Rainbow Village

Breaking the cycle of homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence

Press Release

Rainbow Village Adds Two Community Leaders to its Board of Directors

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Dr. Jann Joseph of Georgia Gwinnett College and Jill Edwards of United Community Bank Mark the Newest Additions to the Board for Georgia Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence

Dr. Jann Joseph and Jill Edwards join the Rainbow Village Board of Directors

Duluth, Ga., July 2, 2020 – Representing highly respected members of the leadership teams at a local institution of higher learning and a regional Southeast financial institution, the two newest additions to the Board of Directors for Rainbow Village have all the makings of a dynamic duo for the 29-year-old nonprofit. Tasked with breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence, Rainbow Village is proud to add the talents of President of Georgia Gwinnett College, Dr. Jann Joseph and Senior Vice President of United Community Bank, Jill Edwards to its mission to transform the lives of the families it serves in Northeast Metro Atlanta.

A lifetime educator and relative newcomer to Georgia, Dr. Joseph has been at the helm of Georgia Gwinnett College since July 2019. Eager to serve and get tapped into the area, Joseph joined the Board for the Gwinnett Chamber, where she met Jill Edwards. Celebrating her 34th anniversary in banking – primarily in Northeast Georgia, Edwards counts connecting people among her greatest talents. She was intimately familiar with Rainbow Village – having aided in the funding of the second phase of apartment buildings on the nonprofit’s campus. With a shared desire to positively impact the lives of women and children in need, Edwards introduced Joseph to Rainbow Village and the two joined the Board of Directors together.

“I felt a connection to the mission at Rainbow Village,” said Dr. Joseph. “I had been asking myself ‘how do I use my time and energy to help people who keep working and keep fighting but need a voice.’ Our life decisions can easily become mistakes and a series of mistakes can mean one’s life is not turning out the way one hoped it would. From a spiritual perspective, I say ‘There but by the grace of God go I.’ For some of these women, it involves the decision of the people they choose to have in their life. I was fortunate to be happily married for 36 years to a man who was devoted to me and our children. If he had not been the man he was, I could have been homeless. Instead, I had a support system. Many of the families who come to Rainbow Village haven’t had a support system to lift them up. This program represents an opportunity for homeless families – often led by single mothers – to start over and reach their full potential.”

Joseph looks forward to becoming part of the conversation and ongoing evolution at Rainbow Village – particularly where the After-School Program is concerned. As a former middle school teacher, she looks forward to setting tangible goals, being able to contribute to them, witness measurable gains and add value during her time on the board. She also hopes to have a personal impact on the spiritual and emotional life of the women at Rainbow Village.

Jill Edwards echoes a similar desire to have a personal impact in her work with the nonprofit, “I learned about Rainbow Village nearly 25 years ago from Barbara Howard, who was a community legend and major supporter of the nonprofit. In all the years since, I’ve been to many of the lunches, events and galas. I’ve heard the compelling stories of how lives had been transformed by Rainbow Village. I recently asked their CEO, Melanie Conner, if she believed I could be of value to her organization and why. She could sense that I wanted to give back and felt my involvement and deep roots within the business community would prove invaluable. It was the right thing to do at the right time for me. Since joining the board, I’ve had meaningful conversations about Rainbow Village with dozens of people. It’s amazing to me that there are still people out there in the Northeast Georgia community who don’t know about Rainbow Village and the important work they are doing on behalf of homeless families with children.”

Edwards said she is most impressed with the accountability and structure at Rainbow Village – that it represents a hand grabbing another hand to lift them up rather than giving them a handout. She feels the combination of career training and financial counseling are game-changers for many of these families – allowing them to walk away with skills they didn’t have when they arrived. To her, Rainbow Village builds confidence and restores a sense of pride before giving its residents the belief that they’ve regained control of their lives. In doing so, the graduates of the program enjoy long-lasting results and success beyond the borders of the Rainbow Village campus.

“We are incredibly honored to have these two fantastic women serve on our Board of Directors,” said Melanie Conner, CEO for Rainbow Village. “Each comes with her own unique set of skills, a wealth of wonderful ideas and a heart for serving others. We feel extremely blessed to welcome Dr. Jann Joseph and Jill Edwards to Rainbow Village.”

In addition to their positions on the boards for Rainbow Village and the Gwinnett Chamber, both Joseph and Edwards serve on several other boards. Joseph also lends her talents to Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber, while Edwards remains busy with her service on the boards of the Gwinnett Place CID, Across the Bridge – a nonprofit dedicated to bringing addicts to Christ, and the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services – where she serves as Treasurer. When they’re not working in their respective leadership roles or attending board meetings, Joseph and Edwards enjoy spending time with family. Joseph is exceedingly proud of her three sons, three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. Edwards and her husband of 25 years, Greg, have a son at Mercer University and a daughter at Greater Atlanta Christian Academy. In her spare time, Edwards enjoys riding bikes, playing tennis and going to the beach.

