“We made it – we’re here, and this is a very special night.” So began the Commencement speech for the very first graduation of Jobs for Life of Orleans County. Jobs for Life is an intensive, eight week class designed to prepare unemployed and underemployed individuals for the workplace. It is a ministry branch of the newly-formed Hands for Hope Orleans, which was incorporated in 2013 to reach out to those in need in the county.
The course led students through the process of assessing their skill sets, writing resumes, character building, mock interviews and accessing community resources. Many local business leaders cooperated with the JFL team for Community Roundtable Discussions with the students about employer expectations and the interview process.
Pastor Tim Lindsay of Harvest Christian Fellowship, who initiated the program along with the pastors of Alabama Full Gospel, Oak Orchard Assembly, and Light of Victory Fellowship, said that the focus of Hands for Hope is to reach out to those in need in order to help them gain the skills they need to foster independence and become self-supportive, rather than just offer “emergency relief” in time of crisis. The Jobs for Life mission is, “Transforming Lives Through the Dignity of Work” – and offers a unique solution to poverty and joblessness in communities and for individuals across the country. JFL has over 400 sites around the country.
New classes will be forming in the fall. For registration and more information about the program, visit www.hands-4hopeorleans.com.
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