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7AUGUST2014BODYOFCHRISTNEWSImaginereleasefromaperiodofincar-cerationfinishingadrugandalcoholprogramordissatisfiedwithyourjobunemployedorunderemployedwithnowheretoturnforyouremploymentneeds.ThesearejustafewexamplesofthebarriersmenandwomenfacewhenstartingoverandrebuildingtheirlivesintheDenverMetroAreaeveryday.Manyunfortunatelylosehopereturnbacktotheformerselfstoplookingforworkaltogetherorstayinapositionatworkwheretheydonotfeelvaluedtheneventuallyquit.WherewouldyoustarttolookforhelpManyemploymentcentersdaylabororjobprogramsmayprovideassistancebutfallshortandthecyclecontinues.SuchwasthecasewhenIwasreleasedafterashortperiodofincarcerationin2006.IhadaRadiologyTechAssociatesdegreeanddecentworkexperiencebutfewchoicesforemploymentduetomyrecordcoupledwithadecliningeconomy.IwentthroughthenormalchannelspublicworkforcecentersvariousprogramsdesignedtoassistwithjobsstaffingagenciesandtheusualCraigslistedjobsbutbecamefrustratedasthebillsstartedtomount.ManyemployerswantedtohiremebutdidntwanttobethefirstorIwouldfindemploymentbutwouldleavethecyclecontinued.Thensomethinguniquehappenedwhileatacommu-nitycenterinFivePointsIfoundanadvertisementforanon-profitemploy-mentministrycalledDenverWorks.ItseemedlikeanyanotherprogramontheoutsidesoIwasveryskeptical.OnceIcalledthensignedupIattend-edtheCareerReadinessWorkshoptheentrypointofprogramsservicesforDenverWorks.ItwasthenthatIexpe-riencedaparadigmshiftthatclearlymademeseethingssodifferently.IfoundmuchmorethanajobIfoundacareeropportunitythroughaSolarEnergyprogramcalledWiredoneofthemanyprogramsthatwereofferedatthetime.IstudiedhardtofinisheachmodulelearningaboutphotovoltaicscareersinrecyclingandsoongraduatedwithaSolarEnergyCertificationthatwasthespringboardandthenewbeginningtoanewcareer.WhileatDenverWorksImetregularlywithawomanAnnaAragonacasemanagerwhostillshepherdsparticipantstodaywespentvaluableoneononetimeAnnahelpedmewithmyresumeprovid-edinvaluablejobleadsfaithmentor-ingaddressedmytransportationandclothingneedsbutmainlyassistedmeinnavigatingatoughjobmarket.ShesuggestedItakeastrengthfindertest.Thetestshowedmeindetailmycorestrengthsanditopenedmyeyesunlockingmypotential.TheshorttestshowedmewhyIlovedcertainworkenvironmentsandthendislikedoth-ers.DenverWorkssuccessfullyhelpedmefindajobandanentry-levelcareerpositionataDowntownDenverMensShelter.IfinallywasabletofindacareerIwaspassionateaboutitchangedmylifemyfamilyandthecommunityaroundme.Ibeganpartneringwithothercom-munityagenciestoexpandmyknowl-edgeofresourcesinthecommu-nityjoinedtheDenverRoadHomeEmploymentSub-Committeeandthenpartneredwithafewlike-mindednon-profitswhichledtopenninga2.8mil-liondollargrantthatbecameknownDenverGreenJobsInitiative.DGJIwasajobtrainingprogramthatpro-videdclassesinGreenConstructionSolarandEnergyEfficiencyandpushmenwomeninthepoorestneighbor-hoodstocareerpathsinthegrowingenvironmentalservicefields.AstheleadcasemanagerIwasmirroringthesamecareloveandprofessionalismIreceivedatDenverWorks.Ilovedhelp-ingmyclientsmostlythosewhohadbeenthroughincarcerationhomeless-nessdisabilitiesandunemployment.AftertheDGJIgrantendedIwasrecruitedbyanothernon-profitBudsWarehouseafaithbasedjobtrainingprogramthatsellsre-usablebuildingmaterialsandonlyemployeesmenwomenrebuildinglives.DoyouseeaparallelhereIwasveryhappyinmyroleasOperationsManager.ItwasthensomethinghappenedthatwouldchangemylifeandthecommunityIdearlylovedforever.July202012Iattendedthemid-nightshowingofTheDarkKnightintheater9attheAuroraTheaterwithafriendIhadrecentlymetRebeccaWingo.Sittinginthefifthrowasthemoviestartedagunmanopenedfired.MyfriendwastakeninstantlyandImanagedtosurvivewithtwobulletslodgedinmyrightshoulder.Itookmuchneededtimeoffthenslowlystartedtoworkmywaybackintocommunityorganizingagain.IspentatremendousamountoftimewithAnnaandtheDenverWorksteamonnextstepsandIstartedworkingforalargestaffingagencywhichleadmetomyemploymentattheColoradoDepartmentofCorrectionRe-Entrycen-terstartingaPrisonMinistryservingontheDenverWorkforceInvestmentBoardandjoiningthestaffatComitisCrisisCenter.IstartedtosowseedsbyspeakingaboutmylifeexperiencesallovertheUnitedStatesinprisonshalf-wayhousesmiddleschoolschurchesrehabilitationcentersandgrouphomesacrossthecountry.AsIrecoveredImettheloveofmylifeandmarriedmybeautifulwifeMeganwitnessedthebirthofmysonZionwalkedmySisterYasminedowntheaisleatherweddingandstartedtomoveonwithmylifeafterthetragicevent.ThingswerereallygoodbutgrewbetterthedayIwasaskedtobecomeaBoardMemberatDenverWorks.Iwashumbledprayedaboutitandacceptedgratefully.AfterafewmonthsIwashiredinmycurrentpositionasOutreachDevelopmentCoordinatoratDenverWorks.MyexperiencesmanyyearsagowithDenverWorkshadnowcomefullcircleandIamdoingwhattheLordintended.DenverWorksisafaith-basednon-profitwhosemissionistoempowertheunemployedandthosewithbarrierstoemploymentandpersonal-sustainabilitythroughjobpreparationandplacement.Forover18yearsDenverWorkshasprovidedjobpreparationandplacementservicestojobseekerswithbarrierslead-ingthemtoemployment.WillyoubethenextsuccessstoryCall303-433-0300Clickwww.denverworks.org...Connectwww.facebook.comDenverWorkstodayformoreinformationonDenverWorksprogramsservicesandmostimportantlyyourfutureCareerByGodsGraceByMarcusWeaverSittinginthefifthrowasthemoviestartedagunmanopenedfired.MyfriendwastakeninstantlyandImanagedtosurvivewithtwobulletslodgedinmyrightshoulder.MarcusWeaverTESTIMONYLOCALEVENTsAdvancingTheKingdomAUG16Celebrate16yearswithSisterRosaLeeJustSayYestoJesusMinistrySaturdayAugust16500p.m.atAgapeChristianChurchHostPastorRobertWoolfolk2501CaliforniaStreetDenverCO80205UnresolvedGriefSeminarAUG23FaithWalkMinistrySUICIDEPREVENTIONINTERVENTIONMINISTRYinvitesyoutojoinusIfyouneedhelpindealingwithUnresolvedGriefIssuesDenialGuiltAngerForgivenessAnxietymuchmoreYouneedtoattendPresentersincludeDr.DorothieClarkandTopazzMcBrideLocationFORDWARRENLIBRARYFROM10A-3P