OUR STORY

Our Beginning

The Potter’s Wheel began as ‘Potter’s Wheel Inner City Mission’, an outreach of Evansville’s Oak Hill Christian Center (OHCC) ministry, in 2003. The neighborhood around the church campus was in decline and had become inundated with criminal activity. The Potter’s Wheel had a desire to see the neighborhood restored into a thriving community. As a result of feedback from the families served, a clothing bank, food pantry, and soup kitchen were organized to meet basic physical needs in the surrounding community. The Potter’s Wheel Inner City Mission was organized as a separate entity from OHCC and became incorporated on October 6, 2003 as The Potter’s Wheel; it received 501(c)3 status in June 2004.

Our Present

The Potter’s Wheel primarily serves the neighborhoods of Goosetown, Tepe Park, Culver, and Glenwood. Through the SouthSide Kids Zone (SSKZ), a pipeline of services providing cradle to career support, Potter’s Wheel is helping children and their families thrive. Kids are being equipped to succeed at Glenwood Leadership Academy (GLA) and Bosse High School using proven methods and programs. Adults are being empowered to parent well and provide for their family through parenting classes and support groups. Transformation of the neighborhood occurs when students excel and launch into adulthood successfully, being fully aware they can thrive right where they live. Potter’s Wheel aims to be part of neighborhood transformation with each family it serves. Potter’s Wheel continues to serve as a neighborhood hub, opening its doors to neighbors for community meals twice a week and a clothing bank. Potter’s Wheel hosts neighborhood events like worship gatherings, school supply and school uniform sales, block parties and more.

Our Future

The Potter’s Wheel has big plans to expand its’ SouthSide Kids Zone pipeline of services to each and every student in our neighborhood attending GLA and Bosse over the coming years. We work closely with EVSC, Glenwood Leadership Academy and other community partners to scale efforts that improve student achievement in reading and math. From kindergarten readiness to graduation, Potter’s Wheel serves students for their success.