In My Own Words: Barbara Hazelwood and JfL

  • Nov 7, 2008
  • Series: In My Own Words

Members of the CTK community are personally involved in the church's vision to see people changed, our community renewed, and the city transformed. This space will be dedicated to highlighting cases where the CTK vision is worked out.  In this report, Barbara Hazelwood talks about her work with Jobs for Life in the Raleigh area.

Most of us, perhaps all of us, at one time or another have complained about our jobs. A difficult boss, a frustrating co-worker, a boring project, a long commute; stress, low compensation, lack of advancement, lack of motivation. All understandable complaints in the end, but still ironically made possible by the fact that we have been gifted with a real and profound blessing: honest work. For a person who has not been fortunate enough to be raised in a stable environment, encouraged through an advanced education, or forwarded toward a steady career, lack of gainful employment doesn't mean escape from the annoyances of a working life; it means uncertainty, dependence, immobility, helplessness. Jobs for Life, a non-profit that mobilizes local churches and faith-based organizations, is committed to helping struggling individuals over-come these hurdles and press on toward a meaningful job and a fuller life.

The main conduit through which Jobs for Life (JfL) pursues this mission is a growing network of JfL sites. JfL sites are simply local groups that have committed to providing instruction and support to their neighbors. Each site is equipped with materials and tools to accomplish this work. The most powerful tool, at the core of the JfL strategy, is a 16 session course that seeks to provide not only basic job readiness training, but also a broader base of life principles within the context of a supportive community. Each student who commits to the JfL course is engaged not simply as a prospective employee, but also as a person, made in the image of God, who has purpose, worth, and responsibility.

One of the recurring themes throughout the JfL course curriculum is that of the journey. Students are encouraged to look beyond the time-frame of the class, beyond the first steps, perhaps even beyond their first job toward more fundamental life goals. In order to help them on this journey, each student is paired up with at least one mentor, or champion, who is there to provide friendship, guidance, accountability, and assistance along the way. This relationship does not end at the end of the course. Each champion commits to a twelve month follow-up period, providing a frame-work within which the student can continue to receive support and encouragement.

The journey isn't easy or simple. It takes time and commitment: from students, from teachers and from champions. Community doesn't just spring up of its own accord. Gaps of culture, experience, age, and socio-economic background have to be bridged in order for trust to be established. And once those gaps are bridged, everyday logistical problems intrude, as many of the students lack transportation, lack phone-service, lack internet access. The journey requires patience, diligence, flexibility, and creativity, but it's a journey that's well worth taking.

By this point, you may be asking yourself why this article is appearing in the Christ the King news letter. What's the connection? I'm very proud to say that Christ the King is already involved in establishing a new JfL site in downtown Raleigh! In partnership with Church of the Apostles and Neighbor 2 Neighbor, members of our own congregation are helping out with a JfL course that is currently in week five of eight. So, you may have missed the band wagon this time around, but next time I hope you'll prayerfully consider joining in and becoming a champion on the side of your neighbors in downtown Raleigh.