For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

About Rainbow Village:  Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Community Comes Together for the Families of Rainbow Village

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Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence Witnesses Outpouring of Support from Individuals, Churches, Civic Groups, Companies and Other Nonprofits During Coronavirus Pandemic

Duluth, Ga., June 4, 2020 – When Rainbow Village made the difficult decision to close its Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) and Afterschool Youth Programs in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic in March, the nonprofit organization knew the impact would be felt keenly by its residents. With the purpose of providing the tools, programs and transitional housing needed to lead homeless families back to a place of self-sustainability, Rainbow Village understands that many of its residents rely on the ECDC and Afterschool Program for a safe and engaging place for their kids to go while the parent works, attends college or seeks employment. Following the lead of Gwinnett County Public Schools as it does during inclement weather and other emergency situations, Rainbow Village did not take lightly the effect the closure might have on the families it serves and launched the COVID-19 Family Relief Fund as a precautionary measure. Over the weeks that followed, the North Metro Atlanta community came out to show its overwhelming support for Rainbow Village families, donating food, supplies and an incredible $118,514 for the COVID-19 Family Relief Fund.

“We are completely blown away by the way the community came together in support of the families Rainbow Village serves,” said Melanie Conner, CEO for Rainbow Village. “Girl Scout Troops, churches, neighborhoods, companies and civic groups collected and delivered food and supplies for our families. I’m so proud of the way our staff stepped up and rolled with the changes during the last few months, as well as the way our Board of Directors showed their true investment in this campus and the people who call Rainbow Village home. Our residents watched out for one another as friends and neighbors, really putting the ‘village’ in Rainbow Village. And during it all, we moved in three new families. It’s been nothing short of incredible.”

Conner also pointed to the donation of computers and Wi-Fi adapters from X-Cel and CentricsIT, which connect to campus-wide Wi-Fi made possible from a grant from the Waffle House Foundation. Those gifts allowed Rainbow Village students to take part in online schooling and adults to work remotely. Fully Furnished Ministries donated furniture for the three new incoming families. And, although the original goal for the Rainbow Village COVID-19 Family Relief Fund was set at $10,000, a number of families came forward with generous matching gifts that inspired others to give. The funds raised will help provide summer programming for Rainbow Village kids, assist with increased summer utility costs in the provision of a safe and comfortable home for families, repair or replace aging appliances, and so much more.

For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

About Rainbow Village:  Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Home Depot’s Michelle Livingstone Joins Board of Directors for Rainbow Village

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Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence to Benefit from Newest Board Member’s Experience with Atlanta Children’s Shelter

Duluth, Ga., May 27, 2020 – Giving back is nothing new for Home Depot Vice President for Transportation, Michelle Livingstone. In addition to serving on the boards of several business-associated organizations over the years, she was proud to serve on the board of the Atlanta Children’s Shelter for the last six. Sharing similar objectives to help homeless children and their families, Livingstone was drawn to Rainbow Village and its mission to help the whole family break the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence.

“The nonprofit community is fairly close-knit and when a friend of mine discovered Rainbow Village, she spoke so highly of its mission and leadership team that I couldn’t wait to learn more,” recalled Livingstone. “I went on a tour of the campus and was impressed by the organization and the folks behind it. I really like the housing component and the breadth and depth of resources available at Rainbow Village, as well as the time they provide their program participants to find their way back to self-sufficiency. Up to two years, if needed. I think that’s phenomenal.”

During her time at Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Livingstone witnessed firsthand that homelessness and domestic violence can happen to anyone. “Everyone has a story,” she added. “They just need someone to listen. They just need a hand up. I believe it’s our duty to help them get back on their feet. Giving back has always been important to me personally, but it’s also one of Home Depot’s core values. I love the idea of helping other women feel successful, so Rainbow Village is a good match for me all the way around.”

Livingstone believes Rainbow Village’s success over the last 29 years can be attributed to making homeless families feel like they’re part of a community that cares. She feels that’s the best way to break the cycles and help them become self-sufficient. She is also impressed by the resources Rainbow Village provides to its residents – including transitional housing, childcare, training and development, life skills classes and so much more.

“I have no doubt that my background in Corporate America can be an asset to Rainbow Village,” said Livingstone. “I can use my experience to help their residents be successful – for instance, practicing an interview for a job. I can also possibly fast track the success of Rainbow Village and its residents by leveraging my network to bring new insights and perspectives. I’m really excited about this opportunity. There is no better feeling in the world than helping others achieve their potential.”

