August Partner Spotlight: Jobs for Life, Triangle Area NC

Each month this year, Amplio will be highlighting a different non-profit partner providing job preparation and job training within the refugee communities we serve. More than just words, we are committing to financially support the work of the partner we select each month and want you to join us! We will match every dollar given to the Amplio Foundation this month, up to $1000, in support of this month’s partner.

 

“Restoring dignity. Changing lives. Transforming communities.”

That’s the mission behind global non-profit, Jobs for Life, operating classes in cities from Washington state, all the way to Australia—and everywhere in between.

Founded in downtown Raleigh in 1996, Jobs for Life has spent the past 22 years connecting ministries and businesses to “help prepare men and women for meaningful work.” They believe joblessness lies at the core of many of society’s biggest challenges—crime, substance abuse, depression and more—and that the church is uniquely positioned to step in and help men and women obtain and experience the dignity of work. While the church has long been engaged in the fight against poverty, it is estimated that only 2% of churches invest in workforce development, whereas over 60% offer more short-term poverty relief in the form of food pantries, soup kitchens, or clothing closets. Their goal is to “flip the list” and break the cycle of poverty for good.

Though their impact has since spread worldwide, the Triangle Area of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill remains one of the largest Jobs for Life networks. Raleigh alone hosts approximately 30 of the 200 classes held nationwide and produces more than 200 graduates each year.

Jessie Hathcock, business relations manager for the network, shares with us about the 8-week volunteer-led program which highlights:

• 32-hours of content and practical training including resume development, mock interviews, creating an elevator speech, and vocational planning.
• A focus on “soft skills” such as character development, conflict resolution, and building confidence.
• A mentorship program where each participant is partnered with a “Champion” (mentor) to walk alongside them throughout the program and help them create and fulfill a vocation plan.

The participants, she shares, hail from a broad range of backgrounds. In other words– there’s no such thing as a “typical” student. Classes are held everywhere from prisons, to homeless shelters, to churches and apartment complexes. Many individuals are looking to get back on their feet, while others are already engaged in the workplace, but ready to use their entry-level experience to move up in their company or field of business.

Success stories range from a former inmate who, upon graduation, went on to obtain his very first living wage job, to a former engineer who overcame a drug addiction and was able to work his way from a fast food employee to an engineering firm.

Included in these success stories are several individuals from the Triangle’s prominent refugee and immigrant population. Jessie shares, “They have a very high number of students who show up and graduate,” adding, “The humility and perseverance of these individuals is incredible. They have engineering degrees and they come here and are willing to work wherever.”

Jobs for Life shares a mutual passion for restoring dignity and empowering individuals to obtain self-sufficiency through work and we, at Amplio Recruiting, are proud to support their endeavors.

As with many non-profits, they rely on generous donations from individuals and businesses to continue to expand their reach across the nation, and across the world. This month, we invite you to partner with us to help spread hope and the dignity of work through their mission. That’s why every penny you give through the Amplio Foundation in August will be matched (up to $1,000) and given to help their worthy cause.

To make a charitable donation, visit the Amplio Foundation page. Scroll down and click the Donate Now button. Fill in the amount and payment information, as well as whether you would like for it to be a one-time gift or recurring donation. Click the Give button and you’re done! Thank you for partnering with us to support the refugee workforce.