Jobs for Life participant Jennifer Cunningham receives Heartland Community College Scholarship

[September 22, 2017] 

LINCOLN

Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois’ Hand Up Project/Strengthening Working Families participant Jennifer Cunningham of Lincoln recently received a scholarship from Heartland Community College.

Jennifer is the first to receive $444.00 from HCC for her completion of CAPCIL’s Hand Up Project/ Strengthening Working Families Initiative program. Jennifer was a dedicated participant in the Hand-Up Project and achieved many outcomes during her involvement with CAPCIL. She is the mother of three children with a full time job and is continuing her education to accomplish her ultimate goal of becoming a nurse. Jennifer shared this when asked what this scholarship meant to her: "Nursing school costs so much especially when you add in gas to get to class, childcare, and still feeding my family. This scholarship means so much more than tuition to me." Additionally, Jennifer has come back and spoke to the current Jobs for Life participants to share her story and her journey of determination to not be a victim of generational poverty.

Participants of CAPCIL’s Hand Up Project/Strengthening Working Families Initiative program receive first class job training and mentoring to keep, maintain, and grow in a job. They learn how to manage money in order to get out of debt and fix their credit. Participants have access to employers, HR Directors, and hiring managers who are actively looking to fill employment gaps in their organizations. They are connected with local colleges and technical training centers to receive the education needed to advance in their career choice. All through this process is a support network that encourages and guides participants along the path to self-sufficiency.

The collaboration between CAPCIL and HCC continues to grow. Soon graduates of CAPCIL’s Hand Up Project/ Strengthening Working Families Initiative will receive college credit through HCC.

The Hand Up Project is funded through the Community Services Block Grant via the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Strengthening Working Families Initiative’s pilot program is funded through the Logan County Board and the City of Lincoln.

For additional information please visit CAPCIL’s website at www.capcil.info, or by calling CAPCIL’s Corporate Office at 217-732-2159.

[Katie Alexander
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]