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'Getting Ahead' graduates ready to pay it forward
The Wednesday meeting of the Greencastle Rotary Club was billed as a graduation ceremony for the recent Getting Ahead class, but maybe commencement would have been the better word.
For the graduates, it served as a commencing of their new lives, a fresh start on pasts marred by bad luck and bad choices -- a chance to build a better future for not only themselves, but for one another and their community.
The class, whose full name is "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World," is designed to help those caught in generational poverty learn how to take control of their own lives and futures.
Class facilitator Judy Cockrum told the Banner Graphic of how in the very first class session, one of the students could not focus because her daughter had run out of necessary medication that day.
On the first break of the class, some her classmates took her aside and told her of a resource that might help. She was able to obtain a six-month supply of the medication and returned to class focused, ready to learn.
"Immediately, they were a team, helping each other with resources," Cockrum said.
It served as an early lesson in what the class is all about -- finding resources to help oneself and learning the hidden rules of language and social class that serve as a barriers to impoverished people trying to get ahead.
"Everybody had a transformation," Cockrum said. "Basically, coming into it, they were fearful and didn't know what they were getting into."
One graduate spoke of struggling to overcome addictions that have plagued her and not really expecting to get much out of the class.
"I really didn't plan on staying with the class because I quit everything I start," she said early in her address.
Later things changed.
"I became at ease and learned that I'm not the only one with the world on my shoulders," she said.
This knowledge was not only comforting to her, but has led her to want to help others.
More than one of the graduates spoke of not only improving their own lives, but those of others.
This was the hope of organizers coming into this first Getting Ahead class.
Organized by the Bridges Out of Poverty steering committee, the class is a way of giving those who have suffered from poverty a voice in the future of the Bridges program.
The hope is that some of these graduates will not only continue to work on improving their lives, but serve on the Bridges steering committee and give direction to future programming.
"The Getting Ahead class has been quite an inspiration," said Linda Hunter of the Putnam County Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative.
And Getting Ahead is only part of the vision of Bridges. The recent graduates will remain engaged through the Circles of Hope, which will provide them with mentors on their journey toward future success.
Bridges Out of Poverty is also taking part in the Gleaners Backpack program, as well as providing education programs about subjects such as nutrition and predatory lending.
There is also an element of educating community leaders. This was part of the point of having the graduation ceremony at the Rotary meeting, beyond the fact that matching grants from the club and Rotary district had helped fund the class.
Additionally, there is an upcoming Bridges Out of Poverty training session on Nov. 13 at the Prindle Institute. Registration is at 8:15 and the cost is $10 for training.
Anyone interested in the class or the program in general may contact Hunter at lhunter-@barnabascenter.com or 653-5222.
"Part of the way to solve the problem is education," Hunter said.
On Wednesday, however, the most important thing was honoring the graduates and making sure they remember they have a support system on their road to a better life.
"If you need help, ask," Hunter told the graduates. "Don't be timid. You must step forward and ask."