'Getting Ahead' Program Hosts Graduation Dinner
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
'Getting Ahead' Program Hosts Graduation Dinner
By Daniel [email protected]
While at the Sleepy Owl Supper Club Tuesday night, many of those 17 graduates told their stories during a dinner and certificate presentation organized by Rick Patton, the program's manager.
There was Kathy Marshall who told the group she had been homeless and living in her truck for months with her dog before finally getting a place at the trailer park on Fascination Place in Enchanted Hillls.
Marshall said she wouldn't give up her dog while she was homeless and now she is using that spirit to learn to fight for things like her Medicaid.
Theresa Ray started the process of going to college while in the "Getting Ahead" program.
Felipe Flores said the class has helped him cope with the transition to being a parent again after adopting three of his grandchildren.
His wife, Carolyn Flores said the class taught her to go back to the skills and education she had received prior.
Sara Stahl said the class is a step for her to get her children back.
Lena Truman said she was also homeless at a point in her life and now is taking GED classes .
For some the class also served as a way to get to know people in a new place.
James Cox, who attended all 15 classes in the "Getting Ahead" program moved to the area to take care of his 2-year-old niece whose father, Cox's brother, passed away.
Helen Hughes had become a shut-in. Living with an undetermined illness, she said she wouldn't leave the house and wouldn't answer her phone.
"I was not a people person but I learned a lot," said Hughes to a dinning room full of people Tuesday night.
Hughes said she had lived in Enchanted Hills for 17 years and up until she entered the program didn't know her neighbors.
Patton said in fact it was a struggle for Hughes to come to Tuesday night's event but she finally relented.
Married couple Paul and Bobby McBride recently moved to the area from Detroit.
Through the program and making contacts with neighbors, Paula has since found a job after being out of the workplace for six years while Bobby said he is confident he will soon find a job.
"Finding a job is just a matter of time," said Bobby McBride. "And when I do it will be something that I enjoy doing."
Other graduates include Becky Sidwell, Colleen Norris, Penny Norris, Jamie Burman, Theresa Hanger and Theresa Franklin.
Patton congratulated all those who graduated and those on hand yet to graduate.
The community center also offers GED classes as well as English as a Second Language, parenting, resume building and computer classes among others.
Lake City Bank also runs a personal banking class there as well. Most people who graduate the "Getting Ahead" program move onto that class.
This was the fifth such class put on by the Enchanted Hills Community Center which is run by the Bowen Center in Syracuse.
The "Getting Ahead" program was sponsored by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and United Way.
Dee Anna Muraski was on hand Tuesday night representing KCCF while Pat Coy, executive director of United Way, was also on hand.[[In-content Ad]]
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While at the Sleepy Owl Supper Club Tuesday night, many of those 17 graduates told their stories during a dinner and certificate presentation organized by Rick Patton, the program's manager.
There was Kathy Marshall who told the group she had been homeless and living in her truck for months with her dog before finally getting a place at the trailer park on Fascination Place in Enchanted Hillls.
Marshall said she wouldn't give up her dog while she was homeless and now she is using that spirit to learn to fight for things like her Medicaid.
Theresa Ray started the process of going to college while in the "Getting Ahead" program.
Felipe Flores said the class has helped him cope with the transition to being a parent again after adopting three of his grandchildren.
His wife, Carolyn Flores said the class taught her to go back to the skills and education she had received prior.
Sara Stahl said the class is a step for her to get her children back.
Lena Truman said she was also homeless at a point in her life and now is taking GED classes .
For some the class also served as a way to get to know people in a new place.
James Cox, who attended all 15 classes in the "Getting Ahead" program moved to the area to take care of his 2-year-old niece whose father, Cox's brother, passed away.
Helen Hughes had become a shut-in. Living with an undetermined illness, she said she wouldn't leave the house and wouldn't answer her phone.
"I was not a people person but I learned a lot," said Hughes to a dinning room full of people Tuesday night.
Hughes said she had lived in Enchanted Hills for 17 years and up until she entered the program didn't know her neighbors.
Patton said in fact it was a struggle for Hughes to come to Tuesday night's event but she finally relented.
Married couple Paul and Bobby McBride recently moved to the area from Detroit.
Through the program and making contacts with neighbors, Paula has since found a job after being out of the workplace for six years while Bobby said he is confident he will soon find a job.
"Finding a job is just a matter of time," said Bobby McBride. "And when I do it will be something that I enjoy doing."
Other graduates include Becky Sidwell, Colleen Norris, Penny Norris, Jamie Burman, Theresa Hanger and Theresa Franklin.
Patton congratulated all those who graduated and those on hand yet to graduate.
The community center also offers GED classes as well as English as a Second Language, parenting, resume building and computer classes among others.
Lake City Bank also runs a personal banking class there as well. Most people who graduate the "Getting Ahead" program move onto that class.
This was the fifth such class put on by the Enchanted Hills Community Center which is run by the Bowen Center in Syracuse.
The "Getting Ahead" program was sponsored by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and United Way.
Dee Anna Muraski was on hand Tuesday night representing KCCF while Pat Coy, executive director of United Way, was also on hand.[[In-content Ad]]
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