Growing Our Roots Along the Mississippi

Thanks to partnerships with the local Workforce Investment Network and the Tennessee Department of Corrections, we opened our doors in Memphis in May. In just four months, six classes—28 participants in total—have graduated from Pathway to Employment, our orientation course. Participants are working on crew and are earning a daily income beautifying their community by providing lawn care and other maintenance services for the Memphis Parks Department. As of September 2018, six of CEO Memphis’s participants had already been placed in permanent employment!

And, because CEO staff are committed to growing their skills alongside our participants, the Memphis office graciously hosted staff from across the country for Motivational Interviewing training. This vital professional development opportunity gave our staff the tools to support participants in identifying their own personal motivations for finding a job and staying employed. Site Director Adrena Jackson also made sure the out-of-state visitors got to sample some famous Memphis barbecue between skill-building sessions.