State Senator Shirley A. Smith was the guest speaker at the Jobs Partnership of Cleveland Fall Class Graduation held at Mt. Zion Congregational Church, UCC on November 18, 2012. Twenty nine students successfully completed the ten week job readiness training program and received their certificates before one hundred sixty family, friends and Jobs Partnership volunteers.
Senator Smith was introduced by Judge Mabel Jasper. The Senator congratulated the graduates and then explained the benefits of the new legislations which she sponsored called the “Collateral Sanctions Reform Law.” The new law, which went to effect on September 28th, can remove many of the barriers to employment faced by formerly incarcerated individuals that have served their time and successfully returned to society.
The graduation ceremony was led by Reverend Yvonne Tufts Jeans, CEO of Jobs Partnership Cleveland. Graduates Sonya Johnson, Tony Abernathy and Carrie Cain gave graduation speeches and testimonials on behalf of all of the graduates. The graduates attended classes at All Nations Deliverance Ministry Church and the Downtown YWCA. The celebration was completed with a family dinner for all graduates and their guests.