“We’re truly thrilled to welcome Michelle to the board of Rainbow Village,” said Melanie Conner, the nonprofit’s  CEO. “She has found great success in her own life and is a true powerhouse in inspiring others to rise to their own levels of success. I know she will bring amazing ideas and equally amazing energy to our board room at every meeting.”

As the newest member of the board of directors at Rainbow Village, Livingstone has already been made to feel right at home. She has had a terrific time meeting the other board members, who she considers to be all like-minded people. A veteran with Home Depot for more than 12 years, Livingstone enjoys attracting other women to the supply chain industry. Along with her husband Bob, Livingstone takes great pride in the servant’s heart displayed by her daughter, Amanda, who has a master’s degree in International Human Rights and works with the White Ribbon Alliance in Washington D.C.

For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

About Rainbow Village:  Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Rainbow Village Requests a “Mulligan” with Second Chance Golf Classic Date Change

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Columbia Engineering to Present Tournament on August 24 to Benefit Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence

Duluth, Ga., March 30, 2020 – Out of an abundance of caution for participants of its annual Second Chance Golf Classic, Rainbow Village is requesting a “mulligan” of its own. Having originally scheduled the fundraising event for May 4, the current Coronavirus Pandemic has necessitated the move to a new date of August 24. Presented by Columbia Engineering for the second year in a row, the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic will be hosted at TPC Sugarloaf, with a shotgun start of 10 a.m.

“As one of our largest fundraisers of the year, the participation from sponsors and individual golfers is crucial to our ongoing provision of transitional housing and life-changing programming to the families we serve,” explained Rainbow Village CEO, Melanie Conner. “Given the name ‘Second Chance’ to reflect the second chances Rainbow Village provides to families who have recently escaped situations marred by homelessness, poverty and domestic violence, the tagline for our golf classic is ‘The Course of Life can be a Challenge; Sometimes We Need a Mulligan!’ A popular golf term for a do-over stroke, a mulligan is exactly what we’re requesting as an organization at this time. The response from companies and individuals who’d signed on for the earlier date has been overwhelmingly supportive of the change. We’re incredibly blessed to have such an amazing support system from our local business, civic, family and faith communities.”

In addition to Columbia Engineering, sponsors that have signed on to date for the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic include: Level Seven Facilities Services; Triad Advisors; Landmark Landscapes; Motor Cars of Atlanta; Sutter, McLellan & Gilbreath, Inc.; and Renasant Bank. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain – many of which include golf foursomes, marketing table and tent on the course, signs on the course, recognition on LED leader board, inclusion in social media posts and more.

Lunch, beverages, snacks and dinner will be provided for each golfer. To view available sponsorship levels or purchase spots for individual golfers and foursomes. for the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic, interested parties can visit the Golf 2020 page at www.rainbowvillage.org.  

About Rainbow Village:  Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Rainbow Village Recognized as Best of Gwinnett

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Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence Honored as One of the County’s Foremost Providers of Family Services

Duluth, Ga., March 5, 2020 – After a rigorous process that’s 10 months in the making, the votes are in and Rainbow Village has once again been recognized among the best nonprofits in Gwinnett County. Earning its “Best of Gwinnett” title in Family Services, the nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence in the lives of the families it serves is incredibly honored to achieve this recognition.

Created by Guide to Gwinnett, the Best of Gwinnett poll spans a wide variety of industries – from Auto Dealers to Wedding Venues and everything in between. Best of Gwinnett winners and nominees are chosen by a combination of readers’ votes and editors’ input. The process begins with a nomination on the Best of Gwinnett website. After tens of thousands of votes have been received and tallied, the voting culminates with the publishing of the annual Best of Gwinnett issue. Best of Gwinnett marks the highest designation given to the businesses with the most votes in their category, followed by Among the Best and Ones to Watch/Others Worth Noting.

“Because Best of Gwinnett involves the votes of our Gwinnett County neighbors, that makes this recognition all the sweeter,” said Melanie Conner, CEO for Rainbow Village. “We don’t do what we do for the recognition and fanfare, but it’s awfully nice to be thought of so highly as to be declared the BEST in our local community. What’s equally important is that recognitions like this shine the spotlight on our all-important work of helping homeless families find their way back to lives of self-sufficiency. It validates our work and our perception in Gwinnett County, while making us more visible to people who didn’t know about us – whether that be a homeless family seeking help or a local leader seeking a nonprofit for his or her company to partner with. We are truly grateful to Guide to Gwinnett and everyone who voted on our behalf for this honor.”

To determine the Best of Gwinnett, reader opinions are vetted thru several ranking sites, Better Business Bureau complaint reports, and voting pattern analysis reports before Guide to Gwinnett approves Best of Gwinnett winners. Winners are named in more than 20 broad business and community sectors.

About Rainbow Village:  Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.