High Hopes - The Turn Around-Turn About Community Center

On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the Turn Around-Turn About Community Center opened its doors for service in West Baltimore. The Center is a part of the Community of Shalom at St. James United Methodist Church. The church and Center sit in the midst of a zip code that has some of the highest rates of violence, drug addiction, and HIV infection in the nation. At the ribbon-cutting celebration on May 2nd, city and state officials, educators, and community and religious leaders shared in articulating a vision for community renewal through the Turn Around-Turn About Center, which will facilitate partnerships and will bring programs such as GED tutoring, drug interdiction, job placement and health-care to the community. Rev. Dr. Iris Farabee-Lewis, the pastor of St. James Church spoke of her vision – similar to one shared by Joshua – where the promises of God would be realized through renewed faith and bold action (Josh. 24). May God grant strength and grace to each of those who will share their time, talent and treasure with this important ministry, and may many lives be turned around to the glory of God.