Unless U breaks ground on site of future "forever home"

On Sunday, Nov. 4, a groundbreaking was held at the future home of Unless U, which offers continuing education for adults with special needs.

The organization, which started in 2014, had land donated by both Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and Jerry and Karen Duncan at 737 Chestnut Street near the church.

Unless U has operated in Shades Mountain Baptist Church since it opened, but the plan was to eventually move into a “forever home,” said Lindy Cleveland, executive director.

The new building will give them room to grow in the future, potentially adding 35 more students, as well as the recognition of a building with their name on it, Cleveland said.

The organization will launch its first capital campaign in February 2019 with a goal of raising $1.3 million in three years. The organization has already set aside more than $300,000 for the project, and Cleveland said she hopes to have a ribbon-cutting on Nov. 4, 2019, the organization's fifth-year anniversary.

At the groundbreaking, Dr. Ammie Akin, campaign chair, said Unless U will forever be grateful for the help of Shades Mountain Baptist, and that everything has “fallen into place seamlessly” to allow Unless U to begin their move into their new home.

Doug Williamson, chairman of the board, told the crowd about the financial details of the project, but said God has been guiding Unless U since its beginning, and that there’s no better time or place to begin building the organization’s “forever home.”

“Yes, this is an ambitious project, but based on all of the events that have led us to today, we are convinced that now is the time and this is the place for the new home of Unless U,” Williamson said.

Unless U focuses on academics for adults with developmental disabilities and seeks to create a college-like atmosphere for high school graduates.

“We really push school, and we want our students to continue to grow in education,” Cleveland said.

Jim Sturdivant, whose son, Daniel, is one of the “founding fathers,” spoke at the groundbreaking about how the organization has benefited their family.

“When I tuck Daniel in on Monday night, on Wednesday night and on Thursday night, it’s a little extra fun,” Sturdivant said. “… He is so excited, because guess what the next day is? It’s Unless U day. Every time, every night, it’s the same way. He is thrilled.

“… If you ever want to see what the kingdom of heaven looks like on earth, and in a version you can actually sense with your five senses … you come to Unless U one day, and you’ll see the kingdom of heaven,” Sturdivant said.

More information about Unless U can be found at unlessu.org.