Enchanted Hills Residents Celebrate Completion Of Program
Enchanted Hills Residents Celebrate Completion Of Program
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Enchanted Hills Residents Celebrate Completion Of ProgramIt's all about empowerment at the Enchanted Hills Community Center.
The facility is used by members of the community in northeast Kosciusko County for things like birthday parties and even baby showers.
It's a way to bring the community together and fight against problems like crime and drug that tend to effect economically depressed areas.
Tuesday night at South Shore Golf Club, a group of residents were on hand to celebrate their completion of the Moving Ahead program.The program runs for 15 weeks and each session is for three hours at the community center.
The United Way helped the program and facilitator Bruce Cavell said they've made an unprecedented commitment this year and will continue to support the program for at least two more years.
In the program people learn things like to how to write a resume and also learn about bettering their finances.
"I think part of the program is to create hope," said Cavell. "And empower the participatns to improve their own lives and the lives of people around them."
Cavell also said the program worked to show the negative factors that can keep someone from reaching their goals.
The program stemmed from Ruby Payne who spoke at an education summitt at the Orthopedic Capital Center a couple of years ago.
Cavell took what he learned there and brought it to Enchanted Hills.
Cavell said he took as much out of the program as the students did.
"What I get is just seeing and becoming a part of their lives," said Cavell. "Them sharing sometimes turmoil and then trying to turn that into a plan to create stability, less turmoil and less stress."
"It was an uplifting experience for me," said Cavell who will resign his position Jan. 8.
The students will also be able to take part in a Lake City Bank Smart Money program that starts Jan. 26.
Tuesday night they shared their stories. Some got emotional while others chose not to speak.
"I was a little hesitant at first," said one student. "But I learned that just because you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean you're less of a person."
Heather and Chuck Rush were on hand Tuesday night. The couple liver near Enchanted Hills and they plan on entering the next Getting Ahead prgoram.
They said the center has already been helpful for them by giving their 10-year-old daughter a place to go during the summer and providing her with activites.
Tara Ford talked about how she is a single mother of two who is living on 210 dollars a week.
Ford buckled down and by attending the classes, compiled a resume. She is now getting ready to move to Fort Wayne where she has a new job.
"I learned so much with the program," said Ford. "But what I took out of it the most was just because I'm not a wealthy person doesn't mean I can't help others. And that's something I love to do is help others."
Ford also said she was moved by the personal stories her classmates would share.
Cavell said he was extremely thankful to the United Way's Pat Coy for her help. Coy was on hand Tuesday night and gave words of encouragement to the students before they left.
The following people were recognized for completing the Getting Ahead program:
John Pfefferie; Betty and Roy Hileman; Abby Gonderman; Beth Varga; Jasmine Hoskins, Victor Blanco, Mary and Jose Vazquez; Ashley Learned; Robert Zawocki; Cody Hensley; Jeremy Flores; Tara Conn; Kimberly Buxton; Jane McVoy; Tara Ford; Amanda Swick; Becky Ridenour; Marsha Thompson; Dotty Sheley; Annette Yoh; Nick Baldwin and Bill Kruger.
For more information on the Getting Ahead program or the community center call 260-856-2136.
