Luncheon helps those who help job seekers

Leaders of faith-based groups gather information, ideas and hope to share

Church leaders and volunteers, experts on advising job-seekers and those just beginning to help, shared lunch, ideas and hope Wednesday in the fellowship hall at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

One man was starting a new support group for job-seekers and wanted to learn from veterans' mistakes. Another group leader wondered whether she should collaborate with others, to streamline the process for job-seekers. Most agreed that it's a long road ahead - and that it's more important than ever to share resources and tips.

"We know of no more important social issue that the faith community needs to work together on at this time than unemployment," said Maria Hanlin, executive director of Mecklenburg Ministries, which hosted the luncheon.

The event drew more than 150 people from at least 75 different faith groups and began, fittingly, with a prayer.

"We thank you," said the Rev. Cassandra Jones of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, "for the clergy and leaders gathered in this room for one purpose."

Job-support groups have cropped up by the dozens since the recession squeezed 53,000 jobs from the Charlotte area and pushed its unemployment rate to 11.8 percent. Now, there are more than 50 groups - up from a handful a few years ago, group leaders estimate - that serve some 2,000 job-seekers a week.

Faith-based groups are particularly popular, partly because the jobless already feel a sense of community in their places of worship. Wednesday's free luncheon was an effort to better equip clergy and volunteers who run groups or who want to start one, coaching them on topics from social networking to attracting recruiters to job fairs to helping job-seekers understand that now is the time to figure out what they're passionate about and find a way to capitalize on it.

Byron Brogan, who leads the job group at Matthews United Methodist Church, urged leaders to get on the same page with their host churches, develop an exit strategy for when the job market recovers - and remember the reason they're in it in the first place.

To illustrate that point, Brogan read an e-mail he'd received recently: "I GOT THE JOB!!!!!" it said. "God is looking out for me, and I cannot thank you ... enough."

Susan Green of Myers Park Baptist Church shared with leaders gathered around her table her group's plan to start an online portal for conversation and job resources. Career coach Jeannie Fennell handed out glossy cards with information on her free support group that focuses on eliminating stress, rather than networking or perfecting resumes.

Green nodded, looking over the card: "It's not just job issues; it's all kinds of personal issues."

Daryl Israel, who is launching a support group at New Vision Deliverance Ministries at Whiting Avenue Baptist Church in NoDa, said he came Wednesday to figure out how to run it without reinventing the wheel.

"It's important to eliminate or reduce confusion among the people we're trying to help and maximize our efforts, availability and expertise," he said.

Nearby, Lisa Martinez, whose Centralina Council of Governments group helps train older workers, was trying to build relationships with church group leaders. Her program is full, with 150 people on the waiting list for training and dwindling federal money, and she hopes to refer some workers to church programs that can help, she said.

"With this issue, as with most, there has to be some collaboration," Martinez said.

The program featured a speech by Mayor Anthony Foxx, who began by saying he didn't envy the role faith leaders play in this recession.

"This is a painful, painful time for many families," he said.

But Foxx likened Charlotte to a sick patient with a record of good health, saying it will be easier to recover because of all the city has going for it. There is a strong business community, rapid population growth, a pleasant climate and recent job announcements from large companies such as Electrolux and Celgard, he said.

Foxx said he's looking for jobs with staying power and ways to improve public schools to give more children a chance to succeed. He also hopes to help build the community's conscience, to encourage people to feel thankful that Charlotte is better off than other places.

"We're still standing," he said. "And not only are we still standing, we're standing strong."

Later, as group leaders began to file out of the hall, juggling packets of resources and stacks of business cards, the Rev. Russ Dean of Park Road Baptist Church offered a brief sendoff.

"Go to work," he said, "and be at peace."

Kirsten Valle: 704-358-5248