“We Are Stronger Together”
When Dana started services with The Journey Forward, her life seemed overwhelming. Recently released from incarceration, she wasn’t sure where or how to rebuild her life. Reentering society was challenging, and she had concerns about employment with her background. Her parole officer referred her to The Journey Forward at the Martin Luther King Community Service Center. When Dana arrived at the Journey Forward, her Family Coach, Juanita, listened carefully and compassionately to her needs and goals. Juanita connected Dana with a team of people committed to helping her. They kept her motivated, accountable, and hopeful.
Dana’s Family Coach recommended our free Money Talks workshops. She was inspired by what she learned in the workshops; she signed on for one-on-one financial counseling sessions. As a result, Dana learned about budgeting, how to avoid living paycheck-to-paycheck, and how to save for her future. Through The Journey Forward, Dana also worked with a certified clinician on coping skills, stress management, and social and emotional needs specific to her family.
She carried her fresh outlook and determined spirit to our partner E&ES where she received workforce training and support. Through E&ES, Dana gained access to WIOA (Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act) funding which allowed her to start training for her Commercial Driver’s License, free of charge. With the help of her Career Navigator, she updated her resume and had access to Job Readiness Training workshops. Soon she landed a good-paying job at UPS.
Now that Dana is employed full-time, she is studying and making plans to open her own business. Her advice to those who aren’t sure if they should reach out for help is, “Patience really is a virtue. Try not to take things for granted because there really are people here to help you figure out how to move forward”.
Partnerships are a vital part of The Journey Forward’s success. Together, we are stronger, and together, we can heal, strengthen, and advance our communities.