Largest Class Graduates from TRC’s “Invest U” workshop

(NOTE: A ceremony was held July 31 to honor the most recent graduates of the Invest U program, a collaboration between The Resource Center and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.)

Article by Christopher Blakeslee of The Post-Journal

Nine residents are part of the largest yet graduating class of Invest U, a program that teaches people to analyze the impacts of poverty on their lives and to develop strategies to build resources.

A graduation ceremony took place Wednesday at the Northwest Arena attended by more than 50 attendees. This year’s graduating class consisted of Brook Colburn, Lyle DeBose, Michelle DeBose, Amanda Dove, Kelsey Garifi, Corrie Orange, Alix Sandberg, Kaylee Schweinsberg and Lori Watson.

The Resource Center, in collaboration with the Young Women’s Christian Association Jamestown (YWCA), the United Way of Chautauqua County and representatives from Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union and Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. assisted the nine investigators (students) during their independent journeys through the 16-week, four-month long, three-hour weekly course entitled Invest U, anti-poverty class. Part of the course included utilizing the book, Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World.

“The book is a 16-session curriculum that helps individuals build resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families and their communities,” said Terri Johnson, the TRC’s director of employment and community based services. “Getting Ahead enables participants, who are called investigators, the opportunity to examine their own experiences of poverty as well as explore issues in the community that impact poverty levels such as: banking, housing, transportation and jobs.”

However, as a group, the investigators have used the information they’ve gathered to create a Mental Model of Poverty, middle class and wealth modalities. Joining the celebration on a Zoom call was Phil DeVol, author and creator of Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’- By World.

DeVol congratulated the graduates on a job well done and looks forward to seeing how they will integrate and help tackle some of the poverty issues which plague Jamestown- like homelessness, mental health and drug abuse issues.

Several elected officials attended the graduation ceremony and gave keynote speeches which included Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund; New York state Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown; spokespersons for state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-23.

Goodell regaled the graduates with a story of how he invested money in a local company during 2008.

“I invested in a company, right before what’s been called ‘The Great Recession’,” he said. “I lost half my money in 48-hours, but you know what’s the best investment you can make? An investment in yourself. It won’t lose value but will only gain value over time. It’s the best investment you’ll ever make. Now, I did get my money back and then some, just not enough to retire early like I wanted to.”

For one graduate the life lessons learned had a deep and meaningful personal impact.

“I learned about generational poverty,” said Corrie Orange of Jamestown. “I learned that while it is a way of life for some, it doesn’t have to be for me.”

Pictured from left are Invest U graduates Brook Colburn, Corrie Orange, Kelsey Garifi, Lori Watson, Alix Sandberg, Lyle DeBose, Kaylee Schweinsberg, and Michelle DeBose. Brook, Kaylee, Lori, and Michelle are TRC employees.