‘Getting Ahead' program starts new cohort to beat poverty in the community
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Bridges Cooperative Ministry, a ministry group of Franklin Street Church in downtown Johnstown, has started a new cohort of the 'Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World' program.
Each cohort meets for 16 weeks as a small group in a safe and supportive environment where they can express their ideas freely and learn from one another.
'We've had 159 graduates. We started in 2015,' Carolyn Varchol, Program Director of Bridges to Success said.
The program operates under Bridges to Success, which also works to move the community away from poverty. Varchol says everyone's journey out of poverty is different, which is why the classes are modeled after people who have experienced it.
'It's designed by folks who have been struggling to get by, and some of the folks have actually designed some of the modules. And some of the folks who come to this class, a lot of them are recruited by other folks who've taken the class,' Varchol said.
In every new cohort, a recent graduate works as a facilitator who's received the same training and understands where they've been.
'I do see myself in, in some of the individuals that I'm helping. It helps you to understand not only your position in poverty, but it helps you to understand how you can not only problem-solve some of the things you're going through, but it helps you to understand what you can do about that,' Briana Mack, a Facilitator for the Getting Ahead program said.
'Pay what you can' photography studio open in Clearfield
Participants develop their future goals and learn how to use their voices in the community to advocate for themselves. Bridges to Success said the program extends beyond graduation by providing long-term stability, and resource-building strategies.
'Anyone who's struggling to get by if, if they are tired of struggling if they want to find their own way out, this is the opportunity for they actually sit down and think about what their future, what they would like their future to look like,' Varchol said.
This Spring cohort has three more months until graduation. One of the students already has plans after graduation.
'I just graduated from JARI, you know, and I just want to keep myself active and doing stuff to motivate myself in my life at the age of 65. You know, I just graduated from JARI, and I'll be going to Penn Highlands Community College in May. So I just want to do something for me till I can be proud of myself,' Bernice Sanders, a participant in the program said.
There have been 26 cohorts 'Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World' program.
The next cohort of the Getting Ahead program will start at the end of August. Applications are accepted year-round. Anyone trying to overcome poverty's impact on their life is eligible to apply.
To apply, you can walk into the church and ask for an application or call Bridges Cooperative Ministry at (814) 539-2633.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Getting Ahead' program starts new cohort to beat poverty in the community
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Bridges Cooperative Ministry, a ministry group of Franklin Street Church in downtown Johnstown, has started a new cohort of the 'Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World' program. Each cohort meets for 16 weeks as a small group in a safe and supportive environment where they can express their ideas freely and learn from one another. 'We've had 159 graduates. We started in 2015,' Carolyn Varchol, Program Director of Bridges to Success said. The program operates under Bridges to Success, which also works to move the community away from poverty. Varchol says everyone's journey out of poverty is different, which is why the classes are modeled after people who have experienced it. 'It's designed by folks who have been struggling to get by, and some of the folks have actually designed some of the modules. And some of the folks who come to this class, a lot of them are recruited by other folks who've taken the class,' Varchol said. In every new cohort, a recent graduate works as a facilitator who's received the same training and understands where they've been. 'I do see myself in, in some of the individuals that I'm helping. It helps you to understand not only your position in poverty, but it helps you to understand how you can not only problem-solve some of the things you're going through, but it helps you to understand what you can do about that,' Briana Mack, a Facilitator for the Getting Ahead program said. 