Jubilee Jobs Marks 800th Placement

July 27, 2009

STEPUP’S JUBILEE JOBS MARKS 800TH PLACEMENT
Program continues to make dramatic impact on lives in difficult economy

RALEIGH - June 23, 2009 - More than 800 Wake County adults, many of them in crisis or in need, have been placed in jobs over the last five years by StepUP Ministry’s Jubilee Jobs program. So far in 2009, Jubilee Jobs has helped 82 people gain employment.

StepUP is a Raleigh-based nonprofit, interfaith community that serves at-risk individuals who want to make positive changes in their lives. The organization’s Jubilee Jobs initiative provides skilled, compassionate job preparation and placement services to unemployed, entry-level job seekers.

"Jubilee Jobs continues to make a dramatic impact on the lives of people who are under some extremely difficult circumstances," said Steve Swayne, executive director of StepUP Ministry. "These individuals come to us for direction and hope, and with their hard work and effort, they get an opportunity to rebuild their lives."

Darius Perry is the 800th person to complete Jubilee Jobs’ rigorous week-long job workshop and find local employment.

Living in a local halfway house and unemployed, Perry was recommended to StepUP in April by his assigned counselor at the facility. He was skeptical about the program, initially believing he did not need any additional assistance. But he soon discovered how Jubilee Jobs could help.

Upon entering the program, Perry completed a one-on-one assessment to identify strengths and honestly address any weaknesses. He learned how to thoroughly fill out a job application and develop a resume. He participated in a series of workshops dealing with positive communications skills, conflict management, dressing for success and interviewing techniques.

"I learned things I thought I knew, but really didn’t," Perry said. "Jubilee Jobs gave me the confidence that comes from knowing what to expect and taught me how to best present myself to an employer. I think it’s an excellent program."

Following his training, he heard about a truck driver position with P & R Marketing Group’s American Way Thrift Stores, which collects used goods for N.C. Children’s Promise, a fundraising organization that benefits the North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill. He was told that there were many people applying for the job and the probability of being hired was low, but the position was possible to obtain.

Perry interviewed with the office manager and then the supervisor, and said the job preparation skills he gained from Jubilee Jobs served him well. He was hired for the position collecting thrift items on a truck route covering the western Triangle area.

"I think Jubilee Jobs can help a lot of people," said Perry, who eventually wants to run his own trucking business. "Now I know what to expect when I start my own company and have to interview others."

Robert Battle, StepUP’s Jubilee Jobs Program Director, said that the organization places nearly 200 participants in jobs each year and wants to place even more.

"Our goal is to place 22 people a month in entry-level jobs and continue to be successful in preparing people for employment and matching them with employers, especially in this unprecedented economy," Battle said. "In fact, I think the economy has been a motivating factor for many participants, making them even more eager to learn and prepare for a competitive job market."

In 2008, Jubilee Jobs helped 189 people to get stable jobs. Of those who gained employment, approximately 76 percent had criminal records, 42 percent were homeless, and 39 percent were in recovery from past substance abuse. To date, the program has experienced a six-month job retention rate of 83 percent. Of those still employed after six months, 81 percent were still on the job after 12 months.

Area employers increasingly recognize the value of StepUP’s Jubilee Jobs and job-ready participants like Perry. As a result, 160 businesses hired Jubilee Jobs participants in 2008. Meanwhile, Battle and his staff are always on the lookout for additional companies that might be a good match.

In addition to helping individuals prepare for and find employment, the Jubilee Jobs program provides significant benefits for both the community and taxpayers.

For example, the annual cost to incarcerate an individual in North Carolina is $27,911, according to the most recent N.C. Department of Correction report. StepUP programs served 400 adults in 2008 at a total cost of $480,000, which equals the average annual cost to incarcerate just 18 prisoners in North Carolina, Battle reported. In addition, 144 of the 189 people StepUP placed in jobs in 2008 had criminal backgrounds and are now paying taxes. This equates to a cost savings of $4 million to taxpayers in North Carolina.

The Jubilee Jobs program is just one part of StepUP’s mission to help Wake County individuals become self-sufficient. Having a job means that individuals are qualified to participate in StepUP’s Life Skills program, a demanding nine-month curriculum that addresses financial literacy, goal setting, personal responsibility, healthy relationships, vocational development, physical and mental health and credit improvement. The Life Skills program includes three complimentary components: children’s programming, housing and educational scholarships.

For more information about StepUP Ministry and its programs, visit www.step-up.us or contact Molly Shepherd Nichols at 919.781.0156.

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Raleigh-based StepUP Ministry is an interfaith community that prepares people who are ready and willing to make positive changes in their lives to become self-sufficient. Founded in 1988, StepUP is a nonprofit organization that annually helps more than 500 low income and homeless individuals in Wake County to change their lives through a phased program with two major focuses - job training and life skills. For more information, visit www.step-up.us or call 919.781.0156.

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