Who We Are: Our Beliefs & Values
Hope Inspired Ministries (HIM) is a faith-based, local non-profit designed to train low-skilled, poorly educated, and/or chronically unemployed men and women to obtain and maintain employment. Through a rigorous 9-week job training program, each student participates in 360 hours of training which includes soft skills, employment skills, financial management, problem solving, conflict resolution and so many other critical skills. Each student participates in an internship with a local business. We conclude the course with a cap and gown graduation where every student offers a 3-5 minute speech regarding lessons learned in the course.
We at HIM believe the best way to help the poor is to train them how to become self-sufficient by utilizing the gifts and abilities that our Creator has bestowed upon each of them. In doing so, we hope to bring honor to our God by the transformation that He produces in our students!
Our Mission
Hope Inspired Ministries serves low-skilled, poorly educated, and chronically unemployed men and women by preparing them to obtain and maintain employment. We do so in a manner that develops individual worth, encourages personal responsibility, and promotes the value and honor of work. We introduce a way of life that promotes the development of the emotional, physical, and spiritual maturity in each student.
Our Team
Volunteer
Students
History
Employers
News & Events
Hope Inspired Ministries seeks to serve those who are low skilled, poorly educated, and chronically unemployed by preparing and equipping them to obtain and maintain employment through a 9-week job training course.
Our program is relational and transformative in nature, providing more than 360 hours of training, including life skills, employment skills, character building, unpaid internships with local businesses and GED training.
What makes our program different is that we are relational in nature, meaning we invest time in peoples’ lives and walk out this process of transformation with each of our students. We are willing to walk hand-in-hand as they walk out this journey and hold them accountable to meet the high standards of our course. We not only want to instill education, soft skills and training into our students, but we also want to help them become the people God intended them to be.
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
John Bowman
Executive Director
John was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Carver High School in 1992. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kim Blackmon, and they have three children: John Austin, Ella Grace, and Eli Martin. He joined the Montgomery Police Department in 1994 to serve the citizens of Montgomery. He has served in many capacities including patrolman, detective, and Chief of Staff. He also enjoys serving as a marriage life group leader and in the children’s area at Journey Church in Prattville, Alabama. He retired from the Montgomery Police Department on January 1, 2020, after serving the citizens of Montgomery for close to 26 years, and began his work with Hope Inspired Ministries as the Executive Director on January 2nd. He can be reached through email at jbowman@hopeinspiredministries.org.
Contact Jo Ann at joann@hopeinspiredministries.org
Karen began working for Hope Inspired Ministries in January 2017, and now serves as the Marketing Director. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University in Montgomery. Karen has been married to Kenneth Boan since 1993. They have three sons, Jackson, Holland and Solomon. Karen enjoys time with her family, which usually involves a sporting event for one of the boys. They attend Landmark Church in Montgomery.
Contact Karen at karen@hopeinspiredministries.org
Karen Boan
Marketing Director
Three Locations To Serve You
Montgomery Campus
145 Coliseum Blvd Montgomery, AL 36109
Jo Ann Johnson
Montgomery Site Director
Jo Ann Johnson began working at Hope Inspired Ministries in April 2018 as the Montgomery Site Director. Jo Ann has over 12 years of nonprofit program management experience and a background in addictions counseling. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Jo Ann has a passion to serve others and believes everyone can achieve their full potential when given the right tools and positive environment to thrive. Jo Ann is married to Dana Johnson, a wildlife biologist, and has two children. When they are not watching their girls play soccer, Jo Ann and her family can be found in the outdoors, gardening, hunting, fishing, or just enjoying nature.
Contact Jo Ann at joann@hopeinspiredministries.org
Angelicia Willis
Graduate Coach
Angelicia started out as a student at Hope Inspired Ministries in January 2017 to get the skills she needed to get her into the workforce. She was the top student in her class and did her internship at HIM for three weeks. She graduated as the Honor Graduate of her class and was hired on full-time as the receptionist. Since being at HIM, she has taken on the roles of receptionist, student recruitment, case manager and instructor, and is currently working as a post-graduate case manager/coach. Angelicia uses her story of redemption and restoration to help show what HIM is doing to impact lives in our community, as well as encourage potential students to start the program. In her spare time, she likes to read and spend time with her family.
