Schweitzer Church launches nonprofit

Jill Finney joins Flourish from Safe and Sober.

Schweitzer Church is expanding its poverty alleviation services with a new nonprofit.

Flourish CDC is designed to provide assistance such as job skills training, a food pantry and a program that transitions women to secure housing from insecure circumstances, said Jill Finney, the nonprofit's newly hired executive director.

"With Flourish, we're going to try to lift people out of poverty," said Finney, who started today as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit's leader. "The goal is to do what is needed in the communities that we're serving."

Flourish CDC is a community development corporation, Finney said, noting the term refers to organizations that are focused on revitalizing a specific area.

Flourish currently operates in Schweitzer Church, and during the first six months of Finney's tenure, one of the nonprofit's goals will be to set up an office in an identified area of need. She said the nonprofit is exploring heat maps showing where it would be most effective with its programming.

Finney currently is the sole employee, though she said a program director likely would be hired in the near future. She was unsure of the nonprofit's operating budget, as financial details are part of the orientation she's currently undergoing. The nonprofit officially launched Jan. 24, she said.

Finney comes to Flourish CDC from nonprofit Safe and Sober Inc. after more than a year as its executive director.

"I've attended Schweitzer for around four years, and I thought it was a really good fit," said Finney, who also has past experience as vice president of communications for United Way of the Ozarks and communications director for the city of Nixa.

At Safe and Sober, a development director and a director of programming recently were hired to lead the organization, Finney said, noting the plan currently is not to hire a new executive director.