Our History
Transform Dublin grew from an idea created by former City of Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman. In August 2014, Chief Chatman launched the Transformer Initiative in Dublin/Laurens County. Focuses of the initiative included reading, mentoring, job assistance, second chance programs, and temporary housing/solutions to gang-related problems. The Transformer Initiative involved several partnerships, including those with the Dublin City School System, State of Georgia Employment Agency, The Career Academy, West Laurens Middle School, East Laurens High School, and Oconee Fall Line Technical College.
In 2017, Chief Chatman and then-Mayor Phil Best, Sr. visited Selma, Alabama. They visited Blue Jean Selma, a church in Selma, Alabama. Mayor Best knew he wanted to be more involved in Chief Chatman’s vision for the Dublin and its most vulnerable community members. Discussions continued, and in February of 2021Mayor Best and Chief Chatman visited Selma once more. After retiring from their longtime community-driven careers in May (Chief Chatman) and June (Mayor Best), the two leaders dove headfirst into molding The Transformer Initiative into what it is today: Transform Dublin.
On October 29, 2021, Transform Dublin become a legal not-for-profit tax-exempt entity, and as of June 2022, we are officially a registered Charitable Organization in Georgia.
Our Work & Our Dream
The goal of Transform Dublin is to help those individuals who would not typically be considered in mainstream employment find work and build lives for themselves and their families. Transform Dublin aims to assist corporations and businesses fill their employment needs with hardworking individuals looking to build a brighter future for themselves and their community.
Transform Dublin has been incredibly blessed by its knowledgeable board members and hardworking volunteer teachers. Learn more about how Transform Dublin operates here.
Our hope for this organization is to help our community thrive by giving every person who desires a better future an opportunity to grow and build a successful, fruitful life.
If you’d like to become a strategic partner, volunteer with our organization, donate, or get involved in other ways, we encourage you to reach out to Tim Chatman, our CEO, or Breona Jenkins, our Deputy Director. Contact us here.
