Good News Friday!

JOBS FOR LIFE UNDERWAY, QUIZZES INCLUDED! We are constantly refining our programs; striving to make them more effective so that our graduates are more prepared for the workplace. This year we've instituted Friday quizzes, and you can see our students working hard on those quizzes in above picture. Just this week, Science journal released research showing that students who were tested on material retained 50% more of the material than those who used other learning methods. Read more here, in the New York Times. And pray for the 16 students who are working hard in class. Several are facing challenges and roadblocks; please pray that they'll be able to complete their training. Warehouse Readiness class also got underway this week, with 6 students who were carefully selected for their leadership potential. They'll work to improve their knowledge of warehousing and logistics and to gain their forklift certification.


TWO MORE GO TO WORK AT ROYAL FURNITURE Early this month, we reported that Royal Furniture had hired Advance Memphis Staffing Service to fill positions in their warehouse. Today we're glad to share that we are now filling two additional positions there, and Shuntell Tucker (pictured above at his graduation from Jobs for Life) and Brian Crawford have begun working at Royal Furniture as order pickers. We're proud of these young men and we thank God for this new work.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" -- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Good News Friday

FIRST GED OF THE YEAR! In 2010, Advance Memphis greatly strengthened our GED Program with the addition of staff member Julie Latcham. Julie spent the year recruiting tutors, creating a more structured program, and motivating students. While the Program is still a work in progress, we're excited to begin seeing results. And two weeks into the year, we've got them! Edward Hopson has passed his GED. We are proud of Edward (at left); he recognized the amount of work necessary to pass this test, and he invested many, many hours in his studies. We are grateful for his tutor, Ramona Soileau (also at left), who did an amazing job helping him with upper level math. Tutors are always needed for this life changing program; contact mike@advancememphis.org to get involved.

HOPE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECOGNIZED BY COMMERCIAL APPEAL Hope Christian Community Foundation, a generous supporter of Advance, was recognized this week in the CA as the largest granting agency in Memphis. We're grateful for their service in our community. The article showcases Advance as a recipient of Hope funds; you can read it here. If you've ever considered opening a Donor Advised Fund, consider Hope as an option.

NEW STAFFING SERVICE CLIENT The Advance Memphis Staffing Service added a new client this week: Royal Furniture. We've already sent one graduate to work there, and he's already impressed his coworkers and supervisors with his hard work. Congratulations to Donald Jenkins. Keep up the good work!

WELCOME, CHRISTINE! Another intern has joined our staff for the year! Christine Kent (at right) is from Jonesboro, AR, and recently graduated from ASU with a BA in Sociology. We're grateful for the time she is investing with us; she has already been an asset to our work. Christine will work with the Computer Literacy, GED, and Staffing Service Programs. Introduce yourself next time you're in the building!

Fresh Food Scarce in 38126

A research assistant at the UT Health Science Center sent us this short article and asked us to share it. Food is great example of something many of us take for granted -- and we may take it for granted that those in an urban setting have access to plenty of healthy food. As pointed out in the article below, however, there are no grocery stores in 38126 - and more than half the community's residents don't have a car. It's not hard to see how our neighbors often end up eating unhealthy food from corner stores and fast food restaurants. For more information on the concept of an urban food "desert," check out this Wikipedia article.

Here's the article, as written by UT's CHEER Program(Consortium for Health Education, Economic Empowerment and Research):

Many people in Memphis do not have access to fresh foods. It can be very hard for people without cars to get to fresh food. People with health conditions may also have a harder time getting food.

CHEER examined 38126. There are no grocery stores in this zip code. A healthy food environment is needed for people to make good food choices. Bad eating habits often result in poor health. For example, areas with access to fresh foods have lower obesity rates. Here are some tips if you live far from a grocery store or want to eat healthier:

1. Drink water instead of soda.
2. Eat high-protein, low-fat foods like eggs, tuna, beans, and chicken.
3. Buy frozen vegetables. They are faster to prepare and cheaper.
4. Cook healthy meals in bulk.
5. Visit farmer’s markets. Many of the foods are cheaper because they are local and seasonal.
6. Start a garden. A pack of fruit or vegetable seeds is usually less than a dollar.
7. Avoid junk food. Chips and candy are nutritionally poor.

CONTACT INFORMATION
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
CHEER (Consortium for Health Education, Economic Empowerment and Research)
66 N. Pauline Avenue, Suite 307
Memphis, TN 38105
Phone: 901-448-1985
Fax: 901-448-1991
www.uthsc.edu/CHEER

Let the Good Times Roll!

We're only 7 days into the new year and we've already been blessed with great news.

Corpulus Brown has obtained permanent employment at St. Jude, making $16.00 an hour as a Medical Admin. Corpulus is still working towards a Masters in health and fitness at U of M. We're so proud of his accomplishments.

Deshaunka Burks (below) has been working full time at Mercury Printing for two months.



Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)