Brandon Macon "Pays it Forward"

Brandon Macon, a senior business development coordinator and trainer, knows that he's where he is today because one person invested in him. One person cared enough to guide him through some crucial years of his life, and now he wants to pay it forward.

Macon, who has been at HIRED for less than a year, has already made a huge impact. He's been that one person to more than 20 women at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee. Through a training class offered inside the prison, Macon has helped his students refine their customer service and sales skills, improve their English grammar, learn how to use a computer – more specifically, how a computer can be used for a job search – and understand budgeting basics. And his success is clear – to date, 10 women have been released and seven of them have jobs.

But for Macon, it's about more than just the numbers. His office is lined with thank-you notes from clients. Notes that read:

"Mr. Macon – Thank you for taking the time to teach me that there is another way. You're the best." – Delores

"You have helped me so much. I am more comfortable speaking in front of people and I am more confident about job interviews. Thank you Mr. Macon." – Ms. O.

"Thank you for showing me that you can do anything if you put your mind to it or if you just try." – Barb

"Thanks for helping me out and showing me it’s not too late." – Ms. N.

"It's all about helping people," said Macon. "I want to do everything I can to give these women a second chance ... a chance to really succeed when they're released. Thank-you notes like the ones I've received go a long way in energizing my work."

For more information about Macon's work inside the Shakopee Correctional Facility, e-mail Brandon.Macon@HIRED.org.

 
  *according to a recent survey conducted by HIRED.

HIRED Helps Clients Find Affordable, Family-Friendly Activities

Michelle Ammann firmly believes that part of her role as a senior employment counselor at HIRED is to help her clients find culturally rich, family-friendly activities that they can enjoy with their children. Ammann, who has been a HIRED counselor for the past nine years, works with clients enrolled in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), the state's welfare-to-work program, at HIRED's East St. Paul office.

In between meeting with clients, completing enrollment paperwork and scouring job-search sites, Ammann is digging deep to bring added value to her clients. She's uncovered affordable opportunities for MFIP clients at some of the Twin Cities' most impressive venues – the Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota Children's Museum, Children's Theatre Company and Science Museum of Minnesota.

One of her finds – the Great Tix program sponsored by the Science Museum of Minnesota – is open to Minnesota residents who are enrolled in an assistance program, such as MFIP. Great Tix offers discounted admission prices – general admission tickets to the exhibits are just $1 per person.

Ammann said, "Low-income families have virtually no money for entertainment. Programs like this give our clients educational activities to enjoy with their children and they genuinely appreciate the opportunity. It's wonderful to see that things like this are available to Twin Cities residents regardless of their socio-economic status."

Last year, it's estimated that nearly 400 people were referred to the program through HIRED alone, accounting for nearly ten percent of all referrals to the Great Tix program. As a result, HIRED was named a "Great Partner" by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Ammann continued, "Through the Great Tix program and many others, it's been proven over and over again that HIRED is a terrific community partner. In return, we are fortunate to have connected with organizations that allow us to help families achieve healthy, self-sustaining lifestyles through holistic methods."

For more information, contact Michelle Ammann at Michelle.Ammann@HIRED.org.