Our Blog
Meet the staff – Cheryl Ruddy
HopeWorks is blessed with passionate staff who care about our students and want them to succeed. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Ruddy, one of our ESL instructors. Cheryl’s desire to help others and share the love of Christ is infectious, and we’re so grateful she’s…
Employment in the Bible
In the Bible (and today), people’s professions are often used as identifiers – some accompanied by negative connotations. However, there are countless examples of people in the Bible with varying careers who were sought after by Jesus Himself, serving as a reminder that Jesus’ love is unending, unfailing…
If immigrants have graduate or postgraduate degrees in their home countries, why don’t they apply here?
Did you know the Migration Policy Institute estimates 20-25% of college educated immigrants are underemployed? This means despite their education in their native countries, some immigrants are working jobs they’re overqualified for while others struggle to find employment. Why is it so difficult for immigrants to obtain meaningful…
The ripple effect of education: How passing the HiSET impacts more than the diploma recipient
According to CLASP, there are an estimated 40 million Americans without their high school diploma. Life happens, but it’s never too late to pass your HiSET and receive your high school equivalency diploma, especially when the effects of your achievement affect not only yourself but those around you.…
Five surprisingly profitable careers that DON’T require a college degree
It may surprise you that you don’t need a college degree to make a decent wage. In fact, research shows more education doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make more money. A 2021 study from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found 16% of high school graduates, 23%…
The power of having hope
Hope is an important aspect of what we do at HopeWorks — so important it’s in the name of our organization. We want people participating in our programs to have stability, confidence and a hope-filled future by fostering a relationship with God. Hope is a powerful thing to…
The current state of high school graduation
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, nearly 90% of all high school students graduated on time in the 2021-2022 school year. While that number is quite large, that still leaves a decent number of students without a high school diploma. This, however, does not mean there aren’t…
Five tips for budgeting with an hourly wage
Budgeting with a salary is easy because you know the exact amount of money you’ll be receiving each pay period. Hourly jobs are more difficult to budget for because your paycheck can be different every time you get it — depending on how many hours you work in…
Have you heard about our Employment Essentials program?
Personal and Career Development has been HopeWorks’ key program since we opened more than 35 years ago. PCD is still around, but there are some exciting changes happening on Summer Avenue when it comes to our workforce programming. If you haven’t already joined us for a PCD class,…
Things you might not think about as an American citizen
If you were born and raised as an American citizen, there are certain aspects of life that are seen as common knowledge. However, some people in our city do not have the same cultural knowledge that comes with having spent a large part of their lives in the…