A New Year of Transformation.

December 16th, 2023 saw Mosaic CCDA’s first ever Jobs for Life Alumni Reunion. Past Jobs for Life graduates, mentors, partners and facilitators gathered together for an evening of testimonies, feedback, and shared ideas. Each person in attendance was there to celebrate a year of growth.

Throughout 2022, the Jobs for Life program has impacted community members in a new way. JFL has always been a program dedicated to helping community members get back into the workforce. As Mosaic CCDA has grown since their relocation to M-139, so has its flagship program. In the past year JFL has shifted to a more holistic approach. Now, the course focuses on sustainable transformation and community building.

JFL Facilitator, Pastor Andre Palmer, spoke to us about feedback he has received from students regarding this new individualized path. “[The Graduates] talked about how they thought differently about their lives.” According to Palmer, after experiencing the course, they became, “more passionate about pursuing jobs and careers.”

In each new class, students are met at their skill level. They are guided along the process of overcoming their roadblocks to success with the help of a mentor. Throughout the course’s four weeks, in addition to the core curriculum, guest speakers touch on topics such as financial wellness, mental health, and job training. 

This restructuring of the course has had an impact on community members like Jesse Lee Parker. Parker has come back to Jobs for Life as a mentor. “It’s a good class. It’s got a lot of power. I’m thankful to [be a part of] this class a second time, because everytime I come, I get more power… and…reach goals in life.”

At Jobs for Life’s Reunion many people had stories like Jesse Parker’s. Tuija Ojala, JFL’s current Administrative Coordinator, said “We want to encourage people around us to continue growing into their calling and purpose.” Ojala stated that, “[The Alumni Reunion] was a kick off to build greater understanding and foundation to this ministry which seems oftentimes like a family to our team members. We want  them to feel safe, welcome and authentic around us and others.”

Regarding  the future of Jobs for Life, Pastor Palmer states, “In 2023 I am looking forward to seeing our program grow and have more of an imprint in the communities we serve. I also would like to take this year to discover new teaching strategies to reach more people.”

You can see the impact of Jobs for Life for yourself on Thursday, February 16th, at the first JFL Graduation Ceremony of 2023. Mosaic encourages the general public to attend their Jobs for Life Graduations where they can hear first hand testimony from students, and learn about upcoming opportunities.