Touching Both Sides of the City: A Season of Growth at ELI Thrive

We are thrilled to share the success of our Bessemer Open House and Ribbon Cutting on January 30! Despite chilly Alabama temperatures, more than 100 community members joined us to celebrate this exciting milestone.

We were honored to welcome city of Bessemer officials and employees, along with our partners at Serving You Ministries, Flint Hill Baptist Church, and One Hundred Shares Birmingham, as well as ELI graduates, volunteers, supporters, and several of our new Bessemer families. Guests toured the newly renovated space, connected with our coaches and staff, and learned more about how families will be supported through coaching, financial literacy, parenting classes, and access to essential resources.

John Gibson, Executive Director of Serving You Ministries, reflected on the partnership, saying, “What began as a partnership in 2018 has become a model that truly brings families from crisis to thriving.”

ELI Thrive Executive Director Pam Bates shared, “We now are touching the eastern border of Birmingham and the western border of Birmingham, and what God has done in between has been incredible. Our ultimate goal is to help families live out their hopes and dreams—not ours.”

Led by Site Director Wendy Thompson and Thrive Coaches Hallie Brown and Shalanda Cheatham, our Bessemer team is already serving 47 families. This new location represents a powerful step forward in expanding access to long-term coaching and support across the Birmingham metro—and we are grateful to every partner, donor, volunteer, and family who made it possible.

Thank you for helping us build pathways from crisis to thriving—together.