We would like for you all to meet Kelly, one of our amazing graduates. Kelly is originally from Florida and came to Alabama in 2009 for a job. Due to an economic downturn, she was laid off from the job, which led her to enter into a difficult time of life. This season of life led her to The Lovelady Center.
Towards the end of her time at The Lovelady Center, Kelly was connected with WorkFaith Birmingham. Kelly shares that, when she first started the workshop, she did not think that there was anything she could learn from it because she already had good work experience. But after the workshop, she said, “It was a reality check that I needed.”
Kelly states that the relationships with the WorkFaith staff, Andy, Pam, and Tamika, made a positive impact in her life. The most impactful part of the workshop for her was the mock interview day. On the second Thursday of the workshop, WorkFaith students participate in practice interviews with hiring professionals and retired hiring professionals from throughout the city of Birmingham. Each student has two opportunities to practice interviewing and two opportunities to observe other students interviewing. Kelly shared that she is grateful for how the interviewers told the truth to help her realize what she needed to work on. She said, “They gave me hope, confidence, and tools to go out and get the job that I was capable of doing.”
Many of our students must explain gaps in their employment history during interviews with prospective employers. Kelly remarked that WorkFaith helped her know how to answer these questions. Kelly said that WorkFaith helped prepare her so that she was able to obtain employment only a few weeks after graduating the program. Kelly began working at an automotive group in automotive accounting and titles. A year and a half later, Kelly is still working for this group and is also scheduled to graduate with her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies this August.
At WorkFaith, we desire to maintain relationships with our students after they graduate from our program. Kelly shared that she is grateful for this relationship. She said, “It is just so nice to know that WorkFaith is there to help.” When asked what she would like people to know about WorkFaith she shared, “It is a valuable resource. It doesn’t matter if you have a criminal record, if you haven’t worked at all, or if you haven’t worked in 20 years. These are people who are willing to go out on a limb for you if you will take it. They want to see you succeed.”
We are so thankful for the opportunity to be a small part of what God is doing in the lives of our students. Would you join us in praying that each of our students would experience the abundant life that Jesus offers them?
