Only five miles from Historic Brookhaven inside a Chamblee duplex sits a charity that helps children from non-English speaking homes to succeed in school, build confidence, and work toward futures that include college or trade school. Through afterschool educational programs, Cross Cultural Ministries (CCM) provides homework help and learning assistance to students in grades kindergarten through their senior year of high school.

 

When CCM was founded in 1993, the families living in the area were mostly immigrants from Malaysia and Cambodia. The founder lived in the duplex complex. “She gathered folks around her kitchen table and helped kids with homework,” says Adriane Wagner, current CCM executive director. “The parents couldn’t read or didn’t have time to help because they were working all the time.”

 

Today, 33 years later, most students are Latino. They were born in the United States and are documented, but live with parents who don’t speak English well and often work several jobs to provide a leg up for their children. “Over time, the community has changed but the mission hasn’t changed,” says Adriane. “We are still serving the same purpose.”

 

The students attend either Doraville United Elementary School, Sequoia Middle School, or Chamblee High School and all live in the duplex complex where CCM is housed. CCM employs a part-time certified teacher, who serves as educational director and communicates with the schools so she can provide tutoring. The organization also has a discipleship director who runs the Bible study.

 

Each afternoon is structured. Elementary age children arrive from school, eat a snack, chat with a volunteer about their day, do their homework, and then have play time. That session runs from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Middle-school students and high schoolers start arriving at 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday are academic and homework focused. Wednesday is a combination of educational work and Bible study. Thursday and Friday are Bible study days.

 

“We don’t make the kids go to Bible study, but they all do,” says Adriane Wagner, executive director. “Their parents are working, and it’s a non-denominational Christian Bible study.”

 

CCM is looking for committed volunteers to work with kids. Each volunteer is assigned to a group of 10 students and works alongside another adult. “We are trying to create consistent volunteers,” says Adriane. “We ask volunteers to commit for the semester, but we do also have a sub list.”

 

The organization serves about 100 kids a year, and has a waiting list just as long. Parents don’t pay for their kids’ participation. Instead, the parents volunteer time to keep the facilities clean and ready for the students. The families fondly refer to CCM as La Escuelita, “the little school.”

 

In addition to afterschool programs, CCM runs a summer reading enhancement program. This month, it will be collecting backpacks, lunch boxes, and water bottles for students.

CCM also offers $1,000 scholarships to high school graduates to pursue trade school or college. To qualify, kids must volunteer 75 hours back to CCM in their junior or senior year, serving as role models and helping younger children. “We care for them even beyond school,” says Adriane.

 

SIDE BAR TO NON-PROFIT PIECE

HEAD = Cross-Cultural Ministries

Non-profit: Cross Cultural Ministries

Mission: To partner with children from low-income immigrant families to provide education and holistic support through after school academic tutoring, mentoring, discipleship, and health and wellness, so students can succeed in school, grow in faith and confidence, and build brighter futures.

Contact: Email contact@ccmatlanta.org or Adriane Wagner, executive director, at Adriane@ccmatlanta.org. Or call Adriane at (614) 397-6128.

How You Can Help: Sign up to be a homework helper for a regular session in the fall semester. Sessions for elementary age kids are from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and for middle to high schoolers from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday sessions are focused on academics and often include crafts or outside games. Non-denominational Bible study is offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You can also help with special events, such as holiday celebrations, or with organizational and communications tasks.

 

Donate funds at https://ccmatlanta.org/donate/. Contribute backpacks, lunchboxes, and water bottles to the CCM backpack drive this month. Sponsor a child at $40/month. Sponsors receive quarterly updates.

Involved Neighbors: The Brookhaven Bible Study