Contact Angelicia at angelicia@hopeinspiredministries.org
Heather Paulk
Lead Instructor
Heather began working for Hope Inspired Ministries in December 2017 as a Classroom Instructor and Case Manager. Before being hired, she served on the HIM Young Professional Advisory Board and soon realized she wanted to serve in a higher capacity. Heather has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University. Guided by her passion to serve others, Heather’s career has taken her from an Early Care and Education trainer at Family Guidance Center of Alabama to a Classroom Instructor and Case Manager at HIM. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, any outdoor activity or adventure, cooking and reading. She is a member of Landmark Church.
Contact Heather at heather@hopeinspiredministries.org.
Jarrett White
Career Coach
Jarrett White began working for Hope Inspired Ministries in October of 2019 and
is serving as a Career Coach/ Instructor. He earned a bachelors degree in
Psychology from Huntington and also played football for four years. In his time
away from work he enjoys working out, sports, and being outdoors.
Contact Jarrett at jarrett@hopeinspiredministries.org
Dana Manning
Career Coach
Dana Daniels Manning lived in Mississippi for 30 years prior to moving to Alabama
to pursue a degree in Psychology at Troy University. She has 20 years in finance and
restaurant management experience. She has four wonderful children: Mason,
Maggie, Jagger and Heidi. She has a passion for brokenness because of her own
story of redemption and recovery. She was an alcoholic and addict for 15 plus
years. She also experienced homelessness. She tried everything including getting an education in drug and alcohol counseling to save herself. Dana said, “Until I fully turned my will over to God, I was hopeless. I use my past to instill hope and show grace to our students.” “For with God, nothing is impossible.” Luke 1:37
Contact Dana at dana@hopeinspiredministries.org
Chace Harris
Volunteer Coordinator and Receptionist
Chace Harris is the Volunteer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant for the Montgomery campus of Hope Inspired Ministries. He is a graduate of Faulkner University with a degree in Forensic Psychology, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Liberty University. Chace enjoys playing guitar
and making music. He also enjoys reading, as well as spending time with his family, girlfriend and friends. Chace attends Landmark Church in Montgomery where he is a member of the worship team.
Contact Chase at chace@hopeinspiredministries.org
Birmingham Campus
6523 First Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35206
Myron Thomas
Site Director
Myron was born in Leesville, Louisiana and raised in Athens, Georgia. Myron worked in various positions of leadership while serving in the Air Force for 21 years and retired in October of 2015. He began working for Hope Inspired Ministries in August of 2016 and now serves as the Site Director at our HIM site in Birmingham. Myron holds a B.S. Degree in Biblical Studies from Point University and ministry certification in Pastoral Leadership from Highlands College. Myron has a passion to see people live out their God-given potential.
Myron is married to Jessica Thomas and they have three wonderful children, Myron Jr., Mya and Coleman. Myron Jr. has been in the Air Force for three years and Mya is pursuing a degree in Chemistry from the University of Alabama. Myron and his family are members of the Church of the Highlands and they serve at the Grandview Campus. When time permits throughout the year, Myron likes to go on mission trips locally and abroad. He likes to spend time with family, read, travel and take on new adventures.
Contact Myron at myron@hopeinspiredministries.org
Farrah Wright
Director of Operations
Farrah was hired as the Instructor for the HIM Birmingham campus in 2016. After serving in this role for several years, she was promoted to Director of Operations. Farrah has an incredible story of redemption and her life has shown how the Lord can take any story and bring beauty from ashes.
Farrah grew up in Birmingham, but ran away from home at the age of 17 and battled addiction for the next 10 years. In those 10 years, she experienced homelessness, isolation, suicide attempts and jail. On July 9, 2014, Farrah decided to get clean and entered the Foundry in Bessemer, AL. Her life was completely changed after she entered the program! She graduated from The Foundry in August 2015 and began working at Stellar Construction as an Administrative Assistant where she worked for over a year, as well as mentored women in the Foundry. This is where she began to have a heart for helping people who were coming out of bad situations just like she was and help them not only obtain employment, but learn how to maintain employment.
