Christian Outreach in Action (COA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides food, clothes and services for families and individuals in need in Long Beach and nearby communities, announces renown author and activist Susan Burton as its guest speaker for a fund-raising tea event set for Feb. 8.
Burton served six prison sentences before finding support to break the incarceration cycle, ultimately founding A New Way of Life nonprofit organization in Los Angeles twenty years ago. She was named a CNN Hero in 2010, a Purpose Prize winner in 2012, and received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Northridge for her work on behalf of individuals seeking re-entry.
Her memoir, “Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women,” was released in 2017.
“At COA, we routinely encounter individuals just released from jail who have nothing but the clothes they wear. This is a powerful opportunity to learn about real challenges these individuals face trying to re-enter society,” said Dixie Dohrmann, Executive Director for COA. “Susan Burton is very well-known and well-respected for her advocacy on behalf of these individuals, as well as for her wonderful book. We are very blessed to have Ms. Burton present to our community.”
The COA Valentine’s Tea is scheduled for 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at Grace 1st Presbyterian Church, 3955 N. Studebaker Drive in Long Beach. Tickets are $40 each and all proceeds benefit the Hot Meals Program by COA. Tickets are available via COA’s website at www.coalongbeach.org.
Burton eventually became a certified chemical dependency counselor, and her nonprofit organization now has seven transitional houses in the Greater Los Angeles area, helping women transition back into society, secure employment, and recover from drug addiction among other services.
The organization operates a free legal clinic, and each woman is assigned a case worker. In all, Burton has helped more than a thousand women. In recent years the organization expanded and provides about $2 million in donated goods each year, helping more than 3,000 formerly homeless people get items needed to gain a home and live healthy.
More information about Burton’s story and the honor from CSUN is available via https://tinyurl.com/Susan-Burton-CSUN-Honor.
“Helping others with food, clothing, legal advice and more is what COA does for our
community. This is a local speaking engagement not to miss.“
Dixie Dohrmann, Executive Director, COA
“Susan Burton’s story is extraordinary – she overcame immense challenges and made awesome advancements and accomplishments on behalf of thousands of people who truly needed a helping hand,” Dohrmann said. “Helping others with food, clothing, legal advice and more is what COA does for our community. This is a local speaking engagement not to miss.”
About COA COA is a nonprofit organization that provides cooked meals, food banks, a clothing bank, free diapers, a free Legal Aid Clinic, a monthly free senior citizens day, health services and more to families and individuals regardless of income. Located at 515 E. Third St. in downtown Long Beach, the nondenominational nonprofit organization also operates a boutique-thrift store and off-site warehouse for donated items. For more information call 562-432-1440 or email info@coalongbeach.org.