Who We Are

Community New Start is a holistic ministry with the vision to strengthen communities that have been weakened by poverty, lack of education, and isolation. The role of CNS is to connect caring people with one another to help meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of the individual and the community where they live. We have served in the St. John community, one of the poorest in Austin, for more than 10 years. We are supported by area churches and caring partners that offer time and resources to people who need to know the love of God expressed in tangible ways.

Our History

In 1996, Community New Start (CNS), originally known as New Start, began as the mercy ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church with the purpose of serving poor families, the homeless and single mothers. Many of the families that New Start served lived in the St. John neighborhood.

In 2003, Community New Start was established as an independent non-profit ministry and narrowed its focus exclusively on the St. John community. CNS identified a need for assistance with after-school care for elementary age youth. Soon thereafter, CNS partnered with Shreveport Bossier Community Renewal and adopted their philosophy of relationship-based ministry that has greatly influenced the success of our innovative after-school program known as Smart Start. More than an after-school program, CNS set about creating a culture of caring that was based upon authentic relationships with the parents of the children in the program.

By 2005, the children that had grown up in Smart Start were beginning to enter middle school. CNS continued serving these children through after-school group activities at Webb Middle School. However, the new dynamics of the middle school setting called for a new strategy for reaching these youth. In 2007, the middle school program became Side by Side, a mentoring program designed to provide Smart Start graduates and other neighborhood youth with trustworthy Christian mentors that could help them navigate the challenges of middle school and beyond.

CNS Staff

Silvestre "Sly" Guzman - Executive Director

Molly Fohn - Side By Side & Volunteer Program Coordinator

Celia Lugo - Smart Start Program Coordinator

Reyes Castillo - Smart Start Site Coordinator

Vacant - Smart Start Site Coordinator

Michelle Horsley - Office Intern

CNS Board of Directors

Tollie Bernard - Bernard Wealth Management

Nathaniel Bruce - Board of Director

Bill Daniel - Board of Director

Stephen Hurd - Board Chairman

Jim Offerdahl - Convio, Inc.

Martha N. Ovando, Ph. D. - The University of Texas at Austin

David Porter - A Glimmer of Hope Foundation

Michael Watt - Vice Chairman

David Potter - Board of Director

Michael Shannon - ViaNovo