LISC’s Evans making crafts work for job, life skills

Tasha Evans, a Local Initiatives Support Corporation AmeriCorps Member, works at the Church Community Housing Corp. and the McKinney Cooperative Shelter in Newport, where she prepares residents who are homeless or have low incomes with job training and life skills. Since Evans began working at CCHC, she has helped more than 23 McKinney Cooperative Shelter occupants find jobs, which include local hotels and restaurants. Evans also developed the Craft for a Cause program. The program supplies CCHC residents with art supplies and St. Paul’s Thrift Shop also sells their creations, with proceeds coming directly back to the artists.

PBN: Can you speak about the Craft for Cause program?
EVANS: It all started when I was walking around the building introducing myself and saw people sitting in the shelter making earrings with paper clips and beads, as well as drawing thank-you cards and crocheting with random spools of yarn and cloth. What struck me was that their creations looked like real pieces of jewelry and scarves. But I also thought that just being able to socialize in a constructive setting would be useful for some of the individuals. So I wrote a letter to the community asking for donations of craft items and one of the residents came up with the name as we thought about making things to sell. The program is designed to give residents the opportunity to unite as a community for both craft projects and great conversation while also raising funds to improve their present circumstance. I firmly believe that you should not hide the talents that you were given.

PBN: Could you describe some of the ways you prepare CCHC residents for job interviews, such as the partnership with St. Paul’s Thrift Store?
EVANS: I found that the most important life skills are not taught in a classroom setting but learned indirectly through experience and practice. CCHC owns and operates Saint Paul’s Thrift Shop, where we have members fill out an application, and have an interview (even though the end result is always a hire). The difference is that after the interview, we sit down with the managers to review the application and the interview, pointing out things that may have turned another employer away. This allows the member to prepare for the next time. After the member is a paid employee, I also follow up with both the member and management on the member’s progress, as well as areas that they need to improve on. Once the member is comfortable, we began applying to outside companies.

PBN: Are there any grants or upcoming projects that you are currently working towards to improve the CCHC?
EVANS: This term I am partnering with Turn Around Ministry, a local agency that focuses on Prisoner re-entry. Many of our members are faced with a past that unfortunately sticks with them and limits their employment opportunities. I felt that it would be best to network with an agency that does just that. •

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