(Indio, Calif. – July 23, 2010) – Those who reside at Martha's Village & Kitchen work diligently toward a goal of self-sufficiency. This work is individualized depending upon what education, job skills and experiences they bring with them when they arrive. With the help of Martha's Village & Kitchen staff, these residents lay out a series of tasks that will ultimately end with a good job, reliable transportation and a home they can call their own. This series of tasks is called the Bridges to Independence program. The first in this series is always the Challenge to Change, a two-week course that provides experiential exercises and lecture presentations on subjects related to enhancing self-esteem, increasing motivation and setting realistic goals. Many of these milestones are the completion of courses that are provided at Martha's Village. Today MVK is recognizing these accomplishments. Some of the clients have never been able to graduate from anything in their troubled lives but now have completed as many as eight milestones on their way to meeting all their goals!
Seventy-six client/residents have earned 185 certificates in Martha's Village & Kitchen classes. Here are the classes and the number of certificates earned:
| Challenge to Change |
56 |
| Job Seeking Skills |
17 |
| Smart Money |
28 |
| Recovery Services |
24 |
| Bridges to Independence |
53 |
| GED |
5 |
| Computer Skills |
1 |
Twenty-three residents are planning to attend the ceremony where the certificates will be presented by Father Joe Carroll, President of Martha's Village & Kitchen, and John Wolohan, Executive Director. As they walk down the aisle, family and friends are invited to cheer them on, take pictures and join them in a festive reception afterward.
It is a tough road they are taking with many pot holes, forks, hills and distractions. Like many runners, the encouragement from the spectators is sometimes the only thing keeping them going. That’s what this day is all about.
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