“These programs have helped our clients to prepare for and obtain home ownership,” Thomas said. “These programs have helped our clients to start and sustain their businesses, and this has brought a level of financial stability to their households.”
Why Partner with Alabama Extension?
Thomas did not hesitate to share what he would say to other community leaders about partnering with Alabama Extension.
“If you are thinking about partnering with Alabama Extension, please give them a try,” he said. “Their products and services are highly effective. What we have found is that they are truly getting results from the clients that we serve. My personal take on Alabama Extension is that it is a highly reputable organization you can trust. You can trust that they partner in what they say they will do—they deliver and produce results.”
Alabama Extension staff know that partnering with organizations like ELI Thrive strengthens their ability to serve the people of Alabama. Extension educators are strong community partners, bringing practical ways to support homes, farms, people and communities.