'Pay what you can' photography studio open in Clearfield Participants develop their future goals and learn how to use their voices in the community to advocate for themselves. Bridges to Success said the program extends beyond graduation by providing long-term stability, and resource-building strategies. 'Anyone who's struggling to get by if, if they are tired of struggling if they want to find their own way out, this is the opportunity for they actually sit down and think about what their future, what they would like their future to look like,' Varchol said. This Spring cohort has three more months until graduation. One of the students already has plans after graduation. 'I just graduated from JARI, you know, and I just want to keep myself active and doing stuff to motivate myself in my life at the age of 65. You know, I just graduated from JARI, and I'll be going to Penn Highlands Community College in May. So I just want to do something for me till I can be proud of myself,' Bernice Sanders, a participant in the program said. There have been 26 cohorts 'Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World' program. The next cohort of the Getting Ahead program will start at the end of August. Applications are accepted year-round. Anyone trying to overcome poverty's impact on their life is eligible to apply. To apply, you can walk into the church and ask for an application or call Bridges Cooperative Ministry at (814) 539-2633. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
16-02-2025
- USA Today
Puzzle solutions for Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025
Puzzle solutions for Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 Note: Most subscribers have some, but not all, of the puzzles that correspond to the following set of solutions for their local newspaper. CROSSWORDS USA TODAY crossword Play the USA TODAY Crossword Puzzle. Sunday Los Angeles Times crossword Sunday New York Times crossword Sunday Premier crossword SUDOKU Play the USA TODAY Sudoku Game. JUMBLE Answer: OUTAGE FONDUE ACCRUE MODIFY AGENDA UNLIKEHelping their child practice his subtraction was clearly starting to — MAKE A DIFFERENCE (Distributed by Tribune Content Agency) Cryptoquip IF SOME FOLKS POSITIONED THEMSELVES BENEATH AN ACTIVATED SPRINKLER SYSTEM, THEY WOULD BE UNDER THE WETTER. (Distributed by King Features) OTHER PUZZLES Boggle EMU OWL SWAN TERN LARK WREN EAGLE HERON PELICAN (Distributed by Tribune Content Agency) Lexigo AHEAD, DANCER, REACHES, SHADOW, WOODY (Distributed by Andrews McMeel) KenKen Scrabblegrams 7 Little Words SILVER SCULPTURE GARDENERS BRUNO MOZART AUTOMOBILES ANTARCTICA (Distributed by Andrews McMeel) Find the Words Anyone have a dictionary? (Distributed by Creators Syndicate) Kubok
Yahoo
14-11-2024
- Yahoo
Over $400k granted to Bedford, Somerset, Cambria County organizations
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA) on Wednesday announced over $400,000 in grants for Central Pennsylvania nonprofits. In the 2024 fall grant announcement nonprofits from Bedford, Cambria, Somerset and Indiana County received funding. The grants themselves ranged from $500 to $16,000. Cambria County (35 projects totaling $138,540) American Red Cross Pittsburgh-Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter (Sound the Alarm – Nanty Glo): $2,500.00 Appalachian Youth Service (AYS Library): $2,000.00 Blacklick Township Supervisors (Park Bench Project): $1,000.00 Bridges Cooperative Ministry (Bridges to Success): $5,000.00 Cambria and Somerset Counties Conservancy (Hinckston Run Playground): $4,000.00 Cambria County Backpack Project: $5,500.00 Cambria County Library Association (Program Expansion Project): $4,500.00 Community Arts Center of Cambria County (Stained Glass Studio Expansion): $2,630.00 Conemaugh Valley Regional Ambulance Association (Patient Safety Project$): $3,500.00 Craftwork Studios (Sewing Studio Upgrades): $3,000.00 Cresson Lake Playhouse (Enhancing Our Theater Space: Storage Solutions and Stage Functionality): $2,400.00 Dale Borough Volunteer Fire Company (Technology in Our Community): $1,500.00 Dauntless Fire Company (Mobile Computers): $1,800.00 Empowering Athletes Fund (Empowering Athletes): $500.00 FAVOR Laurel Highlands (How Do I Get There?): $2,000.00 Flood City Boxing Academy Inc. (Youth Counseling Services): $10,000.00 Greater Johnstown Community YMCA (Y Drown? Keep Your Head Above Water): $12,000.00 Hastings Volunteer Fire Co #1 (Gas Meters): $4,500.00 John Carroll Area Ambulance Association (Building Improvement to Sustain Operational Needs): $2,000.00 Johnstown Concert Ballet (Spring Performance 2025): $5,000.00 Johnstown Symphony Orchestra (Adult Music Education & Outreach): $5,000.00 Johnstown Walk of Hope (Support for Patients Receiving Out of Town Treatment): $3,000.00 Lower Yoder Township Volunteer Fire Company (Rescue Truck Tool Replacement & New Firemen