2011 Annual Report - oacac

Neighborhood Centers
OACAC Neighborhood Centers are “the point of
entry” for those in need of services. After making an
appointment at one of our Centers, a Family Resource
Specialist will meet with you and discuss your situation
and refer you to the OACAC community
programs that can help. Assistance
is available for emergency and nonemergency
needs. Income-eligibility and
conditions apply.
James Dever, age 22, looks like any
other college student at first glance. But
when you get to know his story, you
realize how unlikely it is that he is now attending
Ozarks Technical College (OTC)
and working toward an Associate Degree
in Automotive Technology.
Seven years ago, James dropped out of
high school in Blue Eye, Missouri at the
age of 15. He was unmotivated and did
not believe he could ever make anything
of himself. James worked at a string of
minimum wage jobs, but never found a
place to fit in. “I think I was tired of being stuck,” said
James. “I knew I needed education to go on, but I did not
care back then.”
In the spring of 2010, James attended a Job Club
sponsored by the OACAC Stone County Neighborhood
Center. Misti Clark, OACAC Family Resource Specialist,
helped James learn how to prepare for a job interview,
how to create a resume, how to fill out an application,
and more. “This class gave me a lot of encouragement,”
said James. In addition to encouragement, James was
given a laptop by OACAC for participating in the classes.
Another milestone James completed was earning
his General Education Degree (GED). OACAC assisted
James with gas money so he could attend Ozarks
Technical Community College at Branson Meadows
where he earned his degree in just three months.
James also enrolled in a Step Up to Leadership Class
offered by OACAC where he learned how to be a leader,
how to speak in public, the responsibilities of serving on
a board, and grant writing. James said, “the class really
opened my eyes and encouraged me even more to continue
educating myself.”
In the Spring of 2011 James enrolled in classes at
OTC in Branson where he focused on general education
classes as well as automotive labs. OACAC continued to
support James by providing gas money so he could attend
his classes. The laptop computer he earned during
A Job Club offered by Stone County
Neighborhood Centers inspired James
to work toward a degree at OTC.
OACAC Programs
Job Club was also indispensable in keeping up with
his course work.
One challenge for James during this time was the
lack of a quiet atmosphere to study. He lived with
his mother and siblings in a very small home with no
privacy and no good place to study. So in the fall of
2011, James transferred to Springfield
OTC where he lives in an apartment
provided by the Springfield
Housing Authority. James attends
classes and labs full time (50 hours
per week). Ideally, James would like
to continue his education and transfer
to a university like University of
Missouri or Southern Illinois to get a
full engineering degree.
James wrote the following posts
on his Facebook page to share his enthusiasm
for his new outlook on life:
Jan. 7, 2012- “It’s still hard for me to
believe that I’ve been in college for a
year now. It just goes to show that life
is very fickle when a hillbilly like me goes to college
and really enjoys it.”
Jan. 21, 2012 - “I must have found the right
place for me to be. I’ve had to turn down two good
paying jobs, and not even earned my degree yet. I
only wonder where I’m going to land once I do
graduate. Got to love higher education.”
OACAC Stone County Neighborhood Center
helped James find a new purpose in life through
encouragement, accountability, and a variety of financial
resources. “James responded because OACAC
held him accountable. He showed up because he
would have to answer to somebody,” explained Misti
Clark.
Now James has learned to be accountable for his
own decisions. “Thanks to OACAC and OTC I am
well on my way to a new life,” James said.
Neighborhood Centers Services:
Family Support , Emergency Assistance, Targeted Coaching,
School Readiness Fairs, Workshops, Community Projects
Program Year: October 1 -September 30
Funding Sources: Community Services Block Grant
Phone: 417-873-3370
Fax: 417-873-3379
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