A new partnership between Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Cornerstone Church aims to reach unemployed or underemployed people in the church’s congregation through a network of volunteer ambassadors.

The program is designed to increase awareness and connect people with opportunities available at the college.

“We know there are people in our congregation who need help improving their skills and getting a better job,” said Cornerstone Bishop Bill Godair. “This is a way to meet them where they are, deliver information in a personal way and make education and training more accessible.”

The ambassador program trains church staff and parishioners to provide information about Rowan-Cabarrus to church members and other residents. The College’s R3 (ReFocus, ReTrain, ReEmploy) team follows up to assist with program details and services such as career coaching, adult basic education, job search assistance and digital literacy.

Ambassadors are not college employees but participate in an initial four-hour volunteer training session and meet twice quarterly for continuing education and updates. Led by Keri Allman of the Rowan-Cabarrus Division of Corporate and Continuing Education, five Cornerstone ambassadors are already helping members of the congregation begin their journey at the college.

“We are grateful to Bishop Godair for helping us pilot this innovative program,” said Craig Lamb, vice president of the Division of Corporate and Continuing Education. “Our successful education and job placement efforts depend on strong relationships with community partners. Sometimes people who need our affordable education and job training the most are not aware of the programs we offer. We look forward to spreading the ambassador program throughout Rowan and Cabarrus counties.”

Important connections have already been made as a result of this program. Cornerstone member Alan Murrah, who plays lead guitar in the church band and is the church’s social media manager, enrolled at Rowan-Cabarrus because of the information he received through the ambassador program.

Murrah is taking general education courses to obtain his associate degree in preparation to transfer into a music program at a four-year institution, with the ultimate goal of serving a church as a worship pastor or music director.

Not only did Murrah learn about course offerings at Rowan-Cabarrus through the ambassador program, but the connections helped ensure the college staff could help him with financial aid in time to meet the registration deadline and start classes this semester.

“It definitely is a good way to find out what’s out there,” Murrah said. “I had originally planned to go to another college all four years, but when I found out how much more affordable Rowan-Cabarrus was, I was sold.”

Ambassadors are also able to help individuals find resume writing help, job search support, career assessment and planning, and scholarship and financial aid resources.

“We are very excited about the ambassador program. This partnership paves the way for other organizations to form similar ambassador programs,” said Keri Allman, program manager at Rowan-Cabarrus.

The first ambassadors for the program are:

• Angela Alford.

• Michelle Macon.

• Raquel Marti.

• Larry Persinger.

• Kristen Zapata.

The ambassador program is open to all community organizations including churches, schools, businesses and child care facilities. The commitment includes four hours of initial training and two meetings per quarter to keep ambassadors informed.

For more information, contact Keri Allman at 704-216-7205 or keri.allman@rccc.edu.