Unemployed Turn to Easter Lutheran Church

Sobering unemployment figures make news headlines almost daily, and for many here in Eagan those statistics hit close to home.

The Job Transitions Group, Career Connections, is a resource for the unemployed in Eagan and surrounding communities. It provides support, networking and instruction. The group meets every Tuesday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Easter on the Hill facility.

The group started in January of 2009, after Pastor Kris Capel from Easter approached Catherine Byers Breet of Arbez about leading a job transition support group at the church. Catherine has been the overall leader during the ensuing years, but has had several co-leaders from the church and from within the group itself, and she is quick to acknowledge that she couldn’t have done it without them.

From the group’s beginning through mid-September 2011, 817 people have attended one or more times. Attendance peaked at 100 people per week in May and June of 2010. Current attendance fluctuates from 30 to 50 people most weeks. Catherine observed that people are landing new jobs faster now than they were during that peak time in 2010. It is also a diverse group, ranging from teachers to technology and marketing pros to rocket scientists and lawyers. About 10 percent of the attendees are Easter members.

The group meetings begin with a prayer, followed by announcements and sharing by members about successes during the week, such as an interview or a job lead. People also share “golden moments” – things that they were able to do that would have been impossible if they were working. The weekly meeting may have a speaker or a question and answer session, or a “breakout bonanza” focused on networking.

At a recent Tuesday morning meeting, 33 people attended. Seven were from Eagan, with the rest from nearby communities, although people have come from as far away as Mankato. Only three attendees that day were younger than 45. About half the group had been unemployed for at least a year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics August 2011 report shows that 42.9 percent of the unemployed nationally have been out of work for a year of longer. In response to such long-term unemployment, Easter Lutheran started a second group in mid-September called Work in Progress. Membership for this group is limited to 15 people who make a seven week commitment to be accountable to each other, and to set specific goals and report on progress each week. The group meets on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. It began Sept. 14 and will go through Oct. 26.

Karen Rainford, a volunteer who is leading this group, said that after a lengthy time of unemployment people often grow discouraged and may need additional motivation and new ideas for their job searches. The group tries to identify where people are stuck, and help get them unstuck. Members are encouraged to keep in touch between meetings. Once this first session completes in late October, they will decide whether additional sessions will be held, she said.