Help Enable 50 adults to achieve their dreams

Partners in Change was thrilled to welcome over 130 PIC community members and friends to our Celebrate and Connect event on Dec. 7, 2024. Two wonderful PIC graduates spoke at the gathering about the personal impact their PIC coaching partnership had on their lives and their sense of self.

Below are highlights from their speeches. Their sincere reflections bring to life the power of your heartfelt gifts to Partners in Change. 

PIC Graduate Sparkle Cotton, Speaking of her Experience with her PIC Coach Scott Doyne:

"At the time that I learned about Partners in Change, I was going through a devastating life change. I was paralyzed and very afraid to put one foot in front of the other.

Little did I know that this would be the most transformative experience of my life.

Whenever I would had a challenging moment, my coach Scott would be there to push me. There were times where he’d just sit there and listen to me with no judgement. That really meant a lot.

Throughout my meetings with Scott my confidence grew, my communication skills improved tremendously, as well as my self-worth. I now have a newfound perspective in life and I know my value.

What I now know for certain is that I’m free to be me any given moment. I have a sense of self-security, a sense of self-love. I now affirm my own worth and trust my own abilities and my judgement. I set boundaries when needed. I am even more empowered to take charge of my own destiny and I create agency.

When I started on this journey I was jobless. I eventually started working a part-time job and now I’m working a full-time job with benefits. I have completed trainings that have set me on the path to becoming a daycare owner.

Success is in knowing that once I’ve accomplished a goal, I feel that the success is in what I’ve learned, the experience I’ve gained, not what I have to show for it.

My proudest accomplishment is that I am now a public speaker and I’m a life coach! I now get to help someone who’s on their own journey to self-discovery."

PIC Graduate Michelle Tiller, Speaking about her Experience with her PIC Coach Cynthia Culbreath:

"I just want to say that Partners in Change is the only matchmaking service that I’ve ever been successful with.

I was probably the worst partner my Coach has probably had! Because I was all over the place. I had all kinds of ideas of all the things I could do…She helped me tone it down and commit and come up with some SMART goals.

I graduated last year. But I’m not gonna lie. I haven’t let them go. I still reach out to Partners in Change. I’ve invited them to our school to talk to our students because I realize the benefits that come from being in programs such as this.

I was introduced to Partners in Change through my school. I was embarrassed to be in school in my 40’s. I was a three-time college dropout…You can have all the confidence in the world on the outside. But on the inside, your insecurities, your inner battles can get you.

This program was an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, to talk to someone who wasn’t in my head saying “hey girl, uh uh girl don’t do that.” So Cynthia was the one to say “go do it! And if you don’t do it, allow yourself some grace. Don’t beat yourself up so much."

I’m human. I’m not perfect. And I’m coachable. I don’t believe that I’m too old to listen to good advice. And that’s what Cynthia did for me. She didn’t make my goals for me. She didn’t tell me what I needed to do.

I now know you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.

If only there was a PIC Member loyalty punch card. I would have lots of punches, because I want to know how I can sign up again. And then I want Cynthia, so she can see how well I’m doing."

Links:

• Partners in Change Accomplishments Newsletter Oct-Dec 2024
• Partners in Change website