Staff - Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Kimberly J. Parker

Executive Director

Kimberly has degrees from Barton College (BS), United States Sports Academy (MSS), and Columbia Theological Seminary (MDiv).

She worked eight years as an exercise physiologist at the University of South Alabama Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and three years in campus ministry prior to attending seminary.

Upon graduating from Columbia in 2004, Kimberly was hired for a part-time position with Central Outreach and Advocacy Center. Her job description has changed three times during her years at the OAC. She was appointed Executive Director in September 2013.

Sonja Hodges

Employment Specialist

Sonja is originally from Dillon, SC, and moved to Atlanta as a child.

Sonja has several years of case management experience working with and for non-profit agencies. She previously worked for Fulton County DFCS, Georgia Dept of Human Services, and Atlanta Community Food Bank, assisting individuals in obtaining employment and additional supportive benefits.

She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and crafting.

Camille Frink

Supportive Services Coordinator

Camille moved to Atlanta in 2022 from her home state of Louisiana. After receiving her BS in Public Health from Tulane University in 2019, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in the South Pacific and went on to serve as an Americorps VISTA in New Orleans. She graduated with a Master of Social Work from Georgia State University in 2024.

In her spare time, Camille enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Amy Kirkland

Administrative Specialist

Amy is originally from Pickens, South Carolina and has called Atlanta home since 2005.

She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture from Clemson University and spent 25 years working in the Green Industry bringing beauty to the world through landscaping and seasonal flower installations. Amy’s upbringing provided her with a passion for contributing to the community and giving back to others. As 2020 unfolded, she began focusing on the contribution and impact she could make to the Atlanta community to address the variety of injustices currently present in the world. She focused her efforts on working with individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in the metro-Atlanta area.

When not at the OAC, Amy loves to garden for both food and flowers. She and her spouse also love dogs, especially spending time with her two senior shih tzus. Amy enjoys traveling the world to visit old churches, taking long walks through mountain trails and on beaches, and finding fun local craft beers.

O.J. Flowers

Communication Coordinator

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, O.J. Flowers spent most of his adolescent years in sunny, southern California. O.J. earned his B.A. in Business from Arizona State University, specializing in Management and Marketing and his Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Columbia Theological Seminary.

O.J. is the Associate Pastor of Christian Education, Youth, and Community Ministries at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA.

O.J. enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Lori, and anything associated with college football. O.J. joined the OAC staff as the Communication Assistant in February of 2022.

Sarah Zimbardi

Advocacy Coordinator

Sarah originally came to Central OAC after graduating college, working for a year as an outreach advocate through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. This experience fueled her passion for homelessness advocacy, leading her to pursue a Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law. During law school, Sarah again found herself called to the OAC, where she spent a summer working as an Advocacy intern.

Post-graduation, Sarah worked as a Public Defender in Fulton County for six years, representing adults facing felony charges. During that time, Sarah also served on the Board of the OAC for five years as well as on the OAC’s Advocacy Committee.

In 2021, Sarah and her family relocated to Perth, Australia where she spent two years as a full-time mom, exploring the playgrounds, wildlife, and children’s classes in Perth.

Upon moving back to Atlanta in May 2023, Sarah reconnected with the OAC as a weekly volunteer until she joined the staff in January 2024 as the Advocacy Coordinator.

Interns

Austyn – Columbia Theological Seminary

Meet Austyn Long, our new Chaplaincy intern from Columbia Theological Seminary. Austyn is a 3rd year M.Div./MA Practical Theology Student, and hopes to learn about the spirituality of everyday moments, and how to respond with care and intention in spiritual crises. She also hopes to learn more about the challenges facing individuals experiencing homelessness and how our institutions can lesson or increase those challenges.

Outside of school, Austyn gets a lot of joy from being outdoors hiking, birdwatching, or gardening. However, you may find her cooking and learning how to make new dishes. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends and making art! She recharges by knitting , painting watercolors, and making stamps. But did you know, that in undergrad she studied physics and built a little robot in her capstone class?!

Bella – Georgia State University

Meet Bella, our new Social Work intern from Georgia State University. While at the OAC, Bella hopes to connect with community resources and learn how to best service people experiencing homelessness. Outside of school, Bella is an avid concert goer! Her favorite artist that she has seen this year is Fontaines D.C. To recharge Bella spends quality time with friends, even if the activity is mundane. A fun fact about Bella, is that her favorite holiday is Halloween.

Corey – Candler School of Theology

Meet Corey, our new Chaplaincy intern from Candler School of Theology. While at the OAC, Corey hopes to learn how to spiritually support guests in a social work setting. Outside of school, Corey enjoys spending time with Scully (cat) and Roxy (dog). To recharge, Corey enjoys creative writing. Also, did you know that Corey went to college to become an opera singer!

Kandice – Georgia State University

Meet our new Georgia State University intern, Kandice Dinkins who is studying Social Work. Kandice hopes to gain practical experience in applying social work theories to real-world situations, to develop her skills in client interactions, and to learn from experienced professionals in the field.

Outside of school, Kandice finds joy in spending time with friends and family, exploring new places, and volunteering in her community, which allows her to connect with others and make a positive impact.

To recharge, Kandice loves to read, particularly fiction and self-development books. It allows her to escape into different worlds and gain new perspectives.

A fun fact about her is that she’s very musically inclined. She plays multiple instruments such as the piano, trumpet, saxophone and her favorite, the clarinet. Music has always been a fantastic way for her to express her creativity and meet new people!

Kandy – Georgia State University

Meet our new Georgia State University intern, Kandy Gordon. Kandy is majoring in Psychology (with an emphasis on community and developmental psychology) and a minor in criminal justice. While at the OAC, Kandy hopes to deepen her understanding of how to support individuals who are experiencing homelessness or navigating housing insecurity, especially as it intersects with mental health and systemic barriers. She wants to gain hands-on experience in intake and resource coordination, learn best practices for building trust with vulnerable populations, and better understand how community organizations like Central OAC create meaningful change. Her goal is to take what she learns and apply it to future work in mental health advocacy and youth support programs.

Outside of school, Kandy enjoys spending time with her three “babies.” Whether laughing over dinner, cheering at one of her sons’ soccer games, or being silly during family game night or a cozy movie night. Building happy memories with them reminds her why she’s passionate about helping other families find stability and hope.

To recharge, Kandy enjoys visiting a local waterfall in solitude to sit, write, and reflect. It’s her quiet space to recharge creatively and emotionally in nature; a place where she can process life, work on her book, and find clarity when things feel overwhelming.

A little fun fact about Kandy is that during her junior year of high school, she entered a national poetry contest and her poem was chosen as one of only three selected from the entire state of Connecticut to be published in a national poetry anthology.

Mikayla – Georgia State University

Meet our new Georgia State University intern, Mikayla Wilson. She is majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Population and Behavioral Science, with plans to pursue a master’s in public health. During her time at OAC, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the social and environmental factors that impact homelessness and to gain hands-on experience in identifying the roots of community health disparities and exploring effective ways to address them.

Mikayla is a huge foodie and enjoys exploring the city by visiting new restaurants. Whenever she’s feeling drained, she likes to read, specifically romance or fantasy, as it provides a brief reprieve from everyday stresses. Additionally, she also enjoys writing poems, often drawing inspiration from whatever emotion she’s feeling and expressing it through her words.

Development

For development/fundraising inquiries, please contact the development team at [email protected].