THE SITUATION

The South Atlanta / Lakewood communities currently face a crisis of catastrophic proportions.  These connecting neighborhoods encompass a low-income community comprised of 30,000 residents, 85% African American, on 800 acres, in approximately 6,300 apartment units and residential housing. 

Located in the heart of poverty, hopelessness, and violence, South Atlanta / Lakewood is surrounded by:
  • Gang members who actively recruit young children into lives of violence and drugs
  • Poverty and addictions that cause many to live on the streets
  • 7,000+ people sleep on the sidewalks in the surrounding Atlanta area
  • 1 in 6 families live below the poverty line
    On average, family income for the poor has declined 48% since 1967
  • Approximately 80% of Atlanta’s metro area inmates come from two primary zip codes: 30315 and 30318 (which includes South Atlanta/Lakewood) 
*Your tax-deductible donation will help us equip these men to break the cycle of poverty in their families and communities. 

OUR SOLUTION

Greater Works Vocational Discipleship Program is a pilot project formed by the unique collaboration between Kinsman Community Ministries and Rebuild The City Inc., specifically tailored to challenge the vicious cycle of hopelessness by providing unemployed inner city men employment opportunities through spiritual discipleship and job training. This much needed initiative will develop programs and opportunities to assist ex-offenders and other unemployed men in the South Atlanta and Lakewood communities with basic employment skills to equip them to improve their standard of living and position themselves for long-term success.
We're committed to developing a high-performance workforce with high-potential inner-city men that will serve as a rich talent pool for employers. With our expert facilitators we focus on helping each participant develop the necessary mindset and skills to perform with excellence in a high pressure work environment. Foundational content includes:
  • Character development
  • High performance attitude
  • Goal setting
  • Communications
  • Problem solving
  • Conflict management
  • Financial management

OUR PROCESS

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  1. Disciple: We facilitate a mandatory 6-week training course focused on developing character, competencies, career planning.
  2. Deploy: We assist the participants with placement in pre-negotiated employment opportunities. We will negotiate for jobs with specific companies who are interested in employing the men whom we advocate for, as we demonstrate how our approach will provide the company with high quality candidates that will result in reduced turnover, increased retention, improved performance, and enhanced morale.
  3. Develop: We provide on-going support through life coaching and professional development classes to help participants enhance the likelihood of achieving their short and long-term career goals.

LIFE TRANSFORMATION

Our #1 focus is to create an environment where lives are changed from the inside out, which will result in these character qualities...
  1. Direction for an impactful life through discovering and affirming their purpose.
  2. Discipline through embracing the process required to fulfill their potential.
  3. Dedication through commitment to practicing habits of success on a daily basis.
  4. Determination by persevering through difficult challenges.

PILOT PROJECT GOALS

  1. Provide 12 men from South Atlanta/Lakewood 6 weeks of intense instruction in our Greater Works Community Employment Initiative, which will focus extensively on job readiness training, vocational assessments, and skills training beginning Spring 2015.
  2. Provide promised entry-level jobs, career development and placement, working collaboratively with Greater Works at the end of our 6 weeks basic pre-employment training. 
  3. Utilize the key learnings and best practices from the pilot program to continue to expand the program to more participants.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

  • At least 90% of all participants will be gainfully employed by the end of the 6-week pre-employment program.
  • At least 90% of all participants will be provided discipleship training and follow up education for participants during our pre-employment phase and 1-2 years after they have been employed.
  • Expected improvements in the community include family relations, increased economic benefits, lower crime, lower recidivism, and more.
Your donation will enable us to help more men rebuild their lives...