Here Now: Project gives hope to people struggling
Noel Edwards was homeless and staying at Good Shepherd Center when Sharron Cain found her. Shameeka Winfield was struggling with the effects of having a criminal record, the result of a mistake she made years ago. Both will graduate Friday from the fall classes of Project Uplift Career Pathways Academy, a training program for adults of low to moderate incomes. It’s operated by the Countywide Community Development Corp., which serves Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Columbus counties. Both have landed good jobs, Edwards at AME Zion Housing Development Corp. and Winfield at Family Perspectives LLC. They are among about 30 graduates of Project Uplift classes. One morning last week, Edwards and Winfield were in the office administration class at the Hillcrest Recreation Center off Dawson Street. About 15 women were working at computer terminals under the tutelage of Carmenitha Berry, …