Karhonda Gibson describes the women she attends job readiness and life skills classes with at the Christian Women's Job Corps as family.
"We're like sisters," she says. "We pray for each other, and we're always there for each other."
Michele Marcotte/The Daily Sentinel |
Dr. Brent Stephens prepares Karhonda Gibson's teeth for impressions Monday. Gibson is one of two women who is receiving pro bono or price-reduced dental work as part of a goal a fellow classmate at the Christian Women's Job Corps had and told her mentor, Claire Robbins about. Robbins used her networking skills to locate Stephens.
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She says the women provide encouragement and praise, and recently, one of them provided her with an opportunity that she did not even know was possible.
Claire Robbins, a mentor with the organization, said earlier this year, a women she mentors, a term known at the CWJC as a "merea," informed her that she wanted to help improve the smiles of two women with whom she attends classes. Robbins said both the women had missing teeth, and with a dental problem of her own, Robbins' merea wanted to provide the women some sort of assistance.
"She told me she would like to help these women if she could, and my wheels started going," said Robbins, who also works as a staffing specialist for Manpower. "With the job I do, I know how important that first impression is."
Robbins utilized her networking skills and located two dentists who would agree to do the work pro bono or at a drastic discount.
Among them was Dr. Brent Stephens, who on Monday, made impressions of Gibson's teeth for a new type of product called Smile Transitions.
"It's almost like a clip," said Gibson.
She said she had been having tooth aches for some time, and she sees this opportunity as a blessing.
The Christian Women Jobs Corps accepts up to 15 women for each of their programs, according to Melanie O'Dell, site coordinator.
She said the program, typically 10-weeks, includes classes from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and pairs each participant with a Christian woman from the community who will spend a few hours every week with them in a one-on-one setting.
"They have Bible study every single morning, and throughout the week we have things such as money management, job skills and parenting class and healthy relationships, business communications, computer three days out of the week and typing practice every single day," she said. "And then, throughout the 10-week program, we'll have different people come from Angelina College, Stephen F. Austin State University or a bank to talk about bank accounts and credit and do (other) presentations."
Robbins said the classes enable the women to really get to know each other.
"They open up a lot to each other," she said.
O'Dell said the program helps to encourage the women and let them see what their career options are.
"Yesterday we took a trip to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital so they could get an idea of what jobs are available there — all the different applications that are in a hospital other than just a nurse and that entails as far as 'the type of education I have to have' and 'how long does that take?'" she said.
The next program starts Feb. 8, 2010. Women who are interested in taking part in the program need to fill out an application, which are available at www.cwjcnac.org or by calling 564-2952.
