Step Up Savannah, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic opportunity and financial security for residents of Chatham County, Ga., is pleased to announce 38 students graduated from the Chatham Apprentice Program (CAP) spring session. CAP is a program of Step Up Savannah that helps unemployed and under-employed Chatham County residents find or create career paths that offer family-sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement.

The CAP graduation ceremony was held on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at the Salvation Army Community Center located at 3000 Bee Rd. in Savannah. Surrounded by family and friends, Step Up Savannah distributed certifications to 38 Chatham County residents who recently completed the essential life and job skills program. Each CAP session is four weeks and covers a range of critical career building topics including interview etiquette, resume writing, team work, conflict resolution, as well as life skills such as personal budgeting, how to build and repair credit, and basic math, reading and language skills.

“Everything we do at Step Up Savannah is to promote economic opportunity and financial security for residents,” said Jennifer Singeisen, executive director of Step Up Savannah. “The Chatham Apprentice Program is an amazing resource for individuals who need help removing barriers to economic prosperity and freedom from a cycle of poverty.”

With more than a quarter of Savannah’s residents living in poverty, that percentage jumps to 50 percent and higher in some neighborhoods. “Such high rates have persisted for more than 30 years and CAP is a lifeline for those who are looking for a way out,” said Singeisen. “All CAP students receive one-on-one coaching, job placement assistance and assistance with specialty job certifications across of range of career paths. They also receive assistance with understanding and explaining criminal backgrounds, including record restrictions if necessary.”

Funded by Chatham County, City of Savannah, State Farm Foundation, and the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Step Up Savannah’s CAP program includes partners from the local social service, and business community across various industry sectors. A special job fair took place one day before the graduation ceremony specifically for CAP students and included program partners TICO, Gaslight Group, Savannah Chatham County Public School System, Wayne Brothers, Shaw Industries, and more.

The next CAP class orientation and registration will be held on July 19 and July 26, 2019, at the Department of Labor located at 5520 White Bluff Rd. Classes will begin on August 5, 2019, and will be held at Moses Jackson Advancement Center located at 1410-B Richards St.