Step Up Savannah is launching its first Asset Based Community Development Program, Level Up, starting October 20, 2020.

The program will involve a series of free online classes held every Tuesday and Thursday over a seven-week period ending December 2, 2020. Applications will be accepted now until October 2. Applicants must live in Chatham County or within Savannah’s city limits and meet one or more of the following eligibility requirements: 

• you have participated in Step Up Savannah’s CAP or Public Benefits Program

• you are a current Head Start parent or receive free or reduced lunch benefits for children

• you have repeatedly requested crisis assistance or were referred by a partnering agency

• you require assistance from the Step Up’s workforce development program

• you were referred for help to overcome the cycle of financial crisis 

Level Up participants will have the opportunity to accomplish their goals through an engaging series of activities and create an individualized action plan. Participants will also learn basic financial literacy skills, have an opportunity for workforce development, research entrepreneurial or education pathways, along with establishing meaningful relationships in the context of their own community. Participants will receive a small stipend to go towards internet service costs associated with the program.  

  “Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a nationally recognized best practice and builds on the assets that are found in the community and mobilizes individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realize and develop their strengths through targeted collaborations. ABCD distinguishes itself from the more traditional deficit-based approaches that focus on identifying and servicing needs through information or one-off social services.” Said Alicia Johnson, Step Up’s Executive Director, “Level Up is an empowering program that not only connects individuals with services, but it gives them the tools to succeed, helps facilitate the process and then overcome the barriers they may encounter along the way.  We are excited to bring together all of our existing partners—City of Savannah, Chatham County, Bank On, Neighborhood Improvement Association, Savannah Tech, GoodWill, the Chatham Apprentice Program and many more, into this new effort to help solve our old problems around generational poverty.  

The Level Up program will be facilitated by Step Up Savannah’s Asset Building Coordinator, Cornelius Lloyd. For additional information about the Level Up program, please call (912) 525-1169 or email [email protected]. 

To apply, please visit https://forms.gle/J8BsBAth9UFvWSUj9.