From dealer to healer: This mini-grant recipient has been uplifting his community for decades. But his mission of transformation began with himself. 

“I am so grateful to be a 2022 mini grant recipient. Before I became an affiliate of the Woodson Center, I never even knew how to apply for my 501(c)(3). I just came to the Woodson Center with a vision and a passion to bring healing and redemption to underserved, crime infested communities.  However, in 1998, the Woodson Center took me under their wing, helped me obtain my 501(c)(3), provided my organization with training and technical assistance and funding. It is through their support over the years, that I have been able to grow my organization, and restore countless lives.”  ~ Gary Wyatt

Gary Wyatt is the CEO and Founder of He Brought Us Out Ministry in Akron, Ohio. Founded in 2001, its mission is to educate, empower, and equip the people in their communities through corporate services, faith based and educational programs so they can develop productive lives to make a difference in their own communities. “I was inspired to start my organization after I turned my own life around from dealing and using drugs,” said Wyatt. “In those same neighborhoods where I used to deal, my programs are now healing and transforming the people inside those communities.”

He Brought Us Out Ministry offers a variety of community service programs and has been successful in working with Akron’s city officials and law enforcement to help combat the rising crises of homicide and youth crime.  Gary Wyatt is now a 2022 mini grant recipient and will use the seed money to enhance his programs, directly serving over 500 families. He is also hoping to relaunch the Woodson Center’s Violence Free Zone initiative in his community which would employ “youth advisors” who act as character and moral coaches to stop and prevent violence from rising in their community. 

This year’s cohort of recipients was selected from a group of nearly 200 applications. CAN affiliates hold unique knowledge and moral authority to heal their neighborhoods and keep the peace that larger, lavishly-funded activist groups will never have. Thank you for making their work possible.

When you support the Woodson Center, you are investing in organizations like He Brought Us Out Ministry, which are on the front-line doing life-changing work in their communities.

Read more about the community impact of He Brought Us Out Ministry:
https://www.newsweek.com/why-didnt-akron-burn-opinion-1726920?mc_cid=58653b2224&mc_eid=7719c80aba