Some of the programs offered  by the Outreach are as follows:

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• Provides Transitional & Affordable Housing for more than 326 individuals and families

• Provides FREE "After-School Tutorial" program for more than 318 youth

• Provides FREE pick up service for the youth of our After-School Program

• Provides FREE meals to more than 750 unduplicated youth annually

• Provides Summer Camp Enrichment program for youth of our community and beyond at an affordable price

• Provides over 200 families with USDA Commodities on a monthly basis

• Provides a free GED Program to family members of those enrolled in the After School Program

• Provides Abstinence & Sex Education to over 125 College Students annually

• Provides Financial Management and Budgeting Classes to the Community for interested persons

• Employs approximately 70 workers and many are right out of the community we serve including those with prison records who others deem unemployable

 

History

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The Mount Olive Community Outreach Center, Inc. (MOCOC) was established on November 21, 1991.  MOCOC, Inc. and is located directly in the Enterprise Zone of Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia.  Services at MOCOC are rendered regardless of race, creed, color, or religion.

MOCOC currently offers educational assistance and tutoring to at risk, low income, and/or under-educated youth.  The center has been a tremendous asset to the Albany area and the families that it has served. It is the desire of the Center to expand services throughout the community and continue its impact. 

The mission is to enhance the lives of the families and children academically, socially, physically and economically and to provide after school and summer initiatives to give youth a safe place to learn during the most crucial times of the day. Through its various programs, MOCOC has sucessfully delivered enrichment programs and services to over 3,000 youth, adult, and families in the Albany, Dougherty County, area. MOCOC has been established as a nonprofit community service organization that has the staff and the capacity to develop standards to improve an individual’s future. MOCOC has demonstrated its ability to function as a charitable, community–based organization working to improve the quality of life for the community it serves.

In addition to its array of youth services, MOCOC has also been established as a qualified Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), which is a not-for-profit community service organization that has the staff and the capacity to develop standard and affordable housing for the community that it serves. The Federal Government sets forth very specific criteria for organizations that qualify as CHDO’s.  MOCOC met all criteria required to obtain this status and has also demonstrated its ability to function as a charitable, community-based organization working to improve the quality of life for low-income families. 

Additionally, once per month MOCOC services at least 200 families with USDA commodities and for this summer, for the first time, operated a Summer Food Service Program through USDA and received a perfect score on all site reviews.

This is not an exhaustive list of what MOCOC is doing in the Albany Community but simply exemplifies that this organization has successfully operated youth programs for the past 16 years.  The qualifications and the experience within this organization, clearly defined goals and objectives from this proposed project, and qualified staffing assures that this program will be successfully and appropriately operated.

Mt. Olive Community Outreach Center, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors which is comprised of 11 members and an Executive Director.  At least one third of the Board is comprised of community citizens from low to moderate income neighborhoods.

 

 

OASIS Program

 

 

The OASIS Program is an ongoing program throughout each academic year.  The program is held every Monday-Thursday from 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  It is staffed with several volunteers from the Greater 2nd Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Albany State University who are given a small stipend for their services.  The program services approximately 75-100 students on a daily basis.  We provide tutoring and homework assistance in all major academic subjects from K-12 as well as provide transportation to the program.   

 

The After School Program is structured to not only help the students to complete homework assignments, but also to help them to become more advanced students by providing information that will help them in their present grade and grades to come.  Our desire is to teach them how to study and how to develop good study habits that they will be able to use in all of their educational endeavors. 

For the OASIS Program, MOCOC provides snacks or hot meals daily for each participant.

  

Out of School Breaks

 

Each Fall, Winter & Spring Breaks, the Outreach sponsors Youth Retreats or camps.  Throughout the course of the retreat/camp, MOCOC offers workshops on topics such as leadership skills, table etiquette, personal hygiene, teen related issues and other important current issues that relate to teens, pre-teens and children.  The ages for the Retreat/Camps are 4 to 18.  It is free to the children who participate in certain of our grant programs, and the cost for others is minimal. These retreats/camps also include field trips, cheerleading camps, sports camps and other enrichment activities for youth of all ages.

 

Summer Camp Enrichment Program

 

The Summer Camp Enrichment Program (SCEP) is an ongoing program that the Outreach sponsors each summer.  The program caters to youth from ages 4-18 years of age and is designed to offer an array of academics, creative dance, arts and crafts and recreational programs in order to broaden the horizon and enhance the knowledge of participating youth. 

 

SCEP operates from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays thru Fridays for an eight-week period during the summer and it normally consists of approximately 150 -175 students on a daily basis.  The children in the program are from low, moderate and high-income families and from all parts of the City of Albany and Dougherty County.  As with all of our programs, there is certainly no discrimination and we encourage all children, regardless of race, color, creed or religion to become actively involved.   

 

There is a curriculum in place for each age group to follow on a daily basis.  Although this program is held during the summer months, MOCOC realizes the need to continue to reiterate the importance of academics.  Therefore, basic subjects like Reading, English and Math are taught at least three days a week for this program which helps to prepare the children for their upcoming grade level.  We also strive to

prepare the children socially by providing them with various types of workshops on etiquette and exposing them to social events.  Our desire is to influence the children to become well-rounded individuals.  It is our hope that what we teach during this eight-week period will have a lasting effect on the participants. 

 

Housing 

 

Jordan’s Crossing

 

This program provides short-term Transitional Housing for Homeless Single Adults, Families with Children, Veterans, and those at-risk of becoming Homeless.   Our goal is to create a safe living environment for Homeless Persons and provide resources that allow for training and development that leads to their independence.      

 

Staff will assist in helping participants set appropriate goals based upon individual needs, establish career plans, obtain employment opportunities and address other matters specific to that individual or family.  Participants will then convert to Transitional Housing where skill enhancement, job training, and other services will be provided that will ultimately prepare them to move to independent housing and regain self-sufficiency.  

 

These 119 units of transitional housing will offer various programs such as Adult Literacy, Financial Management, Employment Advancement Skills, and Parenting classes. This property has been donated to MOCOC with a commitment from MOCOC to provide affordable rental housing for 30 years.    

 

 

Merritt Street Development

 

Standard and affordable housing is an important need for the residents of East Albany.  Mt. Olive Outreach Center, Inc. acquired these properties in 2001-2002. This property will be rehabilitated to provide better housing for residents in the community.  Currently there are 27 units to be redeveloped. 

 

 

Woodland Heights

 

In May of 1996, MOCOC was awarded a $5,000,000.00 joint venture project with the City of Albany.  We began construction on this project early in 1998.  This development consists of sixty (60) units that include one, two and three bedroom units.  The final stage of this project was completed in March of 2000.  The project caters to low to moderate-income families in need of decent and affordable housing. 

 

Woodland Heights is a major step towards giving this community a much needed face-lift.  On-site management and maintenance are available and the grounds are neatly landscaped.  

 

 

 

BonnyView

 

Phase I

In 1994, MOCOC completed renovations on two houses and two duplexes in East Albany.  This was MOCOC’s first project and cost the center in excess of $220,000.00 to complete 

 

Phase II

In 1997, MOCOC completed new construction on four houses (two (2) two bedrooms and two(2) three bedrooms).  BonnyView II was MOCOC’s second project and it cost the center approximately $290,000.00.