by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@lhtxdigest.com
community action
Paving the Way to Independence list—a work program to help at-risk students find jobs at local businesses. With job coaching from CPO mentors and in partnership with Workforce Solutions, the Pathways to Success Work Program will help youth and young adults find jobs and develop skills aimed at self-sufficiency.
HISTORY Working with students in youth ministry and as a school registrar inspired Vicky to start Community Pathways Organization. “I saw the struggles, the ones who had to quit school to go to work. The ones who didn’t have food,” she shares. “God had been on me to start this organization for young adults to transition to adulthood.”
Mayor Elizabeth Branigan, CPO Board of Directors Treasurer Teresa Hernandez and Executive Director Vicky McCown distribute food at San Gabriel Crossing Apartments during the water outage from the storm. Photo by Kendra Cofer
C
rossing the bridge from adolescence to adulthood, especially for at-risk teens and young adults, can be a daunting transition. Community Pathways Organization (CPO) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers Liberty Hill youth, young adults, and their families to develop independent living skills and become productive members of their community.
Photo by Vicky McCown
Thanks to CPO, at-risk youth and young adults receive help obtaining a driver’s license and other identification, weekend snack bags, school supplies, and mentoring. CPO also provides medical, emotional, and mental support to facilitate their high school graduation or equivalency. The organization also refers families to other nonprofits if they need something outside CPO’s service scope. “Our goal is to work with all the current nonprofit organizations and fill the gaps where the services aren’t met,” CPO Executive Director Vicky McCown says. CPO partners with Liberty Hill ISD to find and help youth and families in need; e.g., mentoring a homeless student, helping a first-generation American student get a driver’s license, or helping families apply for food stamps and other assistance. This summer, Vicky hopes to add another Lee Kinsey, with his daughter, was able service to the to get his driver’s license thanks to CPO.
When she launched CPO in September 2019, the timing was perfect. The following spring, she received a call from the school district, asking if CPO could help students on the free & reduced lunch program who couldn’t return to school in person because of COVID-19. CPO delivered several thousand weekend snack bags through the end of the school year. And, at the beginning of this school year, CPO donated more than $6,000 in school supplies to start the students’ semester off right.
LEND A HAND To help Community Pathways Organization continue its mission of serving youth and families in need, CPO welcomes the following items: Golf tournament sponsors: Caring for Our Community, May 10 at Cimarron Golf & Country Club (Georgetown) A cargo van to pick up supplies for distribution A computer for program tracking School supplies Computers for students during COVID Hygiene items for clients Volunteers To learn more about Community Pathways Organizations, call 512-5283913 or visit CPOtx.org. M A R C H 2 0 2 1 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G ES T
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