Lower Lights Ministries has been dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and helping individuals and families thrive for more than three decades. In its early years, the organization focused on supporting families in crisis by helping them meet their basic needs. Over time, Lower Lights Ministries has evolved to provide a range of services, all designed to help people find stability, opportunity, and hope.
“We want to see children, youth, and adults strong, thriving, and flourishing,” said Emmalyn Jerome, CEO of Lower Lights Ministries. “Our mission is to create safe and stable environments for people to discover who they are, build a sense of identity, and grow and develop into strong leaders.”
Serving residents in Franklinton and the Hilltop, Lower Lights Ministries offers:
- Supportive housing programs to formerly incarcerated women and families experiencing housing instability and to women recovering from substance use disorders;
- Enriching personal and educational opportunities to youth through the organization’s Community Learning Center and youth mentoring program; and
- Mentoring and supportive services to adults through the Lower Lights Outreach Services program, helping them overcome barriers and achieve personal goals.
Although the scope of these programs may seem expansive, Jerome explained that each is developed with input from the individuals that the organization serves. According to Jerome, this responsive and relational approach recognizes people as individuals with complex, interconnected lives.
“We invest in the restoration of the whole person,” said Jerome. “People come with a lot of assets and strengths, but often those have been pushed down because survival mode has taken over. That’s where we come in: to create environments for people to overcome challenges and get to that next step.”
“Our mission is to create safe and stable environments for people to discover who they are, build a sense of identity, and grow and develop into strong leaders.”
EMMALYN JEROME, CEO OF LOWER LIGHTS MINISTRIES
A few years ago, Lower Lights Ministries was approached by a single father in the organization’s supportive housing program. He wanted to know if Lower Lights Ministries had ever considered offering childcare. As Jerome shared, the more Lower Lights Ministries reflected on the opportunity, the more childcare seemed like a perfect fit—especially considering the need for more high-quality, affordable childcare options in neighborhoods like the Hilltop.
In collaboration with early childhood experts, Lower Lights Ministries formulated a plan to build an accessible, affordable, and high-quality childcare center. After purchasing a former pharmacy that had fallen into disrepair, Lower Lights Ministries—with the generous support of the community—transformed the blighted property into a colorful, inviting space for young learners.
In 2024, Lower Lights Ministries officially opened the Lower Lights Child Enrichment Center, which now serves infants and children up to age 5. Recognizing the importance of high-quality early learning experiences for local families, The Columbus Foundation, its Supporting Foundations, and its donors awarded more than $325,000 in grants toward the project. With the Child Enrichment Center now operating, Lower Lights Ministries is helping to develop young minds so that children, too, can grow into healthy, thriving adults.
“Our focus is not just getting kids ready for Kindergarten, but getting them ready for life,” said Jerome. “We’re partnering with families to help children build resiliency and core life skills.”