Desperate for change. One paycheck from homelessness. Her support system fractured. She’s sick and tired of being sick and tired. She is a “CornerStone Cecilia,” and to Debbi Akers and others at The CornerStone Initiative, “Cecilia” is more than just a problem to be solved or a project to take on; she’s an image bearer of Christ.

Akers grew up in eastern Kentucky. After completing a degree in social work, she spent 20 years raising her children while supporting church missions. She also volunteered with Compassion International and Lincoln Village Ministries. During this time, God opened her heart to work in a “non-relief” capacity, and in 2013, CornerStone provided the ideal opportunity.

In 2021, under Akers’ leadership, CornerStone took a step back. They sought God on two fronts: who had He uniquely equipped them to serve? And what is CornerStone’s ultimate goal in serving them? After six months of searching, they had their answer.

Akers said, “We are looking for the person desperate for change. Hungry for something better for their kids. Someone determined to break the cycles in their family and change the trajectory of their life for themselves and their kids. We call her ‘CornerStone Cecilia’ because most of the people we serve are female, with 96% being single moms. But we also serve men who are ready for a change.”

Since Akers became the director in 2016, CornerStone has served 83 families, with many of these joining multiple programs. “One participant might join Faith and Finances and then take the Jobs for Life class the next semester,” Akers said. “Those that are really committed to change might then join Amplify, our yearlong mentoring program. By that time, they may feel safe enough to sign up for the Trauma Care ministry.”

The CornerStone Initiative measures success by more than just visible results. They are planting seeds that will continue to spring up later, but they also see fruit blossoming now. One area of growth is seeing past participants growing in their faith. This has led them to flourish within many local churches.

“Some of our past participants carry on relationships with their mentors years after completing programs at CornerStone. We consider that supportive community a huge success. We also see families experiencing change. We had one mom come through our Faith and Finances class. At her graduation, her adult son signed up for the next class. Then he convinced his sister to join. Her two children have now graduated from Jobs for Life and Faith and Finances, and her son graduated from Amplify. She inspired her kids to grow, and they followed her lead,” Akers said.

Now this mother is a few classes from completing her degree. Her son earned several certifications in cybersecurity and is flourishing in his new career path. His sister received several promotions at her current job, and their mother has become a mentor and ally for other students while also serving on the advisory council. This family has broken a cycle of generational poverty and is now extending their hands to pull others up alongside them.

But that isn’t all. Akers said, “This semester, we have three former participants serving as allies in our Faith and Finances class, and one former volunteer is now certified as a facilitator. We also teach a class that helps people grow in their understanding of what poverty actually is. We help them consider ways to engage with those who are struggling. It’s called ‘Compassionate Service: How to Help Without Hurting.’ This class is a requirement for anyone who wants to volunteer with CornerStone.”

A recent participant in the August class said, “I did not realize the extent of poverty in our city — the fact that so many people are one small emergency from being homeless or in significant financial trouble. I also did not realize that often people do not know how to get out of poverty. This experience has caused me to be more compassionate.”

Another said, “Taking this class has made me realize that I was judging others more than I thought. Because I didn’t truly understand what poverty was.”

CornerStone is experiencing growing pains. They have outgrown its current space. Akers said, “Our hope is to be in a permanent space where we can offer all of our programs — and add new ones — under one roof!”

They aren’t letting this slow them down. New support tools are being rolled out, along with curriculum and programs, including “Good Works.” This class helps students discover their unique gifts and matches them with their ideal job.

CornerStone hosts two major annual fundraisers: a cornhole tournament will be held on April 15, and, on Oct. 15, they held a dinner. Akers said, “The cornhole tournament is held on the green space at Campus 805. Last year, we had around 70 teams. This is a great way for local companies to come out and participate in team-building exercises, network, and enjoy our community.”

As Akers continues reaching every person longing for a way forward, the community impact — and most importantly, the Kingdom impact — keeps growing. Lives and futures are being changed one “CornerStone Cecilia” at a time. GN