Florence, KY—Rotary International members heard a presentation by representatives from Life Learning Center in Covington at their monthly meeting Monday, November 3.
Denise Govan, Executive Director of Life Learning Center shared the story of the Center’s mission and invited the Rotary members to attend the Grand Opening of the Center’s new facility November 13, 4:30 to 8:30 PM. The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce will hold a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 4:00, preceding an open house for the community.
The group also heard from Lenette Beasley, a staff member at the Center, who also completed the Life Learning Center program.
“In 2006, Life Learning Center was founded to address the complex problem of poverty in Northern Kentucky,” Ms. Govan said.
“Our mission is to deliver a holistic, integrated continuum of learning and care to help our at-risk citizens step to their highest potential. This continuum includes education, shared experiences, and the tools to change their lives for the better. At the heart of our work is Foundations for a Better Life™, a 16-week curriculum developed by Life Learning Center to provide the tools and resources needed by individuals seeking long-term stability and a truly better way to live.”
The Kentucky Nonprofit Network last week awarded Life Learning Center its 2014 Innovative Nonprofit Award for their Foundations For a Better Life™ curriculum. The award was created by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network to recognize a nonprofit organization in the Commonwealth implementing inventive, nontraditional programs or methods that effectively meet community needs.
Developed because no program like it existed regionally or nationally, the Foundations for a Better Life™ program is trademarked by Life Learning Center.
Life Learning Center helps “at-risk” individuals who are ready to commit to true life change. “At-risk” refers to people who are living in generational or situational poverty, have limited formal education, lack healthy social supports, are under- or unemployed, have criminal records, and/or have a history of abuse or addiction.
“Our goal is to reverse the spiral of poverty—one person at a time,” Ms. Govan explained.
She also explained that the impact of Foundations for a Better Life is, first of all, in the improved lives of our Candidates (people in the program) and Members (who have completed the program.)
“We are also aware of a ‘ripple effect’, “said Ms. Govan.
“For example, as parents become self-sufficient, the lives of their children or other dependents also improve. There is a community impact: as individuals become financially stable they use fewer public subsidies and services. And, as individual lives change for the better, we are creating a safer and more caring community.”
Lenette Beasley told the Rotary members about becoming suddenly “at risk” when she lost a job that she had held for over 20 years. “All of us can become ‘at-risk’,” she said. “Life Learning Center gave me the tools to regain my self-confidence and have hope for a brighter future.”
