By Dianne Anderson

Compassion, not to be confused with pity, always goes that extra mile and usually includes an action clause, something that Time for Change Foundation has become known for in helping domestic violence survivors, formerly incarcerated women and low-income mothers who have gone down the harder roads of life.

On Friday, April 14, the community will come out in celebration of their program’s success for an evening of sparkle and shine at their premier social event of the year. The annual masquerade-themed gala also pays homage to like-minded local advocates who exemplify what it means to have a heart.

Award recipient Dr. Eliz Dowdy recalls first meeting Kim Carter, the founder of Time for Change, decades ago, and hearing her vision for the programming, about her plans to reach women and moms in trouble.

Where others saw them as a problem in society, Carter saw the solution.

“Anytime you reach out to others from a genuine point of caring, it is a form of compassion. Having lived through the horrors of incarceration, and all the stigma it attracts, especially for Black and Brown women – it has really brought out that tree of life,” said Dr. Dowdy, founder and Pastor of Lion of Judah Worship Center.

Dr. Dowdy, also owner and operator of Eliz’ Elegant Apparel, is being recognized with the Ramos Family Spirit of Compassion Award.

Other award recipients include Webb Family Enterprises with the Community Champion Award; Hilda Kennedy, president and founder of AmPac Tri State CDC with the Nancy Varner Angel Award; the Latino Community Foundation with the Courageous Philanthropy Award and Kat Taylor, social, racial, gender and environmental advocate, with the Humanitarian Award.

The event, which requires registration, runs from 6:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport.

Dr. Dowdy, also a long-time reporter with the Precinct Reporter, said it is an honor to be acknowledged. She said that while other organizations and nonprofits may give an illusion of working for change, often times founders get more attention than the community they serve.

In watching how Time for Change has grown over the years, she said it speaks volumes about the level of compassion needed to make the community thrive.

“There many nuances that may masquerade as compassion, but she’s an example,” Dr. Dowdy said. “I think compassion displays itself in various streams. Compassion is like love, it moves you to get involved and engaged. You can’t just sit there and rock back and forth.”

She said the role that Time for Change plays in society has an exponential impact, not just for young women, but their children, and children’s children.

“Kim is the living example of that abundant life because even though the trunk of the tree may have been diseased from the roots, she has helped these women to have a new life,” she said.

Since starting her women’s activist effort over 20 years ago, Carter has had hundreds of stories written across several media, starting with the Precinct Reporter. In 2015, she was recognized as a top ten CNN Hero and recognized in numerous national news sources, including Steve Harvey. James Irvine and California Endowment have all spotlighted her successful reentry methods to benefit over 2,000 women from the Inland Empire to the Bay area.

The gala event will also spotlight the launch of its recently renovated 10,000-square-foot Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (B-BOP) Center, which held its grand opening last month to provide business training, leadership and networking for women.

That all-inclusive center offers a 14-room entrepreneurial hub, expected to be open 16 hours a day offering Wi-Fi, laptops for checkout if needed, and three separate conference rooms to meet up with investors. The program also has a 12-week curriculum, along with mixers with local Chambers of Commerce and high-caliber professional connections.

Pastor Dowdy sees the movement of the organization as a way to repair and restore the lives of many women who were lost to society.

“Many people see the homeless, and say they did something [wrong]. If they just went to work and if and if and if. That’s not compassion, that’s judgmental and critical,” she said. “Jesus said how can you say you love Me and don’t do the things I say?”

Kima Russell said that Dr. Dowdy was chosen for the honor because of her longstanding commitment and dedication to the community.

“She has served in multiple capacities, yet her focus has been on giving back and building people up. She has been here for the long haul and is so deserving to be recognized for her [valuable] work,” said Russell, director of operations for B-BOP Center, a project of Time for Change Foundation.

Russell said Dr. Dowdy reflects the qualities and mission of Time for Change because people are also her mission.

“As she seeks to empower and equip people, the work she does ties back into the community and that is what TFCF is about. Empowering and uplifting women,” she said.

Registration is $150. To register for the event, to sponsor and increase your business visibility in the community, see www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org, or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994