NEIGHBOR NETWORK
LIFE GROUPS
Mission 1:27’s Life Groups provide a small group experience that brings neighbors of all ages together to develop friendships, share life, and receive instruction on a variety of topics. We invite you to join us!
Relationships make people stronger. Working together, Life Group members create an environment where dynamic and encouraging relationships can be developed. Building community, investing in the lives right in front of us, requires us to take the long view. It takes time. As we share stories and prayers for health and family members and we keep a good eye out for one another, we grow closer. And, by helping one another, Life Groups say to one another, “You matter.”
Life Groups include absolutely free dinner, childcare, and program costs and gather in the following locations. Email the group leader for more information and to join.
Walton Ridenour - Wiliam & Charlotte Johnson, wjohnson@mission127.ngo
Walton Reserve - Carlton & Sonya Morris, reservelifegroup@mission127.ngo
Walton Ridge - Jeremy & Tiffany Abernathy, ridgelifegroup@mission127.ngo
Walton Summit - Kasey Catrett, summitlifegroup@mission127.ngo
Walton Village - Lucius & Pearl Rouser, villagelifegroup@mission127.ngo
FOOD CO-OPS
The Mission 1:27 Food Co-ops are resident-led programs that help low to moderate income families stretch their food budgets by providing very low cost, quality meats, canned goods, shelf staple items and fresh produce – all while building a sense of community working together.
The Food Co-ops, run by community partner, Food Security for America, a non-profit, faith-based organization, supplements the pantries of participants, stretching their food budgets and freeing up dollars that can be put to work in other areas for the family. Residents share the responsibilities of food distribution, as well as their lives with one another.
There is a one-time $5 application fee to join the Food Co-op, which meets every other week in select Walton communities. A $4 bi-weekly participation fee allows residents to receive approximately $100 worth of groceries at each meeting.
Food Co-ops are available in the following communities:
Legacy at Walton Village - Meets every other Tuesday, 6:30 pm in the Adventure Center
Legacy at Walton Oaks - Meets every other Thursday, 10 am in the Legacy Center
Legacy at Walton Green - Meets every other Thursday
Walton Reserve - Meets every other Tuesday, 6:30 pm in Town Hall
Walton Trail - Meets every other Tuesday
COUNSELING
Mission 1:27 provides on-site counseling at Walton Village through a unique partnership with Richmont Graduate University, a post-secondary educational university for students seeking certifications in the fields of counseling and trauma.
Residents at all of Walton’s affordable communities are eligible to participate in these free, confidential counseling sessions. In addition to in-person counseling, virtual sessions are also available to Walton residents, Monday through Thursday.
MEET THE COUNSELORS
Shannon Dohn, MA, APC – Clinical Coordinator and Counselor
Shannon works with Walton Communities to coordinate free counseling services for residents and employees. She passionately advocates for increased support to vulnerable populations facing poverty, trauma, and isolation. In her role, she manages the schedules of on-site and telemental health therapists and interns, ensuring they meet the needs of Walton residents. Shannon also works directly with clients in both individual and group settings, fostering environments of compassion, healing, and community.
As an Associate Professional Counselor (APC), Shannon specializes in helping adults and couples navigate trauma, relationship issues, anxiety, and depression. She is dedicated to whole-heartedly joining her clients, providing practical tools, a safe space, and humorous metaphors, along with endless empathy, to help them create the lives they want to live.
Joyace Cook – Counseling Intern
As a therapist, Joyace provides a supportive environment where clients can freely share their burdens. Her areas of focus include families, veterans and their dependents, couples, trauma, grief, loss, chronic pain, identity concerns, and life transitions. She uses evidence-based practices to help clients reframe their narratives and find healing. She is especially passionate about working with couples and families seeking to thrive and live life purposefully and passionately. Whether navigating the complexities of past relationships or pursuing new ones, Joyace is committed to walking alongside her clients on their journey.
Joyace is pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Richmont Graduate University, specializing in couples, marriage, family therapy, and trauma counseling, with plans to graduate in May 2025. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Jackson State University and spent much of her career in the legal field. Now, she is dedicated to helping others become the best version of themselves.
Devon Brown - Counseling Intern
Devon believes in breaking down walls that people may have built to protect themselves, repairing and creating new pathways to help us confidently navigate this world. Devon loves creating a non-judgmental, safe place to explore ideas and think creatively about finding ways to serve you uniquely as the client. Devon will seek to understand and learn as you walk together toward healing.
Devon is a student at Richmont Graduate University pursuing his master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He plans to complete his degree in May 2025 with a specialization in trauma. Devon received his bachelor's degree in Business and Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Columbus State University. Devon also obtained his credentials as a licensed minister shortly after college.
Counseling services are offered to Walton Renaissance residents in person on Thursdays between 10am and 2pm. There is also art group therapy offered there once a month.
In addition, Walton Communities offers additional counseling partners for its residents. Walton will pay for up to four visits per family per calendar year (with a $10 co-pay per visit by the resident). Be sure to tell them you are a Walton Communities resident when you make your appointment. Follow the link to find available counselors - Walton Communities Resident Programs. All counseling sessions are confidential.
SINGLE PARENT PROGRAM
Mission 1:27’s Single Parent Program is designed to inspire and encourage single parents as they raise their children. Single parents learn that they aren’t alone as they meet other single parents in their own community and in neighboring communities in the area. The group meets monthly for a themed event that provides fun, fellowship and educational opportunities for participants. Topics include things like couponing, basic car care, time management, decorating on a budget, parenting and more. child care and meals are provided free of charge for each meeting. In addition to monthly meetings, the group is connected to community resources to help them on their parenting journey and to meet special needs as they arise. For information about this group, email Pat Newman.