In June 2018, The Micah Center initiated the Joseph Project, a faith based employment training program run in partnership with Senator Ron Johnson’s Office and the Milwaukee-based project. Six classes have been held, and we have graduated 34 people. 23 graduates remain employed or remain in the program connected with case management employment coaches.
Still, we have struggled with costs of transportation, utilizing cab services. Many program graduates struggle with transportation due to the limited bus service on weekends and over the night-time hours when their shift work starts or ends. Focusing on transportation helps us to eliminate a key barrier to employment for Joseph Project graduates.
Just last week, the Milwaukee-based program reached out to us and said they had a van in their fleet that they could donate to us. We were overjoyed! It has been our dream to have a Joseph Project van to better address the need for cost-effective and reliable transportation.
Program Director Leanne Baeten says, “People are committed to making this work, to removing barriers to employment, because we see the successes.”
The newly donated van will be used to provide Joseph Project graduates transportation to and from jobs with our partner employers in the manufacturing industry. We are so thankful to the Milwaukee Joseph Project led by Pastor Smith and to the staff at Senator Johnson’s Office.
Stay tuned: We will be posting additional details volunteer opportunities to be a van driver and support the Joseph Project!
