Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Kelley.
Hi Nancy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Being a St Augustine native I grew up in a wonderful family that was filled with faith and love. Our community was tight knit and our lives revolved around family, friends, and our church community. Growing up with a house full of sisters in the family we always had lots of fun and adventures! My parents always knew where we were and always encouraged us to stay close and support each other unconditionally. This became a real foundation of love that has remained with me through out my life.
Even in the most supportive families, situations arise that can challenge you. As a teenager I found myself pregnant and a single mother. My family was very supportive but many of our faithful church family began to fall away. It was not always an easy rode but family support was invaluable. What really helped me excel was when a family member who worked at the bank encouraged me to apply for a job. I was hired and started to flourish in a career. It really gave me the skills and experience needed that helped make a positive change in my life.
Fast forward I met my husband Charles and we started our life together and raised five children. Around 1993, as I was praying and God placed in my heart a picture of young mothers, their children and senior women all together talking, sharing kindness and joyful gestures toward one another. I wrote out the name of the name Alpha Omega. I shared this with my father and he said, “Lisa, that is in the bible, and represents God the father -who is the beginning and end”. From that birthed the mission of Alpha Omega Miracle Home that would become a place to care for the most vulnerable-women and children who are in crisis. We begin as an established 501c3 non profit in 1997 when we opened a maternity home in 1999 that offered housing to displaced pregnant young mothers in Hastings.
With growing needs we moved from the home in Hastings and in 2008 transitioned into six apartments and launched our multigenerational model 2009. This model houses mothers, their children and senior women who are facing housing insecurity and pairs them together to do community and life together.
The model has grown since then and we now house over 30 at our current campus. Our new campus which is currently being built with additional apartments will house another 100 plus when it is completed in late fall. The complete campus will have an educational building, daycare, admin, medical, counseling and lifeskill classrooms along with job training.
We offer a two-year transitional housing model where young mothers ages 18-28 can enter into our GROW Program (Gain, Rise, Open, Win) This program is designed to helps them get on their feet, receive case management, counseling, life skills, and an education that will help them ultimately gain the self-sufficiency and a career path for long-term sustainability for themselves and their children.
Our seniors have the benefit of sharing an apartment with our mothers and it provides support, encouragement, and community for both. Our moms learn from the wisdom and care of the seniors and our seniors benefit from the friendship, kindness, and joy that the mothers and children bring. Our Seniors are 60 plus and can stay at AOMH as long as they are able to care for themselves independently. They meet daily with other senior women and have a variety of activities, volunteer time and some are still working. The beauty is that no one is isolated and alone. Healthy community is a true benefit to healing and true life transformations!
Our mission to break the cycle of poverty by demonstrating Gods love in providing housing, comprehensive support, and accountability to the most vulnerable: young mothers, their children, and senior women.
Our ultimate vision is to transform the lives of women and children by meeting their needs in times of crisis; equipping them to become self sufficient contributors of our community.
This has been a proven model for success for over 26 years and the most rewarding part is seeing our moms who come back and visit who are thriving, or the in the graduation announcements I receive of the children who were once residents that are now becoming successful young adults! That is the true joy for me! Seeing the true life transformations happen that bring lasting change for generations!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth rode but God has been faithful to carry me through the peaks and valleys. This past two years we have been growing tremendously. There have been a lot of challenges building the infrastructure needed internally and also with funding our capital campaign which was over 4.9M for our apartments. At the end of December we completed our capital campaign for construction and are now actively seeking donations for furnishing and outfitting the new apartments.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the Founder and CEO of Alpha Omega Miracle Home. I have a background in banking and owned a business prior to opening the doors of AOMH.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am tenacious and a visionary. I have 5 children and 12 grandchildren who I love to spend time with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fcws.org
- Instagram: @alphaomegamiraclehome
- Facebook: @alphaomegamiraclehome
- Twitter: @aomh5
