Ending the cycle of poverty in a person's life or in a community starts with the proper training in managing money.
That training is what Community Action of Central Illinois is focused on with their clients.
A shift in the mission of the organization in the last couple of years has introduced several programs designed for people who struggle financially to get out of poverty by properly managin their money through the Financial Peace University.
That's Community Action's Nancy Cunningham, who leads the program.
Community Action Executive Director Alison Rumler-Gomez explains Dave Ramsey put the program together and many of the lessons are lessons he learned when he fell on hard times.
Before enrolling clients into the Financial Peace University course, Katie Alexander explains they start you out with an eight-week course called Jobs For Life. She indicates this prepares individuals with skills necessary to build a resume, get a job, and maintain employment.
The Jobs for Life and Financial Peace University courses are just a few of the ways Community Action has shifted their focus in battling poverty locally. Rumler-Gomez explains instead of taking an approach of being the go to for the consequences of poverty, they wanted to get out in front of the problem, which is where the shift in mission came from.
The Jobs for Life training starts up again in August. To get more information about the Jobs for Life training, Financial Peace University, or other programs offered by Community Action, such as the Head Start pre-school and early childhood education classes, contact their corporate office in Lincoln at 217-732-2159.