CommonBond CWJC Overview
Christian Women's Job Corps (CWJC) began in 1997. The local Bradley
County site registered to start a Christian Women's Job Corps in Cleveland,
TN in 2007 and was named CommonBond CommonBond CWJC (hereafter
called "CBCWJC") is a recognized nonprofit organization and continues to
serve the Cleveland area of Southeast Tennessee with participants from
Bradley and the surrounding counties. Two sixteen week sessions are
currently offered annually with one beginning in mid January and the other in
mid August.
Women from various walks of life who have had personal challenges or
"roadblocks" that hinder them from gaining employment are encouraged to
seek CBCWJC's help through local churches, service organizations and other
venues. The staff and graduates ofCBCWJC also proactively pursue
enrollees via personal referrals and literature distributed in public venues.
Once an application to the program is submitted, each potential participant is
interviewed. The defining criterion for acceptance is a desire to change and a
commitment to work toward the class requirements. Each new mentee is
paired with a personal mentor who coaches her through the sixteen-week
intensive Jobs for Life ("JfL") course. Graduation requirements include:
attending the weekly four hour class, meeting with her mentor at least one
hour per week outside the classroom, submitting three job searches per week
and completing all required homework. In addition, each participant must
have a finalized polished resume and a six-month vocational plan completed
by Week 15.
At the conclusion of Week 16, each graduate receives a day of pampering
that may include a personal makeover, a spa experience and clothing
appropriate for the interviewing process. Graduates are treated to a beautiful
celebration dinner and a formal graduation ceremony where certificates of
completion from both JfL and CWJC are awarded. Entrance into the
CBCWJC Alumnae association is offered with the continuation of
encouragement, fellowship and growth.
The goal of this program is to not only instill in the student the skills necessary to
find employment; rather, the aim of the training and mentoring process is to
assist the mentee to develop the knowledge and mindset to maintain employment
and become a productive member of society and her community.
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