About Us

Our Mission

Branches provides life-changing opportunities to hardworking families and their children to help them break the cycle of generational poverty.

Our Mission is to serve, educate and inspire people through student, family and financial wellness services in partnership with our communities.

We fulfill our mission by engaging children, youth and adults with opportunities for them to become better educated, more financially stable, able to make long-term, positive life choices and to know God. Our focus is on student achievement, family services, and financial wellness and our programs serve children, youth, adults and families through our three respective program areas.

Our History

Branches was established in 1973 as the urban and social justice agency of what is now the South East District of the United Methodist Church. Up until 1999, Branches focused on grassroots organizing, advocacy and working with community members who were disadvantaged and/or experiencing social injustice.

During this period, Branches focused resources in the areas of social crisis, immigration, housing, hospice care and hurricane relief, among others. Since 2000, Branches has embarked on developing and implementing programs that address the root causes of poverty and address immediate and critical needs.

Today, Branches’ menu of services provides a continuum of support to community members to empower them to pursue life changing opportunities. To learn more about our story, please visit our 50th Anniversary page.