NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Like any mother, Chelsea Rucker loves mommy time with her two daughters at home.
But the family didn’t always have a place to call their own. This time last year, they lived at the YWCA Nashville, a local women’s shelter, after Rucker left a toxic relationship.
"It was 3 months, it was the most embarrassing thing that I have ever done. Most challenging time that I've ever had to face but what I got out of it was the ability to save some money.
Their father, back in 2012, was wrongfully convicted of a murder. He spent four years in jail. He got out in 2016. We tried to make it work but financial stresses kind of put a hardship on our relationship and communication," Rucker said.
While saving money, Rucker took to an online Google search to find a new job. She came across a program called UpRise Nashville.
"So I popped in Google. Nashville, Leadership development, free and it came up and I thought they're just playing because they kind of describe it as a program where they'll pay you to learn," she laughed.
UpRise Nashville is a career development program for Nashville adults.
"The people that come to our program come from all different kinds of barriers whether they may be homeless, they may be recovering from an addiction, they may have a criminal history...and so we look at each person individually and we help craft a plan for them that's going to help put them on that path to a career with upward mobility," Executive Director Carole Peterson said.
During the 11-month program, Rucker received assistance from mentors and strengthened her passion for IT work.
"I definitely appreciate them having the right keyword search available in Google so we could find that resource. It's as simple as that sometimes just look up a possible solution to a problem you're having," she smiled.
On January 10th, Rucker graduated as her class's salutatorian and on Jan. 28 started her job at Google as Data Center Technician. She currently is going through an 8-week training program.
"I feel amazing, I think if I can do it any body can do it," she said.
The UpRise program was formed in October 2017 from the help of private donors at the West End Community Church.
The next program starts March 18. Space is limited. Anyone interested may attend an information session Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at 235 White Bridge.
