PLAY. CONNECT. GROW.
Togetherness Project uses movement through pickleball, mentorship, and digital mental wellness tools to help young people build resilience, find belonging, and thrive emotionally.
We bring hope, healing, and community—
one game, one student, and one life at a time.
Featured In
Our Focus
Togetherness Project is launching Pickleball Pathways—a national movement that uses the power of play to support youth mental health and wellness. Through mentorship, coaching, and community-based pickleball programs, we are helping students build emotional resilience, learn healthy coping skills, and grow in connection with others. Blending fun with purpose, we equip students to thrive—on and off the court.
Together, we can expand care and digital health access to communities around the world.
Our Mission is threefold: Education and Training, On-the-Ground Support & Continuous Assistance.
Trauma Informed Training & Education
Education and Training: We empower churches, community leaders, and organizations to become trauma-informed by providing them with essential knowledge, tools, and frameworks. This equips them to recognize pain, respond with compassion, and create safe, healing environments that support long-term restoration within their communities both locally and globally.
Building Brighter Futures for Youth Development
On-the-Ground Support: Through community pickleball programs, we mentor students and support their well-being by combining play with purpose. Our relational approach brings belonging and connection into neighborhoods—offering mentorship, growth and encouragement. Together, we’re planting seeds of restoration where it’s needed most.
Eva: Your Ally in Decision Support & Well-Being
Continuous Assistance: Providing Eva AI as a supplemental tool, ensuring individuals have access to emotional support and decision-making assistance whenever they need it. By providing survivors with a 24/7 empathetic tool to process their pain and navigate challenges with confidence and clarity, Eva is a vital resource ensuring that no one has to journey alone.
Melody Lovvorn
Executive Director, Togetherness Project
For 15 years, I’ve walked with families in crisis, betrayed women, students grieving, athletes burnout, kids bullied, and leaders breaking under the weight of life. In the quiet places of pain, I’ve held space, reminded people they are still worthy, still loved, and never beyond healing.
One truth has carried me through it all:
People don’t need quick fixes—they need safe spaces to be seen, to feel, to reconnect with hope.
We also built a digital companion born from compassion and innovation that can meet people where they are, bringing mental wellness to help them regulate emotions, process decisions, and find strength in life’s hardest moments—24/7.
With Togetherness Project, we are pairing play, mentorship, and connection through Pickleball. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, with the lowest barrier to entry—bringing together all ages, backgrounds, amateurs, and elite athletes on the same court in a space where connection naturally happens.
On the court, we create belonging and mentorship. Off the court, Eva offers decision support, empathy and guidance. We’re scaling love, presence, and mental fitness—so growth doesn’t stay hidden, but reaches every life that needs it both on and off the court.
If this resonates with your heart, we hope you will help us build this program.
"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind." 1 Thess. 5:11
Melody
*Melody is a certified executive, life, relationship, betrayal, trauma-informed, mental health recovery coach
Our Advisory Board
is a team of experienced professionals in counseling, psychology and mental health who provide expert guidance to ensure all education, care and training meet the highest standards of care, ethical integrity, and alignment.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Michelle Torbor
is a LPC based in Birmingham, AL, with a private practice grounded in both professional expertise and personal experience. Her passion for counseling began with a spark from a 90s sitcom and grew into a life devoted to helping others find freedom and healing. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University, and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. Michelle specializes in anxiety, depression, personal growth, and trauma recovery using EMDR.
She believes transformation starts with connection and leads to hope and emotional freedom.
Birmingham, Alabama
Melissa Loudin
is trauma-trained and has extensive experience working with women navigating trauma, as well as teaching curriculum through the Trauma Healing Institute. She specializes in creating safe, restorative environments where healing, growth, and connection can thrive. Passionate about creating inclusive spaces, Melissa empowers women from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn, and grow. With a heart for the world, she is deeply committed to fostering community-building and leveraging local initiatives to drive meaningful sustainable impact, lasting change, and empowerment for women worldwide.
Birmingham, Alabama
Dr. Langston Haygood
is the founder and Director of Covenant Counseling and Education Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and a licensed professional counselor with five academic degrees, including two master's and two doctoral degrees in theology and psychology. He has studied at seven institutions in the U.S. and abroad, served as an ordained Presbyterian pastor for 25 years, and has been an adjunct professor at three institutions. Dr. Haygood has founded and directed counseling centers in both the U.S. and Ukraine, combining academic expertise with compassionate care, making him a respected leader in both academic and counseling circles.
Birmingham, Alabama
Paul Johnson
is a fully Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Certified Christian Sex Therapist with extensive experience in trauma healing and relational counseling. Paul founded LifePractical Counseling Center and specializes in working with individuals, couples, and families on identity, intimacy, grief, trauma, codependency, family dynamics, and life transitions. He is also a certified PREPARE/ENRICH marriage counselor and collaborates with organizations on strategic planning, values development, and personal growth strategies.
Birmingham, Alabama
Courtney Shields, M.Ed.
is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience in trauma-informed care, relationship dynamics, and personal growth. She specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families navigate challenges using evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Structural Family Therapy, and The Gottman Method. She is dedicated to fostering resilience, meaningful connections, and personal transformation. She is committed to advance strategies for trauma recovery and relational wellness and lasting impact.
Birmingham, Alabama
Sherri Tate
is a trauma and abuse-informed coach with certifications in Mental Health Coaching, Brain Health Coaching, and Narrative Focused Trauma Care through the Allender Center. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in addressing domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma through individual coaching, group counseling, and training workshops. Her work combines neuroscience, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed care to support healing and resilience. Sherrie is dedicated to advancing trauma education and equipping the mental health community with strategies to support both practitioners and survivors.
What Others Are Saying...
Working with Melody as a mental wellness coach has been a transformative experience. Her deep understanding of emotional resilience and practical strategies for managing stress have empowered me to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. Melody’s compassionate approach and insightful guidance not only helped me build healthier habits but also gave me tools to foster greater balance and peace in my daily life. I am deeply grateful for her support and highly recommend her training to anyone seeking growth and lasting mental wellness.
As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how important mental wellness is for both educators and students. Melody’s training provided me with practical tools to manage stress, improve my emotional well-being, and create a more positive classroom environment. Her approach is relatable, compassionate, and deeply insightful, equipping me to better support my students while maintaining my own balance. This training has given me some creativity to be a better teacher, and has been a game-changer for both my personal and professional life.
As a parent, I was worried about my daughter's emotional well-being after a series of challenging events in our family. We turned to Togetherness Project for help, and it was the best decision. Their support services and recommendations provided a safe space for our daughter to communicate and heal. The organization was understanding and empathetic. With their assistance, we've become a stronger and more connected family unit. And, I can't thank them enough for the positive impact they've had on our lives.
Togetherness Project is a 501-C3 non-profit organization relying on monthly donors, corporations and organizations dedicated serving students in underserved Birmingham neighborhoods. Through pickleball, trusted mentorship, and 24/7 access to Eva—a trauma-informed digital mental fitness tool—students gain emotional support, leadership development, and a sense of belonging. The program fosters connection, reduces isolation, and helps youth build resilience on and off the court.
Contact Us!
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Email
melody@togethernessproject.com
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Phone
(205) 910-8973
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Physical Address
1500 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Mailing Address:
130 Inverness Plaza, Suite 218
Birmingham, Alabama 35242
Copyright © 2025 Togetherness Project, Inc. All rights reserved.