Latest news from FreshMinistries http://freshministries.org Fri, 18 May 2012 06:26:10 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://freshministries.org/images/M_images/feedicon.png http://freshministries.org Latest news from FreshMinistries http://freshministries.org/content/view/278/139/ The LifePointe Career Institute’s Jacksonville Hospitality Institute (JHI), a FreshMinistries iniitive was granted a provisional licence by Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education. LifePoint's new license places the education training program in the same category as other well-known institutions like The University of Phoenix and ITT Tech. This is a major step forward for the JHI program. Mr. Bobby Lee, a Program Development Associate with FreshMinistries, explained the process surrounding the licensing and its benefits, “We worked with a liaison from the State whose job was to help us make sure we had the best catalogue and presentation available to us when we went before the state board for licensing .” FreshMinistries had to present curriculums, teacher backgrounds and other program and curriculum materials for review by the Board on September 22. Lee continued, “Our presentation package was in such good order that FreshMinistries was one of three presenters, out of a total of 18 schools, not called upon to answer further questions during the review. We are especially proud of this since this is our first attempt to seek licensing for the program. The importance of the license for new and aspiring students is that it will give state agencies, including WorkSource, the ability to pay for the student’s tuition costs through scholarships and other funding means. The goal of the program, according to Lee, is to ensure that no student interested in improving their skills and employability will have to pay to attend the Jacksonville Hospitality Institute. The idea is to provide low-income unemployed and underemployed individuals with the job and life skills training they need for employment in the hospitality and environmental services industry, Lee stated. The Provisional License will allow us to continue to expand our student base by removing the tuition and financial barriers that prevent many students from participating in programs such as ours. This is a giant step in that direction. For more information contact Michelle Hughes: freshministries.org/content/view/105/138/ (http://freshministries.org/content/view/105/138/) News - News Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:01:19 +0100 http://freshministries.org/content/view/277/139/ FreshMinistries founder and CEO, The Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III, served as a guest panelist at yesterday’s White House White House Symposium on Faith-Based Initiatives in Job Creation held at the White House. The symposium, hosted by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, offered representatives of faith-based and non-profit organizations in attendance insightful information on how to find, and apply for, the numerous grants offered by governmental agencies working to stimulate job creation. Citing the incredible successes of the Beaver Street Enterprise Center, a FreshMinistries initiative and the state of Florida’s only core-city business incubator, Dr. Lee shared his experiences with working in partnership with the Government to create the award winning business incubator. In 2003, FreshMinistries secured the incubator’s construction funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and was recently granted additional EDA funding for the incubator’s expansion, due to be completed in February 2012. A few of the Beaver Street Enterprise Center successes Dr. Lee shared with the more than 100 guests in attendance were the Center’s $80,615,285 cumulative revenues generated by client-tenants since 2003 and that BSEC was named the International Business Incubator of the Year in 2010 by National Association of Business Incubators. Additional panelist speaking at the symposium were Joshua DuBois, Executive Director, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Marie Johnson, Deputy Administrator, Small Business Administration; John Frenandez, Assistant Secretary, Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce; Roberta Gassman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor; Doug O’Brien, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, Department of Agriculture; and Tricia Kerney-Willis, Manager, CDFI Fund Office of Training and Outreach, Department of the Treasury. For more information, please contact Pam Kearney, FreshMinistries: 904-355-0000 or email pam@freshministries.org News - News Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:12:12 +0100 http://freshministries.org/content/view/276/139/ photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp (http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1331312 CategoryID=17901) The Eastside Resource Center is an initiative of Fresh Ministries. For more information, contact Michele at Fresh Ministries - 904-355-0000.freshministries.org/content/view/168/262/ News - News Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:26:18 +0100 http://freshministries.org/content/view/275/139/ Husband-Wife entrepreneur team Daren Dillinger and Shannon Knight Dillinger (Shay) held an open house at the Beaver Street Enterprise Center for their new upstart business, MAC+PC TECH PRO. “Growth and success are actively supported and nurtured in this business incubator. We’re excited to be here!” said Shay Dillinger. They celebrated their new surroundings and plans with the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. The Beaver Street Enterprise Center is an initiative of Fresh Ministries.freshministries.org/content/view/75/251/ (http://freshministries.org/content/view/75/251/) Check out the photos from the gallery here: Mac + PC Tech Pro Gallery (http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1326568 CategoryID=41824 ListSubAlbums=0) News - News Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:34:11 +0100 http://freshministries.org/content/view/274/139/ Starting Monday, September 19, 2011, 20-to-25 children will participate in the Improving Children's Activity and Nutrition (ICAN) program, held at the Franklin St. Police Athletic League of Jacksonville (PAL). During the 14 week program children will participate in four organized learning activities which will promote nutrition, the benefits of physical activity, and an active anti-violence approach to their community that will also serve to boost self-esteem. The four components of the program: Gardening, which is sponsored by War on Poverty; Cooking, run by Chef Celeste; Physical Activity Nutrition, sponsored by the YMCA; and, Primary Prevention of Violence presented by Hubbard House. The program is designed to help expose and educate kids in under-served homes in the Eastside of Jacksonville and will help promote a healthier, wiser, more nutritious community and all the benefits that come from an active, healthy lifestyle. To learn more about the ICAN program and support the growing initiative, please contact Michelle Huges at (904) 355-0000. ICAN is a FreshMinistries intiative in collaboration with Police Athletic League of Jacksonville,War on Poverty, Chef Celeste, First Coast YMCA, and Hubbard House. To view photo gallery go to: photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp (http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1331501 CategoryID=17901) News - News Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:04:34 +0100