Boots): $1,910.00 Middle Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Company (Equipment Upgrade Project): $3,000.00 Mom's House, Inc. of Johnstown (Inclusive Classroom): $10,000.00 Oakland Volunteer Fire Company (Rescue and Wildfire Saws): $1,500.00 PA Woods and Forests (PA Woods and Forests Critter Talks and Presentations): $2,500.00 Pennsylvania Environmental Council (unPAved: Scouting and Prepping a Premier Gravel Cycling Event in Laurel Highlands): $5,000.00 Portage Area Historical Society (200 Years of Portage's Amazing History): $2,000.00 Sitting Bulls Sled Hockey, Inc. (Winter Ice Project): $2,000.00 Small Town Hope, Inc. (Rewire STH): $7,500.00 The Allegheny Front – Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation (Environmental Reporting): $4,000.00 The Learning Lamp (Ignite Transition Classroom Technology Upgrades): $7,500.00 Victim Services Inc. (Elevator Security System for New VS Shelter and Office): $7,500.00 West End Improvement Group Fund (Fairfield Avenue Garden Underpass Beautification Project): $800.00 Over $90k awarded to Centre County tourism bureau Somerset County (22 projects totaling $109,158) Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (Program Support for Somerset County Blind Association): $1,500.00 Boswell Volunteer Fire Department (Portable Scene Lighting): $3,550.00 Cambria and Somerset Counties Conservancy (Adaptive Playground Equipment): $4,000.00 Confluence Creative Arts Center (Confluence is Crankie: Scrolling Art Outreach & Performance): $7,500.00 County of Somerset (Revolutionary War Memorial): $7,500.00 Guild of American Papercutters (Paper Thin But Mighty: Empowering Artists Through Worldwide Traditions): $6,500.00 Imagination Library of Somerset County Fund (Sharing the Gift: Imagination Library Books for Somerset County 2024): $7,500.00 Meyersdale Area School District (Fall 2024 MASD Grant Application): $2,248.00 Meyersdale Borough (Holiday Decoration Replacement Project): $3,600.00 Meyersdale Public Library (Preserving Our Region's History): $3,000.00 Next Step Center, Inc. (GAP (General Assistance Program): $7,000.00 Somerset County Foundation for Higher Education (Penn West Clarion RN Essential Equipment): $5,000.00 Somerset County Mobile Food Bank (Feeding Our Neighbors): $7,500.00 Somerset Hometown Heroes Project Fund (Somerset MIA/KIA/POW Banners): $3,200.00 Somerset Volunteer Fire Department Station 601 (Gas Stove and Bunker Gear): $6,500.00 Somerset Walk of Hope (Support for Patients Receiving Out of Town Cancer Care): $5,000.00 Soroptimist International of Somerset County, Inc. (Real Men Don't Abuse Women): $4,000.00 The Salvation Army (Operation Warm Hearts): $7,500.00 Turkeyfoot Lending Library, Inc. (Renovation and Service Expansion Phase 2): $7,000.00 Union Street Playground Fund: $3,000.00 Windber Public Library Association (Literacy Provides a Fresh Chapter For All and Great Write of Passage): $1,000.00 YWCA of Greater Johnstown (Safety and Security at Kuddle Korner): $5,560.00 Bedford County (10 grants totaling $38,030) Bedford County Players Inc. (Lighting & Technology Project): $7,500.00 Bedford Go Netters Fund (Snake Spring Community Park Court Improvements): $3,130.00 Bedford Heritage Trust (Hands-on Activities for Fort Bedford Museum's Youngest Visitors): $3,750.00 Breezewood Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. (Electronic Display Sign): $530.00 Downtown Bedford, Inc. (Ice Festival at the Chili & Soup Cookoff): $530.00 Everett Rifle Club Association (Rifle Range Improvement): $7,500.00 HOPE for Hyndman Charter School (Growing Our Greenhouse): $1,200.00 Raystown Ambulance Service, Inc. (Training Upgrades and Improvement): $3,430.00 ReNewing Hope Ministries (Transitional Housing): $4,930.00 St. Vincent De Paul – St. Thomas Conference: $5,530.00 'It's the lifeline of our community. I think when you have to have people invested in or in your community to be able to keep the community going. And we have a lot of very strong volunteers and a lot of very strong people who feel very committed to their projects and their nonprofit organizations,' Dina McGee, Director of Bedford County Endorsements, said. 'The amount of funding we were able to distribute this round sets a record for our spring and fall grant rounds,' Associate Director Angie Berzonski said. 'This would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of several of our donor advised fund holders, who contributed $97,750 to support project requests, which even allowed some grantees to receive more funding than they had originally requested.' Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. A full list of grants that were awarded can be found below: Fall-2024-Grant-BreakdownDownload Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ -
