Grace Centers of Hope Expands Career, Education Programs for Residents

PONTIAC — Grace Centers of Hope (GCH) today announced that it has expanded the offerings of its Career and Education Center (CEC), as it continues to invest even further in developing the paths to recovery of its residents. The Pontiac nonprofit has helped Michigan residents battling homelessness and addiction get clean and become productive citizens for 80 years.

To accommodate the updated programs at its CEC, located at 90 University Dr. in Pontiac, the nonprofit completed extensive upgrades to the building — including spending $15,000 to build three brand new high-tech classrooms, a lounge area, a bathroom and an office in the previously-unfurnished basement.

Traci Cunningham, CEC Director, is excited about the new upgrades and what they will mean to residents.

“We are going to have the ability to create more responsible citizens when they get into recovery. This will create an improved community atmosphere, better workers, more impactful dads, more supportive friends. And when they graduate from the program, they will be better prepared to become successful in life.”

Prior to the renovations, much of the focus of the CEC was on its GED program, which is required for all Grace Centers residents who don’t have a high school diploma or GED, as well as job placement support for residents.

The upgrades have allowed the nonprofit to expand its educational program to also include:

• Life skills classes
• Social emotional skills training, including discussion of what life looks like in recovery, and how to handle life without going back to drugs
• Hands-on science projects
• Field trips to the grocery store to learn food budgeting
• Health and fitness classes (field trips to the gym)
• Big Brother program, where younger people in the GCH program can learn from the older ones who have recovered
• Public speaking lessons
• Classes on anger management
• Job readiness/etiquette classes
• Parenting classes for the male residents at Grace Centers

Kent W. Clark, CEO of Grace Centers of Hope and Pastor at Grace Gospel Fellowship church, said the nonprofit’s educational programming is an essential element as residents get their lives back on course.

“When you start using drugs, your brain stops developing. Once someone begins their recovery at Grace Centers, in addition to the spiritual healing we can provide, we must catch them up to where they need to be in terms of general life skills,” Clark said. “Each of our residents takes a unique path to keep them moving forward, and these enhancements to our career and education programs will benefit our community tremendously.”

The process for the renovations began in May 2022 and was completed in January 2023. Among the renovations were installation of a new epoxy floor, ceiling, electrical system, additional security cameras and phone lines, and Internet access.

All walls were painted, and three classrooms were created — a traditional classroom, a lab for hands-on activities, and a computer lab with multiple computers and a bookshelf with a library of reading options. One of the rooms also includes a whiteboard for educational purposes.

“These improvements to our program open up so many doors for us to help even more of our residents get on the path to a successful life as productive and positive citizens, giving back to the community,” Cunningham said.

In addition to these career and education offerings, parents taking part in the program at Grace Centers of Hope also have access to its Hands of Hope Childcare Center. The nonprofit’s comprehensive programs provide daily meals, clothing, personal hygiene, individual and group therapy, Bible study and church service, mentorship/discipleship, and more.

About Grace Centers of Hope

Giving hope to the helpless since 1942, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan, confronting daily the issues of homelessness, addiction, education, parenting, poverty, abuse and spiritual emptiness. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope provides transitional shelter to 150-200 men, women and children, in addition to serving more than 125,000 meals each year. Grace’s $6.7 million yearly budget is maintained solely through corporate and private donors, exclusive of any government assistance. To learn more about Grace Centers of Hope or to make a donation, please visit www.gracecentersofhope.org.