Better Way Outreach Ministries, Inc.

Elder Harriet M. Noakes is the Program Director and Founder of Better Way Outreach Ministries Inc. Elder Noakes has a B.A. from Morgan State University, a Master’s of Divinity from Virginia Union University and a Master’s degree from Loyola University of Maryland in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Care and holds a membership with the Alpha Nu Omega Greek Organization.  She is an Elder at the New Antioch Church where she is the Director of the Outreach Ministry.  As an experienced counselor for many years in many areas, she is also the director of Substance Abuse Ministry, HIV/AIDS Ministry, and Crisis Prevention.  She served in the United States Army and worked as a correctional officer with the Maryland Division of Corrections.  She has volunteered with the department of Juvenile Justice, Woodbourne Center for troubled children and at the Charles Hickey School for Boys.  She has facilitated a mentoring program for “at risk” young women for the Department of Juvenile Justice.   Her organization is currently implementing a new youth program- “Major Impact” to further assist underserved and at risk youth to become more positive and productive citizens in their home and their communities.  She conducts weekly group sessions for women young and the young at heart, concerning health issues.  She also conducts monthly workshops on abuse, addiction, HIV/AIDS, other diseases and life skills workshops for men, women, and children.  She has worked with Health Care for the Homeless in providing housing for some of its female clients. She conducts a conference once a year for women on the importance of survival.  She brings faith-based concepts with academic expertise into the organization.

 

Every Thursday, Elder Noakes’ organization conducts their outreach ministry for the community where she and her volunteers give food and personal care items to approx. 300 per week and over 1200 individuals a month.  Elder Noakes is in partnership with numerous community organization to make servicing the needs of the community a success such as St Vincent De Paul, Diakon, H&S Bakery, Panera Bread, Safeway, Dollar General, and the Maryland Food Bank just to name a few.  Aside from the weekly mandate, Better Way Outreach facilitates several major events every year – Transformation Community Event, HIV/AIDS Workshop, Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway, Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless and the community, and the Christmas Event where more than 3000 toys are distributed to underserved children in Baltimore City and abroad.  Elder Noakes and her organization have pioneered each year in taking measures to assure that the needs of the community are met for the holidays.  Just last year alone for Thanksgiving, Better Way Outreach Ministries fed and supplied food baskets to over 4000 individuals and families.  Elder Noakes also partners with the Marine Corps Toy For Tots organization for which she is able to supply toys to over 1500 children for the Christmas holiday.  Elder Noakes and her organization also volunteers their time and skills to assist in the daily operations of the Toys For Tots facility each year where she is able to network and collaborate with other community agencies to ensure that no need is left uncovered.

 

On a more personal note, Elder Noakes loves to sing and has had the pleasure of singing with such greats as Albertina Walker, James Cleveland, Richard Smallwood, Shirley Caesar, Lady Esther Ford of the Ward Singers, and many others. She’s featured on the Voices of Antioch’s CD singing: He'll Make A Way. Elder Noakes’ desire is to provide assistance to those in need that will bring about personal growth both emotionally, and spiritually.  She believes that in building self-esteem and self worth, we improve on building better lives and better communities.