Exodus Homes Hits Home Run With City Hall Presentation

Exodus Homes hit a home run yesterday at City Hall in Hickory with it's Stabilizing Communities presentation to a crowd of 100  who turned out to hear why the faith-based organization was asked to present at the White House this summer.  The audience of elected officials and their representatives from city, county, state and federal government were very impressed with the tremendous positive impact the program has had on the lives of its residents and this community. Many other influential community leaders, program staff, and Exodus board members attended, breaking out in spontaneous applause in response to the presentation about how transformed lives, urban renewal, crime reduction, and economic development are stabilizing our community. Once again, Chick Fil A showed up as the corporate sponsor for an Exodus Homes event, providing breakfast refreshments for participants willing to come out on such a rainy day.             
 
Rev. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Homes Executive Director was very pleased with the event, saying "This tremendous turnout is a powerful demonstration of the community support that helped us get to the White House in July." Susan Smith, Assistant Executive Director of the United Way agency represented the organization at thehite House last summer, and gave a powerful overview of it's 12 locations in five neighborhoods, its operational structure, financial information, social enterprise development, crisis stabilization program, permanent housing component, and new direction for growing the program via managing rental properties for local landlords. Ms. Smith explained that after the White House presentation a high level HUD official approached her saying, "Your program is what we have been looking for all over the country because you're stabilizing the community".

Four Exodus Homes residents gave testimonies of how the program had transformed their lives with love, support services, and discipline. Danny Hearn, President of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, moved the audience with his personal experience on the All America City team getting to know one of the Exodus Homes residents on the trip to Anaheim, California. "This fellow was riding a plane for the second time in his life. The first time, he was shackled to the seat on his way to prison. This time he was flying with us as a member of the All America City team because Exodus Homes helped him, and gave him another chance."
 
In September, Anna Maria Faris, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs from Washington, D.C. came to learn more about Exodus after hearing Ms. Smith speak in July. Yesterday's City Hall event included remarks from a second federal guest, Teresa Chappell, Special Assistant to the Assistant Deputy Secretary of HUD, Mayor Bob Young who was not able to attend due to illness. Ms. Chappell is the Regional Coordinator to community and faith-based organizations in Region IV, which covers nine states including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As a result of her accomplishments in the Federal Government Teresa was recently invited to serve as one of the People to People Ambassador Programs “Women in Society Delegation to China” in the winter of 2007.  In her rousing speech, she congratulated Exodus Homes for earning the attention of the White House because of its unique program design and outstanding accomplishments in the community.  Ms. Chappell also commended our community for the success of Exodus Homes saying "It takes a whole village to raise up an Exodus Homes to such excellence." She left the crowd with a deeper understanding of the federal faith-based and community initiative as well as encouragement that more help is coming to assist groups like Exodus Homes in future nationwide trainings called "Show Me The Money!" Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright presented Ms. Chappell with a key to the City in appreciation for her presence at the community celebration of a major Catawba County success story.           
 
For more information about Exodus Homes, you can visit them online at www.exodushomes.org, e-mail to susansmith@charter.net, or call the office at 828-324-4870.