In 2016, Farrah was accepted into Highlands College and graduated in May of 2018 where she studied Pastoral Leadership. She is married to Del Wright, who works at The Exceptional Foundation helping kids and adults with special needs. Del also serves as a volunteer for Hope Inspired Ministries.
Farrah has walked a very long journey of hopelessness and bad decisions and never thought that she would be where she is today. Because of this, she’s very passionate about helping others achieve this success in all aspects of life and also give them hope, grace and mercy like others have given her.
Contact Farrah at farrah@hopeinspiredministries.org
Birmingham Campus
6523 First Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35206
Darius Haney
Career Coach
Bio: Darius was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He started out as a student in Class 4 of 2017 at our Hope Inspired Ministries site in Birmingham to identify the areas in which he needed to improve in order to reach his maximum potential on his career path. Darius excelled as a student and was the Honor Graduate for his class. Shortly after Darius completed his three-week internship at Hope Inspired Ministries, he was hired as a full-time instructor and coach/case manager in November of 2017. Darius is the father two sons, Prince Qua’Darius and Prince D’arrian who inspire him to excel in all endeavors. He has been an active member of New Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church for the last year. He recently enrolled in Transformation Ministries where he’s being equipped to effectively discern & counsel people that they may truly walk in freedom. In Darius’ leisure time, he enjoys playing basketball, journaling his journey, coloring, cultivating communities through lawn care and spending valuable time with his family. Darius brings energy, excitement and a “Let’s Get It attitude” to the HIM family.
Gene McCord
Career Coach
Bio: Gene was born and raised in Birmingham, AL. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Later that year he married his wife, Bonita, and went to work for the Alabama Department of Corrections. In the evenings he earned his master’s degree from Troy State University in Counseling and Human Development. He transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry where he spent 40 years prior to joining Hope Inspired Ministries in August 2020. While in the pharmaceutical industry Gene completed on-campus programs at Wharton, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and The University of Michigan Business School. He also completed the Restoring The Foundations program at Transformational Ministries. Gene has served on the Church of the Highlands Correctional Ministry Team since around 2013, leading Sunday services and small groups in Donaldson and Bibb men’s correctional facilities. He and Bonita were also Sunday service leaders at Tutwiler Women’s Correctional Facility. Gene and Bonita have a son and daughter living in Alabama. In his free time Gene enjoys time with family, fishing and skeet shooting.
Hayneville Campus
60 Curve Drive Hayneville, AL
Joseph Covington
Instructor
Joseph began working for Hope Inspired Ministries in October 2019 as an Instructor for HIM’s newest site in Lowndes County, Alabama. Joseph has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and education administration fields. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, Master of Science Degree in Education and Doctor of Ministry in Christian Education. He is currently a pastor serving 15 years in ministry. Joe believes in being a servant leader in all phases of life to assist and help others develop into the individuals that God would have them to be. Joseph has been married to Esther Shepard for 36 years and has 3 adult children Jabe, Frank, and Brittany. Joseph enjoys preaching, teaching, reading, golfing and spending time with his beautiful wife, Esther.
Contact Joseph at joe@hopeinspiredministries.org
Alan Wages
Career Coach
Alan began working for Hope Inspired Ministries March 2020. Alan’s family team includes his wife, Rachel, and children – Kaleb, Paizlee, and Anna. Previously, Alan has worked as a Family Studies professor in higher education and with multiple youth and family Christian ministries. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Master’s Degree in Family Studies, and a Ph.D. in Family Studies from Texas Woman’s University. Alan has a passion to meet the needs of others and promoting spiritual, individual, and family development. Additionally, Alan enjoys encouraging parents, especially fathers, in their purposeful efforts to shepherd the hearts of their children. He is an active member of Montgomery Inner City Church of Christ and loves to lead worship!
Contact Alan at alan@hopeinspiredministries.org