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Breaking The Poverty Cycle
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In our nation, nearly 40 million people live in poverty. Most are on some form of government assistance. But, in Tennessee, a church-based program is having success in getting people off welfare, and into the workforce and new lives. Reed Galin has more. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Memphis, Tennessee)
Four years ago, Sheryl Johnson and her daughter had nothing but each other.
Sheryl Johnson/Employee, Centenary Ministries: “I didn’t have a job. I didn’t have a car. I was on my last leg.”
She had turned to government assistance to survive.
“Hey, Sheryl, how are you this morning?”
But an aggressive church-based welfare-to-work program in Memphis, Tennessee changed everything.
“I need to get with you about these figures.”
Sheryl went through the program and was hired to help other welfare recipients find and keep jobs.
The Rev. Herbert Lester/Director, Centenary Ministries: “The vast majority of people who are on welfare want to go to work and want to live a meaningful life.”
United Methodist pastor Herbert Lester is the head of Centenary Ministries.
The Rev. Herbert Lester/Centenary Ministries: “Where Centenary is located now is literally in the ‘hood...’”
…where poverty abounds. It’s a way of life that Felicia Harrington knew all too well – and left behind.
Felicia Harrington/Case Manager, Centenary Ministries: “I’ve always been in social services, so this program has been a positive impact on my life.”
The Rev. Herbert Lester/Centenary Ministries: “The goal is to build both worth and wealth and to help people to literally turn their lives around.”
Centenary Ministries is changing the economic landscape for its clients and the neighborhood.
The Rev. Herbert Lester/Centenary Ministries: “The positions we put people in are career ladder oriented and people can earn a decent living.”
It’s a program that is allowing welfare recipient Tracey Fields to think big.
Tracey Fields/Client, Centenary Ministries: “I prefer to just try to work my way on up and get my own business.”
The Rev. Herbert Lester/Centenary Ministries: “Sheryl is able to tell them, ‘I’ve been there. I know what it feels like. But I can tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not attached to a train.’”
TAG:
Most welfare recipients have 60 months of benefits before they are no longer eligible for government assistance. The Centenary program follows the clients for a year after they’ve found employment in order to help them keep the job and even move up the career ladder.
For more information, contact Centenary Ministries at 901-774-7604 or on-line at http://www.centenarymemphis.com/.