Nearly 17% of Nashville residents live in poverty – more than the state or national average. The cost of living is also rising faster in Nashville than any other U.S. city right now, and even many people who have jobs can’t rise above the poverty line. This is a serious challenge for our city. UpRise is a program to help address these concerns. We provide a one-year program for Nashville adults who are unemployed or under-employed, and are ready to start a new career path to improve their financial condition. Each participant starts in a six-week training camp, followed by job skill training, and finally, job placement. We know that there is no sustained change without sustained relationship, and everyone needs encouragement and support. We provide each of our students with a mentor, or “ally,” to walk with them throughout their journey. Our hope is that through UpRise, participants will find meaningful employment at a living wage with career advancement opportunities. We aim for our graduates to make $14 or more per hour, leading to upward mobility and a thriving vocational life. We are actively recruiting students for our classes now. We are also looking for business owners in our community who want to make their workplace their mission field, and who would be willing to hire one of our graduates. You can learn more about these opportunities at www.uprisenashville.org. Or, call Carole Peterson or Jennifer Mobley at 615-301-8440.