Milwaukee needs jobs. Sheboygan has more than they have people available.
Now the Joseph Project is bringing the two together- solving both cities' issue.
Pastor Jerome Smith with the Greater Praise Church of God said "It's about connecting peopel who really want to work with people who are really looking for good employees."
The program doesn't only help Milwaukee residents find work in Sheboygan, it also gives them training and transportation.
It's great for people like Brenda Bridges. Bridges has worked in corporate positions and raised her kids, now she's looking for a change.
"My kids are teenagers now. And they're asking for very expensive things," she said.
So, after trying a couple of job-training programs that led to no job, Bridges gave the Joseph Project a shot.
She's been working at Polyfab for a couple months now.
"I can provide for my family now," she said. "I can give them things that they ask for, things that I wasn't able to give them."
The hope of the program is to give people access to family-supporting jobs. And support to keep them.
"We teach them things like spiritual fitness, conflict resoution, how to deal with stress, we teach them how to deal with finances," explained Smith.
He said people find the program through referrals and some door knocking. Many come to the program hoping to turn around their lives. Smith said the education on financial responsibility is especially helpful for people making much more money than they ever have.
Bridges said she appreciates any additional support- especially the 7-day-a-week transportation, since she's having car trouble.
She's one of more than 30 people working in the program. The February program is full already, with a new set of employees waiting to be trained come Monday.
The program doesn't cost the trainees-unless they take transportation (the contribute about $6/day every two weeks). But it costs 5,800 to 6,000 dollars a month, funded by private donations.
If you're interested in being a part of the project- contact Pastor Smith at (414) 732-8450 or by email at mjssvs@aol.com
