Program Details

Rhonda, a single mother, and her 16-year-old daughter recently moved to a rural area of Hardin County. She was barely making ends meet with her work hours, which placed her in a difficult financial situation. While she aspired to be a full-time worker, she was staying with someone in the hope of finding a permanent home for herself and her daughter. Rhonda started working at Shawnee Development Council in August 2024, having learned about the opportunity from the colleague she would soon be working with. She completed the Work Experience program in October 2024 and transitioned to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Department. She has applied for the county coordinator position for Hardin and Pope County.

Since joining, she has been a tremendous asset to the Shawnee Development Council, playing a key role in organizing the food pantry and assisting with the outreach office's relocation logistics. "This program helped me become financially stable and support my daughter and me during tough economic times," Rhonda stated. She has truly thrived and grown within the company. She expressed her intent to share her positive experience with others, saying that she would encourage the next participant to consider the WIOA Program at Shawnee Development, highlighting how caring the staff is and how they go the extra mile to assist individuals. "Not only do they help someone find employment, but they also provide coaching and counseling. They refer participants to resources when they don’t have the answers or cannot assist at that moment," Rhonda explained. During her work experience job placement, Rhonda assisted the county coordinator with various tasks. "I still get to do what I love most: serving my community. I interact with the participants who live in the county, and they bring me so much joy," she said.