b'VOICES OF MEMPHIANS EXPERIENCING POVERTYExperiences traveling employment pathways Themes I mean, since I was 17 years old, Ive never had a problem getting a job. The problem is its a low-paying Understanding the experience ofLiving-wage jobsjob. . And then when you are applying to jobs five, and workforce participants, and theare out of reach forsix, seven times, and you know youre qualified, but they workforce development organizationsmany Memphians still wont hire you. MMDC Hire Local participantthat support them, is essential to develop effective solutions. We conducted surveys, interviews, and focus groups with more than 100When youre in survival mode, you cant think postsecondary students, workforceBreaking the cycle ofabout nothing else but making it day-to-day. participants, employers, andsurvival mode can nonprofit staff who provide workforcebe nearly impossibleAmerican Job Center participantservices. Several critical themes emerged from their experiences.MisalignmentIts like a lot of jobs thatll say, We want this between trainingamount of experience for this entry-level job. I providers andwas like, This is the job Im supposed to do to get hiring practices the experience. Memphis Inner City Rugby alumBelief MemphisThis average Joe thats from Memphis, youre just quick growing economicto stick them in a warehouse. . Where it actually matters opportunities arefor the city or for the company, you dont want to put a exclusionary Memphian in that position.The Collective Blueprint alumI have a family, you know, I want to take care of them. And Im Social capitalable to do that now because I went through the class. Im putting and self- my skills to use and its all because they take a chance on me. efficacy areYou know, they saw something in me that I didnt see in myself, critical enablers and they worked with me.Advance Memphis alum2023 Annual Report| 37'