Agape Child and Family Services (TN)

As one of the largest two-generation (2-Gen), place-based models in the nation, Agape will work toward refining its 2Gen paradigm to expand its economic mobility and social capital work and deepening its partnership with families through advocacy efforts, addressing significant equitable, structural, institutional matters of poverty in relation to career/workforce development. Agape will first engage the voices of families and communities via meetings specifically addressing workforce matters. Agape will then engage 2 ambassadors to attend meetings with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, local and possibly state workforce boards, and the Aspen Institute Convenings. Based on feedback from families, Agape will leverage its TeamWorks program to test the provision of barrier-busting small grants to families that have committed to a career pathway to see if eliminating barriers to employment (e.g. car repairs, childcare, etc.).