February 22 Update

Katrina is Debt Free - and a Car Owner!

Great news! Jobs for Life grad and IDA participant Katrina Payne (at left) has completed her time in the IDA Program and has used the money she saved, the matching dollars she received, and her income tax return to buy her car and pay off some remaining debt that she had. She is one happy lady! We're so impressed with her dedication to saving, and to paying off debts when she had the opportunity to do so.

Graduation is Friday

Please join us! Friday we'll gather at Streets Ministries at 10:00am (note new grad time) to celebrate another Jobs for Life graduation. These students have faced considerable struggles to make it to their graduation day, and we look forward to rejoicing with them. We'll also take some time to honor the 3 Jobs for Life grads who have received their GED over the last few weeks.

Business as Mission Conference

Independent Presbyterian Church, Second Presbyterian Church and Mission to the World are collaborating to present the upcoming Business as Mission Conference. The conference will take place April 29 and 30 at Independent Pres. This is a great way for business people to learn more about using their skills to contribute to local and global ministries. Go here for more info.

PSALM 3:3-6

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

Friday News: February 11, 2011

SHARON BUSH: 8/14/1988-2/2/2011 We are greatly saddened to share that our friend and recent Jobs for Life graduate Sharon Bush passed away this week due to complications from pneumonia. She was only 22. There will be a wake for Sharon on Friday from 4:00-6:30 at the Ford Funeral home (S. Pkwy & Florida). The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 at New Mount Sinai Church (4920 Hornlake). Please join us in praying for Sharon's family and friends.

THE IMPORTANCE--AND CHALLENGE--OF TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY
Financial literacy training makes up half of the Jobs for Life Program at Advance Memphis. While class exercises (such as tracking spending for a month) are eye opening experiences for our students, the learning curve is still a steep one. This isn't surprising when we consider that Americans, as a whole, struggle to understand and apply basic financial concepts. Even when we know what to do, most of us don't do it. Want proof?

Three out of every four Americans say they aren't saving enough
(2008 Pew Research Center).

So at Advance Memphis, our Financial Freedom curriculum is not static, but is evolving and - hopefully - becoming a more effective tool for instruction and change in our students' lives. This week we've got a great example of that. For the first time, Financial Freedom instructor Brandon Russell (right) will be distributing money to the class. (It's not real!) He's hoping that this hands on learning experience will help students understand the impact of their financial decisions, and will translate into lasting behavioral changes. It's not an easy topic to teach, but we'll keep trying. Statistics like these help us remember why it's so important:

• One in five Americans are asset poor; if they had to live only on their net worth (savings, home equity and other assets) they could not survive at the poverty level for three months.
• 15.5% of all Americans (and 26% of minorities) have zero or negative net financial assets.

NEW JOBS, NEW POSSIBILITIES Advance Memphis Staffing Service client NGP has added another position, and we've sent Rosalind Hardy to work in their warehouse. Rosalind is taking online college courses while working and caring for her children; please pray for her as she adjusts to this new job. We're also proud to share that two of Staffing Service employees at KTG were invited to pursue permanent employment. The first step involved taking a written test, which both of them have passed. They will now go on to an interview stage. Please pray for these women as they work to take an important professional step.

PSALM 34: 17-18 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

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)

Our Students are Listening

Jim Burnett works at Morgan Keegan and volunteers as a class speaker at Advance Memphis on the topic of "Investments". He often speaks at other organizations and schools around Memphis. This week he took a minute to share an observation about Advance Memphis students as compared to others.

“Over the last several weeks I have had the opportunity to speak in front of several groups of people ranging from high school age to early retirement, and economic ranges all over the map. It occurred to me during a few of these talks that some of the most interested of my “captive audiences” were the class members at Advance. While every group had eager listeners and some nappers, it occurred to me that the groups that were the most focused were the ones that had the most to gain…or more importantly…nothing to lose. Those in the middle tended to be “neutral” to financial concerns. I continue to enjoy speaking to the Advance classes as I continue to benefit more from them than the intended…”

Thanks, Jim!