Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Cozart.
Hi Rhonda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Rhonda Cozart, Founder and Executive Director of Jewels Outreach & Networking, Inc., recently reflected on the organization’s remarkable 10-year journey of serving the Durham community. Guided by the motto S.L.A.E. — Serve, Love, Advocate, Educate, Jewels Outreach has become a trusted resource for individuals and families facing food insecurity, housing challenges, and other barriers to stability.
During the interview, Cozart shared how the organization advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves through educational Lunch & Learn sessions addressing Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, as well as workshops focused on financial literacy, budgeting, mental health, and nutrition.
A cornerstone of Jewels Outreach’s work is combating food insecurity. Through a partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina, the organization hosts monthly food distributions every second Saturday at KIPP Durham College Preparatory School, providing fresh food and resources to families throughout the community.
The organization also serves Durham’s unsheltered population by providing quarterly hot meals, clothing drives, and essential resources at a local park adopted by the nonprofit. Additional initiatives have included diaper drives, fundraising efforts to assist students with delinquent lunch accounts, support for small businesses during the pandemic through community pop-up shops, and outreach programs benefiting senior living communities during Mother’s Day and Christmas.
Cozart highlighted the organization’s partnership with the McKinney-Vento Program in Durham Public Schools, which supports students and families experiencing homelessness. Through this partnership, Jewels Outreach has helped create opportunities for young people, including assisting a student in achieving her goal of attending college.
As Jewels Outreach celebrates a decade of impact, Cozart expressed gratitude to the community, donors, volunteers, and partners whose support has made the work possible. Looking toward the future, the organization hopes to secure a permanent building and land to expand programs, increase services, and continue meeting the growing needs of the community.
For 10 years, Jewels Outreach & Networking, Inc. has remained committed to restoring hope, strengthening communities, and demonstrating that service rooted in love can transform lives.
Community members, businesses, churches, and organizations interested in partnering with Jewels Outreach are encouraged to get involved. Partnership opportunities, volunteer information, and ways to support the mission can be found at www.jewelsoutreach.com or by emailing jewelsnet2016@gmail.com. Together, we can continue creating lasting change throughout our community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We’ve been bless to have a community that supports however we could make a greater impact if we had land and our own building and of course more funding. Having our own building would allow us an opportunity to grow and expand our vision. Land would allow us to build tiny homes for those in transition. Our vision is bigger than we are and it will require collaboration, corporate sponsors and our community.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I couldn’t do this work without a team! I want to first thank God for allowing me to be the visionary of Jewels Outreach. My husband Johnnie Cozart Jr and my family are a major support system. I have an amazing community and my village of friends provides incredible support through prayer and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JewelsOutreach.com
- Instagram: Jewels Outreach
- Facebook: Jewels Outreach & Networking is a group on Facebook
- LinkedIn: Jewels Outreach
