About Us

Mission Statement
The Christian Women's Job Corps of Middle Tennessee is one ministry in three locations: Nashville, Madison, and Willliamson County. It has been serving working poor women in the Greater Nashville community for over ten years. It's mission is to provide the potential for transformation of body, mind, heart and spirit of the participants and the volunteers who serve them. We are supported by grants, churches, individual donors, and most importantly prayers. Without God's hand in our minsitry we would not be able to serve the women we have nor transform the lives we have seen transform.

Purpose
The purpose of Christian Women’s Job Corps is to equip women for life and employment with basic life skills necessary for self-sufficiency, within her culture, which may include: sustained employment; adequate income; housing; transportation; child care; and/or medical care. CWJC provides a loving environment where self-image can be restored and a place where women can develop life skills, set personal, educational and career goals and discover a realistic plan for accomplishing them. CWJC of Middle Tennessee does this by offering women in need "A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out."

History
Five CWJC pilot projects were established in January 1996, and the following year CWJC was among the eighteen charter members of the Vice President’s Welfare to Work Coalition to Sustain Success. Candy Phillips served as the Associate Director of the Nashville Baptist Association’s WMU Leadership Team during that period, and she, along with WMU Director Creely Wilson, clearly recognized the potential of CWJC to transform the lives of women trapped in poverty. With their strong support and encouragement, the WMU Leadership Team voted to establish a CWJC site in Nashville. In October of 1997 the first ten women were enrolled in CWJC-Nashville. Originally based at Lockeland Baptist Church, today CWJC of Middle Tennessee is housed in the Downtown Ministry Center on 8^th Avenue South.
Christian Women’s Job Corps – Nashville (CWJC) was founded in 1997. During the first five years, the agency served women in need in the Nashville area under the non-profit status of the Nashville Baptist Association. CWJC-Nashville was incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in February 2003.
Major milestones include: established computer lab (1998); established GED classes (1999); Teen Life Challenge participants enroll in computer classes (1999); a Habitat for Humanity House is built for a participant in partnership with Woman’s Missionary Association of the Nashville Baptist Association Woman’s Missionary Union (2000); college student intern on staff (2000); SCEPT placed seniors as staff (2001); moved to new central downtown location (2003); classes provided to recently released women offenders (2004); received a Seedco Planning Grant (2004); high school intern on staff (2004); largest class of graduating participants (2005); Social Worker added to staff (2005); Office Coordinator added to staff (2006); Strategic Plan Formulated (2006); Name was changed to CWJC of Middle TN (2006); Received national recognition and was awarded the 2006 Samaritan Award by Acton Institute (2006); Developed Business Partnerships with HCA, Jobs for Life, Career Steps and Spheris (2007), Nominated as one of the Top Ten Nominees for the 2007 Samaritan Award (2007).

Board of Directors
Mrs. Larry Tatum                                          Mrs. Dawn Ferguson
Mr. Eric Ward                                              Mrs. Jackie Cunningham
Mrs. Michelle Bahner                                    Mrs. Joy Jordan-Lake
Mr. Richard Winstead                                   Mrs. Jamie Dunham
Mrs. Cindy Hardin                                        Mr. John Gardner
Ms. Karen Deberry                                       Mrs. Missy Baker
Mr. Nick Tidwell                                           Mrs. Charlyene Couey

Staff
Mrs. Rebekah K. Sumrall, Executive Director
Mrs. Anne Caulton, Development Director
Ms. Amanda Held, Nashville Site Director
Vacant, Office Administrator
Mr. Adele Girgis, Custodian
Mrs. Dawn Ferguson, Madison Site Director
Mrs. Angela Good, Williamson County Site Director
Ms. Monica Wenzel, Student Intern
Mrs. Lynda Burman, Volunteer Co-ordinator