Success Stories!

JumpStart is getting vehicles to people in need

Community Action Duluth’s JumpStart Duluth program has gone a long way in helping low-income families purchase reliable transportation. Since the program’s inception we have assisted 64 families purchase a reliable vehicle for work and family needs.  However, for several of the families we work with, even the low-interest rate loan and down payment assistance aren’t enough to make ownership of a reliable vehicle a reality.

To help further address this need for reliable transportation, CAD and the Twin Ports Napa Auto Repair Centers have once again partnered to give three families refurbished cars and the recipients couldn't be more appreciative. 

Valirick Pepper has been without a car for 3 years and said this vehicle donation is truly a gift that will keep on giving, "This will make life so much easier, even the simple things like grocery shopping in the winter, being able to get everything we need without freezing the whole way - I mean it's everything, it’s going to change our life, it’s gonna open up so many more opportunities. It’s definitely one of the best Christmas presents we've ever received."

The Napa Auto Repair Centers donated all the necessary parts and put an estimated 40-50 hours into refurbishing the vehicles that were donated to CAD so they would be in good condition for the recipients. CAD’s transportation advocate worked with each recipient to ensure they would be able to afford liability insurance, gas, car maintenance and repair.

To really progress and move toward prosperity reliable transportation is a necessity. These hard working families really needed dependable transportation in order to advance to that next level and reach long-term prosperity. The recipients chosen to receive the vehicle were those that excelled at working toward their financial, employment and education goals at CAD.

Having little -to -no transportation is a struggle and a major barrier to finding and maintaining work . "People can't get to work ‘cause they don't have a car but they can’t buy a car because they can’t get to work to earn the money” said Brad Williams with NAPA Auto Care.

As good as the DTA system is in Duluth, it’s not enough to meet the needs of all Duluth families. "One bus ride is an hour and a half," said car recipient Stacy Meese. "I spend fifteen hours a week between cabs and bus fare. Having this vehicle is going to mean being able to spend more quality time with my son."

"I feel pretty lucky and very grateful for the people who put this together," said Eilers.

CAD and MNDOT Partner for Employment Success!

“I love it, it’s work, but it’s great!” says Walter Alexander about his new job with the Minnesota Department of Transportation(MNDOT). Walter, along with Elizabeth Burnham and Valerie Whitebird, got a job with MNDOT this fall as a result of an exciting new partnership between MNDOT and Community Action Duluth.

This collaboration began about a year ago when Community Action Duluth was connected with MNDOT, and learned of their desire to increase the diversity of their workforce. Throughout many conversations, MNDOT staff learned about the many ways that Community Action Duluth helps low income people get prepared for success in the workplace. As a result, in October 2011, MNDOT contacted Community Action Duluth about the maintenance positions that were opening up and wanted to invite some of our participants to apply. Three participants were referred for the 6 month maintenance worker positions and all three were hired!
“The workers are doing well, they have established good working relationships and they are doing well in learning their jobs”, reports Sandy Danmeier, MNDOT Human Resources Supervisor, “We are thankful to Community Action Duluth for sending us such quality employees.”

Staff at Community Action Duluth and MNDOT are continuing to work together to grow this mutually beneficial partnership. Walter, Elizabeth and Valerie continue to receive support through the programs at Community Action Duluth to ensure that they are able to make the most out of this transformative employment opportunity. In Walter’s own words, “I thank God for Community Action and for MNDot. If it weren’t for Community Action I wouldn’t have this job. It’s wonderful.”

Cherkesha is Getting Ahead

Cherkesha is a single mother who has been involved in the programs at Community Action Duluth since 2008. “I had heard good things about Community Action and so after leaving the shelter and getting into transitional housing, I knew it was time to check it out. The first thing I did was take the Getting Ahead class. That program opened my eyes about the different social classes. I never got that before and now knowing this gives me confidence in knowing how to talk to different people in the community and at work. The Getting Ahead class also really got me started on working on my goals and gave me the boost I needed to get going.” Cherkesha has been  going ever since.

When she came to Community Action Duluth, Cherkesha was struggling to make ends meet for her and her daughter. She was working part time as a telemarketer but without a high school diploma or GED, Cherkesha had very few employment options and continued to rely heavily on public assistance. After completing the Getting Ahead class, Cherkesha enrolled in the FAIM program to save for her educational goal of being the first in her family to go to college. Cherkesha then enrolled in the Circles@Work program and received Educational and Employment Coaching, as well as support from a volunteer Ally. Through this support Cherkesha was able to get her GED and in Fall 2009, she enrolled as a full time student at Lake Superior College.

Besides being a student, Cherkesha has also been in pursuit of employment to continue to support her family. The Circles@Work Employment coach has worked with Cherkesha on an on- going basis as Cherkesha is working to establish a solid employment history that will lead to self sufficiency. Cherkesha has now been able to maintain steady employment for the last 9 months. She is currently employed through the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program and is part of the ‘green canvass’ that helps homeowners connect with energy efficiency improvement available to them.

Cherkesha is now attending Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College working towards her Associates Degree in Human Services and is making connections for her next employment opportunity once the canvass work is completed at the end of December. Cherkesha meets regularly with a financial coach through the Financial Opportunity Center at Community Action Duluth and is making progress on her next goals of buying a car and her own home.

“There are no words that can describe how much of an impact Community Action Duluth has had on my life. I cannot put in words how thankful I am for the overwhelming support I have received and continue to receive. I could never repay what has been done for me but I now am able to look forward to the day soon when I will be able to be the one giving back the kind of support I have received at Community Action Duluth.”

Watch a video of other success stories.

This 6 minute video shows the power of Community Action Duluth programs in the words of our amazing program participants!