Personal Growth & Development
Free Classes to Help You Be Successful in Today’s Job Market
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Gaston College
Presenter Laurel Morrow
Session Description: Learn about the exciting “No-Cost” Continuing Education classes available to help you be successful in today’s local job market. Do you need basic computer skills; confidence; personal power and leadership; keys to job success and advancement; medical billing software training; money management; office skills; problem-solving/communication skills; the ability to “sell” yourself in a job interview in 45 seconds or less; a resume and/or your Career Readiness Certification? Come and learn how you can enroll in these classes and brighten your future!
Biographical Information: Laurel, a Certified Program Planner, has been the HRD Coordinator at Gaston College since September 2000. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and has 11 years of experience with Job Corps, a residential education and job-training program. Ms. Morrow serves as the Gaston College representative at Employee Orientation sessions when a company is going t close or lay off employees. She also enjoys partnering with other agencies to best serve the needs of our local community.
Number of Sessions Offered: Multiple
Financial First Aid
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Truliant Federal Credit Union
Presenter Tammy Kane
Session Description: This workshop is appropriate for the parents of any age group. There are many circumstances in life that can destroy even the best money management plan. A job loss, unplanned medical expenses, or other personal crisis can financially devastate a family. This workshop is specifically for members in crisis-focusing on regaining control of the financial situation through careful financial assessment, expense prioritization, and effective negotiation with creditors.
Biographical Information: Truliant has partnered with the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program to help member-owners benefit fully from professional money management counseling. This workshop will be conducted by one of the professional financial counselors certified by BALANCE. ( I will have specific information about the presenter closer to the event.)
Number of Sessions Offered: 1
Building a Better Budget
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Truliant Federal Credit Union
Presenter Tammy Kane
Session Description: This workshop is appropriate for the parents of any age group. A budget is the most powerful tool available for establishing financial control. After identifying short-, mid-, and long-term goals, participants learn how to design realistic spending plans to live within their means and savings plans to reach their goals. Within that framework, we discuss different options available for getting out of debt, staying out of debt and maintaining motivation.
Biographical Information:Truliant has partnered with the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program to help member-owners benefit fully from professional money management counseling. This workshop will be conducted by one of the professional financial counselors certified by BALANCE. ( I will have specifics about the presenter closer to the day of the event.)
Number of Sessions Offered: 1
Health at Home
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Gaston Together
Presenter Wendy Whisnant
Session Description: Provide the Health at Home book to each parent with an overview and instructions for using the book. Health at Home is a self help guide to assist individuals in making good health care decisions for their families. The book provides information that will pertain to any age child in the home as well as information for parents. The book has been distributed in Gaston County since 2004 and has consistently been rated by recipients as being extremely useful in making health care decisions.
Biographical Information: Presenter has resided in Gaston County for 30 years and has worked with Gaston Together and the Health at Home project since 2005. Currently works with various agencies in Gaston County in the distribution of the Health at Home book and works closely with the Gaston County Healthcare Commission.
Number of Sessions Offered: 1
Making Peace with Money: Financial Peace University
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Forest Pointe Church
Presenter Ray Hardee
Session Description: 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Only 1 in 3 could handle a $5000 emergency without borrowing money. It is possible to make peace with your money and have a plan without digging a deeper debt hole. To get a firm grip on you money, pay off debt, and save while changing your Family tree, Financial Peace University (FPU) makes it possible. Session will provide an overview of FPU’s 13 week class for participants to sample. The average FPU participant pays off $5300 in debt and saves $2700 in the 13 week class. Most importantly a plan is established to give you control and confidence while preserving the relationships that matter most in the family.
Biographical Information: Rev, Michael Mustron is the Community Pastor for Forest Pointe Church in Belmont, NC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gardner Webb University and a Masters of Divinity Degree from the GWU Divinity School. He is Gaston County native and a graduate of East Gaston High School.
Number of Sessions Offered: 1