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 The brief ceremony with reception to follow took place at Trinity
Episcopal Church in Lincoln.
This was Logan County's first Jobs for Life class. It was brought
about by joint coordination between Community Action Partnership of
Central Illinois and Home Sweet Home Ministries.
Brittney Cline, HSMS Outreach Coordinator; and Katie Slightom,
CAPCIL Family Assistance Director, facilitated the eight-week
program that included 12 volunteer mentors.
Father Mark Evans opened with the Prayer of Labor. Then Cline and
Slightom took over introducing various participants that supported
the program and the graduates - Katie, Julie and David (just first
names were used for the ceremony).
The Jobs for Life is a nation-wide program that recognizes the
integrity and purpose work gives people. The program's aim is to
improve the position of those who are underemployed or unemployed
through faith-based practical training. People want to work, but are
not always prepared in how to get a job and to keep it.
The program utilizes local community relationships for mentorship,
and students are introduced to basic information they may not have
previously been provided, such as how to create a resume, apply for
a job, how to dress or conduct themselves with confidence in an
interview.
This is where the Jobs for Life program begins. More opportunities
would also be offered for these three graduates to advance life
skills and to continue affirming value and support.
Participants attended class twice a week for two hours each session
for eight weeks.
Mentors helped students work on practical skills: communication,
relationship building, finding their giftedness, interview
techniques and more.
A few of the mentors spoke at the graduation praising each of the
students individually, and as a group, identifying skills and
confidence that they saw each student gain during the training.
All of the students had forward looking plans to continue their
growth, and one already had begun a new job. A couple of the grads
were planning to continue improving their life-skills through
participation in the upcoming Financial Peace course.
Karen and Duane Petty of Beck's were the first mentors thanked for
bringing their expertise as an employer.
Lesleigh Bennett was complimented for bringing her business insights
to the students. She responded that she grateful for a program that
brought job training combined with spiritual development to town.
Bennett complimented grad Julie, on how she worked at her homework,
and her mock interview became perfect.
Bennett deeply appreciated how much she herself gained from working
with the students.
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A dozen community members volunteered as mentors. And while the
class size was at first disconcertingly disproportionate in the
ratio of students to mentors; the testimonies that flowed from
participants, instructors and mentors measured big in value. It
worked out well for everyone. Each of those involved with the
program - facilitators, students and mentors alike - had high
praises for the experience.
Often with tears, students and mentors said the same - that it was
"an intense and gratifying experience" and they felt they got to
know one another well. An air of gratefulness prevailed.
Overwhelmed by the experience and success of the program, Human
Resources Director for Community Action, Ellen Burbage, was nearly
speechless with joy on the day of graduation. In appreciation and
respect for each of the students, Burbage found it difficult to
think that each of these students - Katie, Julie and David - would
not have been a part of her life if it had not been for the program
-- "We all just became so close."
There was an unplanned surprise that struck everyone on Graduation
Day. It came between the ceremony and the reception (where real cake
was waiting to be served). The symbolic 'icing on the cake' was when
family members were invited to come forward and join their grad for
a family portrait. Large numbers of family members - siblings,
parents, children - had come in support, and surrounded each grad
beaming with pride and joy. The number of family present for each
grad struck everyone as amazing.
Community Action Agencies address local issues of poverty. The
central Illinois agency based in Lincoln oversees Head Start, Foster
Grandparent, weatherization, home energy assistance, public
transportation, senior meals and other life assistance programs.
CAPCIL offices are located in Havana, Clinton, Monticello, and
Petersburg.
Home Sweet Home Ministries operates Mission Mart stores in Lincoln
and Bloomington. HSHM home base is Bloomington, where the
hundred-year-old mission runs a shelter, serves meals, offers job
training, hosts a food bank and other support ministries. Last year,
the Christ-based charity that is committed to helping others through
a hand up, announced it would become more involved in the
Lincoln/Logan County Community, and that it would be bringing a jobs
training program to the area.
Watch LDN for further announcements on future Jobs for Life classes.
[Jan Youngquist]
"Transforming Lives Through the Dignity of Work" Call (309) 828-7356
and ask for Brittany Cline for more information or email
JobsforLife@hshministries.org
To learn more about Jobs for Life visit:
http://hshministries.org/services/jobsforlife
Home Sweet Home Ministries
http://www.hshministries.org/home
Community Action Partnership
www.capcil.org/
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