Transformations CDC is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that provides social services to immigrants in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. ¹ It also advocates for eliminating the practice of detaining immigrants and eliminating the funding of detention centers used to hold immigrants awaiting trial. ²

Transformations CDC is a member of Restore Public Trust, a coalition of organizations that advocated for blacklisting the employment of Trump administration officials who helped create, implement, or defend the administration’s immigration policy that resulted in some immigrants being detained separately from their families. ^{3 4}

Background

Transformations CDC is a left-of-center charitable organization that is formally known as COS​ ​Community​ ​Development​ ​Corporation. ⁵ It was originally founded as a project of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour (La Iglesia de Nuestro Salvador) in Cincinnati, Ohio. ¹

Transformations CDC provides social services to migrants seeking asylum after crossing the United States-Mexico border and to immigrants living in the Cincinnati area. ^{6 1} It also advocates for expansionist immigration and left-of-center housing and employment policies. ⁵

Trump Administration Official Blacklist

In April 2019, Transformations CDC cosigned an open letter titled, “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs,” written by Restore Public Trust that listed Trump administration officials whom it advises businesses bar from future employment and consulting gigs and cancel any business with employers of any of the listed individuals. The letter listed officials based on their role in developing, implementing, or for defending the Trump administration’s immigration policy that detained immigrants separate from their families. It blamed the detention of immigrants for violence against and deaths of children of detained immigrants. ³

In May 2019, Transformations CDC co-signed an open letter written by Restore Public Trust titled, “Groups Call on Universities and Colleges to Repudiate Officials Responsible for Child Separation Policy.” The letter extended the criticisms of the Trump administration officials in Restore Public Trust’s April 2019 letter, advocating for colleges and universities to ban the officials from future employment. ⁴

Activities

Transformations CDC advocates for providing social services and entitlement programs to non-citizens including illegal immigrants and hosts its own social programs that include providing food, transportation, translation, and housing assistance to immigrants in the Cincinnati area. ⁷ It also offers English learner education programs for school-aged children and adults. ⁸

In May 2023, following an influx of migrants across the United States-Mexico border, Transformations CDC launched a campaign that recruited volunteers to help drive asylum applicants from bus stops in Cincinnati where immigrants are arriving from the border to medical facilities and to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices to apply for asylum. ¹ It also solicited donations for diapers, children’s clothes, beds, and personal items for newly arriving immigrants. ⁹

Transformations CDC partners with Heartfelt Tidbits and the Willows Project to support their efforts in providing housing for newly arriving immigrants. ¹

Following the November 2024 presidential election, Transformations CDC co-signed an open letter published by Detention Watch Network to President Joe Biden and United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to release immigrants from detention centers before the end of President Biden’s term. The letter advocated for closing ICE detention centers, canceling public contracts to expand detention centers, and releasing all persons who are detained under immigration laws. ²

Leadership

Nancy Sullivan works as Transformations CDC’s community organizer, and in 2016, Soapbox Cincinnati reports that she was its sole employee. Sullivan recruited volunteers for Transformations CDC, drove immigrants to medical facilities, distributed donated food and clothing to immigrants, and managed other program operations for Transformations CDC. ⁸

1. “Welcoming the Stranger in Greater Cincinnati.” Diocese of Southern Ohio, May 17, 2023. https://diosohio.org/welcoming-the-stranger-greater-cincinnati/.
2. “Re: Act Now to Protect Immigrant Communities.” Detention Watch network, November 15, 2024. https://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/sites/default/files/NGO%20letter%20regarding%20detention_11.15.24.pdf.
3. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” InfluenceWatch. Accessed April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf.
4. “Groups Call on Universities and Colleges to Repudiate Officials Responsible for Child Separation Policy.” Restore Public Trust, May 1, 2019. https://restorepublictrust.org/groups-call-on-universities-and-colleges-to-repudiate-officials-responsible-for-child-separation-policy/.
5. “Transformations CDC.” Facebook. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/groups/621542117877767/.
6. “Transformations CDC Hispanic Ministry.” My Americorps. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=48659&fromSearch=true.
7. “Transformations CDC Summer 2021 Vignettes.” Diocese of Southern Ohio, April 10, 2023. https://diosohio.org/transformations-cdc-summer-2021-vignettes/.
8. McEwan, Liz. “Nancy Sullivan Transformed Her Life in Price Hill, Works Now to Transform Price Hill Itself.” Soapbox, April 5, 2016. https://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/040516-Nancy-Sullivan-Price-Hill-Profile.aspx.
9. “Advocacy Update.” Diocese of Southern Ohio, May 16, 2023. https://diosohio.org/advocacy-update-may-16-2023/.