Q2 2024

From our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Why do I think so much about tearing down physical walls at the Advance Memphis office? I often think about creating outdoor community spaces, reducing texting between staff and the community, reducing emailing, Zoom meetings, getting off of Instagram and Facebook. God designed us for friendships and not isolation. Last December the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning that America is facing an epidemic of isolation and advised Americans to pursue “the healing effects of social connection.” Isolation is massively visible in our homes, churches, work, and our daily commutes; and it's dehumanizing each of us. 

Friendship is from all eternity seen in the trinity- through the relationship between God the Father, God the son, and the Holy Spirit. God, being perfect, embodied friendship within the trinity before the beginning of time. I want friendships! I want to learn to be a better friend. I want to learn to sacrifice, suffer, service, and be interrupted for the opportunity to build and strengthen friendships. 

Let’s combat isolation, and together pursue the heart of Christ through friendship and community this summer. As you read this newsletter, will you consider deepening your friendship with Advance Memphis, our staff, and our neighbors in South Memphis?

Peace,
Steve

Paula Jones (right) and Juanita Johnson working

Paula Jones goes Above and Beyond

In the midst of a season of transition, Advance Memphis Fulfillment & Distribution Services are providing work opportunities for up to 10 graduates and warehouse staff consistently, in large part due to the hard work of our Distribution Clerk, Ms. Paula Jones. A Work Life graduate from 2012, Paula has gone above and beyond in her commitment to seeing our warehousing services maintain operations, and even increase production, while we have been seeking a new Warehouse Manager since Mid-May. 

“Paula is an example of an employee stepping into a leadership role in a difficult time,” shared Director of Employment Development & HR, Juanita Johnson. “In addition to doing her work, she has taken on managing temps and training other staff in how to support her (such as Juanita and Steve Nash). Of course there has been added stress in this transitional period, but in all of it, she's taking constructive criticism to help her develop from “the doer” to the “one who delegates,” said Juanita. She was hired as the Distribution Clerk in 2022 and has played a valuable role in supporting incoming temporary employees currently enrolled in the Work Life class, as well as alumni working through Advance Memphis Outsourcing Services.

“I love my job and I want the best for Advance Memphis and my fellow workers and team members,” said Paula. “As long as I can help bring jobs to fellow grads and help provide stability, then I’m happy.”Juanita shared that Paula was instrumental in helping increase the workload (increasing jobs for graduates) with a customer named DOCAZOO, which is a direct reflection of DOCAZOO’s trust in Paula and the team as we operate on limited staff. 

“In April we hardly had anyone working here, but now we have 12 people [graduates] working, and that’s money going to pay people’s bills and feed families,” said Paula. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. I’ve been learning to be patient with myself instead of getting overwhelmed with the pressure. I try to just keep staying focused on our mission to love our neighbors.” 

The Advance Memphis team is proud and honored to serve alongside Ms. Paula Jones in her humble leadership and as she pursues growth and development in the midst of the fast-paced demands of Advance Memphis Fulfillment & Distribution Services. Please pray and network with us as we seek to hire a Warehouse Manager and other positions on the team.  

Growing Financial Literacy Through Relationships

We would like to introduce the newest member of the Advance Memphis team, Mr. Michael Johnson. Michael has taken on a newly created role as our Faith & Finances Instructor & IDA Coordinator as we seek to expand opportunities for neighbors to establish greater economic stability and growth in the areas of savings and money management. 

“I kept hearing about Advance Memphis, and about Steve Nash [Advance Memphis Executive Director], and everyone kept saying ‘it’s a great place.’ I realized this is a place where God is doing real things… and I just really wanted to be a part of it,” said Michael.

In collaboration with our other Faith & Finances Instructors, Michael is seeking to increase the number of students attending Faith & Finances through additional recruitment efforts, strengthening graduation rates by providing additional support, and providing more class offerings to meet the needs of neighbors working various shifts. 

“I did not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I’m one of 8 kids and a single mom,” he said. “I saw my fair share of challenges. I never knew about finances, but I saw consistently that I had a need and I saw that [God] always provided for it through my mom. When I got a job and started earning money, I didn’t know how to manage it or to make my money, make money.” Michael explained that when he got married and brought a lot of school debt into the marriage, “it took things to another level.” His wife, Sarah, and he took the Dave Ramsey Financial Management course, and he sought out a mentor to teach him about money management, as well as property management, among other things. Through the application of what he and his wife were learning, they were able to pay off all of their debt, and find healthy financial practices as a family to help them steward their resources in a God-honoring way. 

“I understand the demographic of our neighborhoods in South Memphis. I understand that background because of how I grew up, so it’s easy for me to teach what I’ve been learning without talking above anybody’s head,” Michael Shared. “It’s been a dream to build relationships already at Advance Memphis… if you don’t have relationships, it doesn’t matter what you want to teach people, so I see just how important all of the relationships are in all of this.”

Michael is excited for the opportunity to grow the small community of people learning and growing together in our Faith & Finances classes, and the ongoing support and encouragement he is able to provide graduates opening a matched savings account (Individual Development Account). “It pushes me every day, seeing those people who want to learn about finances, and that really excites me to see when people want to grow in that area because I’ve seen what that knowledge has done for me,” he said. 

We are excited to share that through Michael’s efforts, we currently have 28 participants (and growing!) registered for the August Faith & Finances class! Please consider reaching out to Michael Johnson if you are interested in volunteering with him as an Ally or a meal provider, and partnering with us in the expansion of our Financial Literacy programming.

Art for Jobs 2024

Art for Jobs is returning September 24-26, and we are looking forward to seeing you there! We are excited to see you at the opening night Preview Party, followed by the virtual art sale.

Visit the Art for Jobs page on our website or sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know when tickets are available and the virtual gallery is live.

Don’t forget to share, share, share! Use our emails or posts on Instagram or Facebook to invite your friends and family.