Working with St. Luke Catholic Church, we were able to provide a street ministry which offered clothing and food to the homeless population in Flint. These experiences helped to drive the creation of St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center moved from working on the streets of Flint to the school building located by St. Luke Catholic Church. The first program began with 12 women who were ready to improve their lives by being provided a safe place to meet, help in growing their self-esteem and furthering their education.

This milestone marks the launch of our commercial sewing business. After running a program of life change for six years, we knew the people we served need more than skills, they needed an opportunity for a job. Our social enterprises enable us to offer employment opportunities to our program graduates and provide value-added goods and services into Flint.

Partnering with Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Community Ventures allowed us to expand our mission to include a men’s work development program, and a second social enterprise. Through several community partnerships we have grown these businesses and now offer dozens of employment opportunities to program graduates each year

We continue to create programs to serve community needs, including a variety of initiatives developed in response to the Flint Water crisis. We are also continuously presented with new opportunities for our social enterprises, including sewing air filters for GM plants made from recycled water bottles!

St. Luke New Life Center is currently making remarkable strides in our mission to empower the community and foster sustainable development. One of our notable achievements is the creation of a state-of-the-art hoop house, a structure designed to extend the growing season and boost agricultural production. With this innovative addition, St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center can provide fresh, locally grown produce throughout the year, ensuring food security and access to nutritious options.

But thats not all, our organization has a future project in the works—we are in the process of purchasing a brand-new building dedicated to the social enterprises. This will serve as a dynamic space to provide paid on the job training. By creating a conducive environment for these ventures, we continue to foster self-reliance and pave the way for lasting social change.