Tracy has been leading a class at Samford University with Dr. Barbara Cartledge for over ten years. This class is called “Local Poverty and Business,” and it has been a great way for us to encourage young students to engage with the Birmingham community in helpful and thoughtful ways. A major part of this class is engaging with local businesses, nonprofits, churches, and leaders who are paving the way for community engagement in their local context. Some newer members of our staff were able to attend a few of the class sessions and see what our partners in the city are doing.
It is increasingly important to us to raise up the next generation of leaders who will take on the responsibility of Christian community development. What better way to engage them than by connecting them with the community they’re presently in, using the skills they’re in the process of building?
We are so grateful for Dr. Cartledge and her years of investment in this class and these students. This class used to be organized by CSM, but Dr. Cartledge has developed genuine relationships with these leaders and organizations and has truly created such a special class that is undoubtedly forming these students in profound ways. She and her husband, Tom, are integral parts of our work, and we could not be more thankful to call them friends and partners in this work.
