As he kept a vigil beside his son’s hospital bed, Barry Hampton filled yellow legal pads with the thoughts that rushed through him. Prayers for his son’s health, anger at the incident that changed their lives, appreciation for the support system he had. He wrote when he woke up. He wrote on the bus to …
In order to launch her mobile hair salon, April Austin had an opportunity to purchase a conversion van at a very low cost. She took it to a dealership to have it inspected, and they told her it was worth more as spare parts than as the centerpiece of her business. They told her to …
Within a few months of working part-time at Davis Cookie Collection, Tymira Cunningham realized she needed more from the job in order to reach her goals: more hours every week and more money per hour. Just as important, she realized what she already had in the job: a supportive boss and room to grow. “I …
Tony Kimble knew the lifestyle he wanted when he came to Cincinnati Works. He had it years ago: A good job that paid well, a car, a nice apartment, the respect of his co-workers and neighbors. A series of poor choices – compounded by drugs and alcohol – cost him all of those things. When …
Neesha Earles lost her job due to COVID-19 but not her perspective. She has held multiple positions as a nursing aide but longed for a career as a nurse, a goal she shared with Cincinnati Works financial coach Nina Vogt. The pandemic gave Earles time to think, and Vogt provided a sounding board. Earles decided …
When he entered a rehabilitation center in June 2018, Evan Van Skaik’s body was so beaten down by drugs and alcohol that he needed a walker to get around. When he began the Cincinnati Works JumpStart workshop in January 2019, his psyche was so beaten down that he struggled to answer even the simplest questions. …
The JumpStart class from November 19-21 was unusually large but otherwise typical of the Members who came through Cincinnati Works in 2019: some flourished, some wilted, some took root but have not yet seen the fruits of their labor. Every Member of the class has access to a dedicated team at Cincinnati Works and an …
After five years of working in property management, Christian Ortiz knew what was coming when she fell behind on her rent last fall. “I have been the one delivering the eviction notice,” she said. “It changes everything for you.” Her leisurely job search suddenly took on more urgency. A friend referred Ortiz to Cincinnati Works …
As an IT professional for more than 20 years, Rob Krueger has long appreciated the value of diligence and precision. Every line of code has a direct, tangible impact on a program. So, when a jail term caused Krueger to lose “everything but the clothes I was wearing when I went in,” he began to …
The year he spent in solitary confinement left scars across the back of Angelo Robinson’s feet. Every trip to the shower required shackles, which tore through the skin around his ankles. He was reminded of the pain during a recent walk through downtown. Robinson was invited to the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner at Duke Energy …
