Graduation 'a day of triumph' for Cherry Street's workforce class
Graduation 'a day of triumph' for Cherry Street's workforce class
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
Cherry Street Mission’s Workforce Development programs saw its largest graduating class in its history Thursday.
Students including Jahquan Chambers, who graduated from the nonprofit’s building trades program, proudly received a certificate signifying his completion of the building trades program in the gymnasium of Cherry Street Mission Ministries on Monroe Street.
“I’m feeling pretty accomplished,” Mr. Chambers said.
He was one of 45 students who graduated from five Cherry Street programs including building trades, food truck operations, machining and machine repair, FANUC robot operations, and welding.
“Today is a day of triumph,” said Carrie Arnold, vice president of the workforce development division for Cherry Street Mission.
“These graduates don’t just learn technical skills. They overcome obstacles that would have stopped many others,” she said. “Some faced financial struggles, some faced personal hardships and some had moments when giving up seemed easier, but they didn’t quit, they chose to keep going. They chose to believe in themselves and in their future.”
The ceremony saw the inaugural graduating class of the FANUC Robot Operations program, which had seven students, Ms. Arnold said.
FANUC is a global automation company founded in Japan and with locations on five continents.
Students in the 12-week robotics program utilized a robot, which was purchased through a grant by Owens Corning, to learn how to program robots to complete certain tasks, Ms. Arnold said.
One of those seven students was Toledo resident Marcus Stewart, who said he was excited about the opportunities he can access utilizing his newfound skills.
“I’m feeling ecstatic,” Mr. Stewart said.
“I learned a lot in a short amount of time. It was very beneficial for not only my robotics training but it was beneficial for just general life,” he said. “Just having a good insight and perspective of how machinery works and operates.”
When Pierre Bajon, a graduate from the machining program, received his certificate, he was immediately embraced by Clint Longenecker, a member of the board for Cherry Street Mission.
They then walked over to a Cherry Street Mission photo backdrop, where Mr. Bajon smiled with pride while holding his certificate.
Mr. Bajon, who’s from Haiti, met Mr. Longenecker and his wife, Cindy, while the couple were on a routine mission trip to the country. The married couple said they’ve gone to mission trips in Mr. Bajon’s home country for 40 years.
“I’m feeling good,” Mr. Bajon said.
“I’m so proud of this guy,” Mr. Longenecker added. “He’s doing all of this in a third language.”
Cherry Street Mission Workforce Development Graduation
Cherry Street Mission Workforce Development Graduation
31st annual YWCA Milestones honorees announced
31st annual YWCA Milestones honorees announced
Watch full video here.
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio is the only local 24/7 emergency shelter for domestic violence victims and it is once again recognizing women in our community who work to make a difference.
Now, the nonprofit announced the honorees for the 31st annual Milestones. The honorees are in categories like arts, education and volunteerism. Eight women will receive awards.
“When we started this event 31 years ago, there were award ceremonies, but they always awarded men, time and time again. And so, when we created it, it was all about bringing forward extraordinary women who were doing marvelous things in this community,” Lisa McDuffie, the president and CEO of YWCA of Northwest Ohio, said.
The YWCA 31st Annual Milestones: A Tribute to Women Awards will be held on March 26 at the Glass City Center.
Source: https://www.13abc.com/2025/11/18/31st-annual-ywca-milestones-honorees-announced/
Volunteers revamp Cherry St. Sparrow's Nest
Volunteers revamp Cherry St. Sparrow's Nest
Cherry Street Mission’s Sparrow’s Nest has been housing local women for more than 30 years in Toledo. But the building itself is more than 100 years old.
Tuesday, dozens of volunteers came together to give it some well-deserved improvements.
You can watch the full story here.
Source: https://www.13abc.com/2025/10/21/volunteers-revamp-cherry-st-sparrows-nest/
Cherry Street Mission hosts conversations about homelessness with community on World Homeless Day
Cherry Street Mission hosts conversations about homelessness with community on World Homeless Day
Watch full video here.
Homelessness is something people often avoid talking about.
Ann Ebbert, CEO of Cherry Street Mission, said having conversations about homelessness can be scary, uncomfortable and sometimes ugly.
“I think the most important thing to recognize for all of us is that that person, given the right atmosphere, probably doesn’t look any different than you and I,” Ebbert said.
That’s part of the reason why Ebbert sat down with people in the community on World Homeless Day to start having conversations to reduce stigmas and increase awareness. WTOL 11 sat down with Ebbert for 20 minutes to discuss the stigmas and what challenges the community is currently dealing with.
Ebbert said by ignoring homelessness or avoiding conversations, change isn’t made. She said if anything, it can make things worse.
She said most people are just one unexpected expense away from becoming homeless.
“They say nationally, 60% of us have less than $1,000 in a savings account,” Ebbert said. “If you think about a $1,000 expense, it’s easy to think about a $1,000 expense.”
Ebbert said this could be a car issue, a furnace going out or a trip to an emergency room. She said it’s worse during a time of inflation. She said people have more expensive grocery bills and are dealing with housing issues.
Issues like these are impacting everyone, but especially the elderly, Ebbert said. She said people 65 and older are the largest growing population of people experiencing homelessness. She said they are often on fixed incomes and any sort of increase in expenses can alter their ability to make ends meet.
Cherry Street Mission has been at 98% to 100% capacity since July. Resources have been more strained with funding cuts and other organizations relying on Cherry Street to help people.
But Ebbert said she worries as we move into the colder months, when even more people seek help.
“Our whole network of providers is having conversations with people, with businesses in this area, with our city, with our county, and saying, ‘hey, we’re going to have to have some kind of alternative scenario for individuals to get out of this winter,'” Ebbert said.
People often think the solution is having people who are experiencing homelessness is to get a job, but Ebbert said it isn’t that simple.
“This is not a ‘go get a job’ issue,” she said. “Probably 30% to 35% of our guests that live at our shelter have a full-time job.”
According to Ebbert, there’s no one solution to homelessness, but focusing on policies that make resources more available, addressing housing issues and having more conversations are steps in the right direction.