Page 121 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2018

GIVING BACK job training
Labor participation is low in Mississippi. The stark figures show
that only 53 percent of the work force
is actually working. 2nd Chance
MS hopes to change this statistic through raising awareness and
funding and partnering with all the state’s community colleges. Coast community partners include Chevron Pascagoula Refinery, the Bacot McCarty Foundation and charitable individuals.
“Forty-seven percent of Mississippians are not working at all. A lot of it is because they don’t have educational skills,” says Zach Scruggs, executive director of 2nd Chance MS. “We work to help adults receive job training
and to remove barriers such as lack of transportation, child care, and the cost of tuition. We’re developing programs to recruit more people and keep them in the programs.”
Scruggs tells the story of Chris Schultz as an example. “He’s a great guy and was trying to get his commercial truck driving certification, but he didn’t have the money for the required drug testing or the training,” Scruggs said. “We helped him and he’s now employed and doing well.”
Schultz was assisted with 2nd
Chance MS’s Wrap Around Program, an emergency fund established at community colleges. “Adult educators can use it to address any need; it might be as simple as buying eye glasses for someone,” Scruggs said.
Adults can receive training in advanced manufacturing, welding, certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, commercial truck driving, medical and office assistant, and construction. “They are immediately employable,” Scruggs said, “and other training opportunities depend on what’s available in the communities.”
2nd Chance MS has helped more than 400 adults obtain employment, 125 earn GEDs and 200 receive national workforce certificates since the fall of 2016.
Zach Scruggs explained that the organization was formed in 2015 based on the experience his father, Richard Scruggs, had while teaching adult education in federal prison.
2nd Chance MS
601.265.1895 www.2ndchancems.org
Provides work force training
story by Lynn Lofton
photos courtesy of 2nd Chance MS
TODD TRENCHARD with Bacot McCarty, Richard and Zach Scruggs with 2nd Chance MS, Amy Brandenstein with Chevron and Dr. Mary Graham, president of MGCCC.
ZACH AND RICHARD Scruggs with Marcus Dupree.
ZACH SCRUGGS, Executive Director for 2nd Chance MS, addressing Adult Education Celebration at Oxford First United Methodist Church, Oxford MS.
MGCCC ADULT EDUCATION STUDENT, Chris Shultz. 2nd Chance MS sponsored him and on this
day he received his Commercial Driver’s License permit.
BACOT/MCCARTY FOUNDATION
A Portion Of This Sponsorship Goes To Support Our Local Charities Along The Coast
WWW.BACOTMCCARTY.ORG
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December 2018 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 121