WS Chronicle

The term ‘pivot’ means to adapt or improve by adjusting or modifying something. And for the past five years, Pivot Ministry has been helping women in Forsyth County adapt and improve their lives. 

Pivot Ministry is a local nonprofit certified site with the Christian Women’s Job Corps. The mission of Pivot Ministry is to empower low-income women for better life and work opportunities through weekly classes in life skills, job readiness, Bible study, and with the guidance of mentors. Last week seven women were recognized for completing the 16-week course. 

Before recognizing the Class of 2023, Carol Polk, executive director of Pivot Ministry, talked about how the women have grown individually and together over the past four months. Polk has been with Pivot Ministry since the beginning. In early 2015, Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem began discussions about creating a Forsyth County CWJC site. Carol Polk was hired in October 2015 as site coordinator and three years later Pivot held their first class.

“These ladies have changed. They’ve transformed and God is working in their lives and he’s not finished with any of us yet,” Polk said. “He wants all of us to flourish and be all that he created us to be. He’s doing it and I see it in each of you.” 

Lucretia Ann (LuAnn) Collins, Kimberly Dawn Gleason, Ivonne Aidee Guerra-Lopez, Victoria Hall, Belinda Wiley, Latronya Denise Williams, and Cynthia L. Irby Whitaker make up the Pivot Ministry Class of 2023. According to organizers, the Class of 2023 had less absences than any of the previous classes, which means they were dedicated to the program and to making a change. 

After being recognized for completing the program, each of the honorees was joined on stage by their mentor who led a prayer for their continued growth. Each of the graduates also had the opportunity to talk about what Pivot Ministry means to them. 

The keynote address during the graduation ceremony was delivered by Dr. Timogi Jackson. Jackson is an author, educator, and preacher known as “The Empowerment Specialist.” Jackson encouraged the graduates to take the lessons and life skills they’ve learned, continue to grow and pass them along to  someone in need. Jackson said to her, pivoting means centering yourself and turning toward something better and that’s exactly what the graduates did. 

“So what your mentors have poured into you, you have to now own it,” Jackson continued. “The only reason you look back at your past is to learn. There are some tools that you learned back there. Who you were survived long enough for you to become who you are becoming … So I want you to honor her by growing. Honor her by continuing to center yourself and turn towards better.”

Pivot Ministry courses are limited to scholarships for eight women. Pivot also accepts referrals, For more information on Pivot Ministry, visit www.pivotnow.org, or call 336-971-4878.