17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. – Philippians 3:17
Keusi Donald had a jailhouse conversion. His life was changed when he gave it to Christ. Now uses his experience to help others know that they are not defined by past errors and that God has bigger plans for them than they ever could have imagined. We’re lucky to have him in Memphis.
He started and leads EcOp, which is a shortened version of Economic Opportunities. EcOp Memphis is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of justice-impacted and under-resourced adults in the Greater Memphis Area by providing sustainable employment opportunities, life coaching, spiritual guidance, and mentoring through our innovative ‘Shepherd’s Work’ program.
I’m going to paste their info from the website because it does a great job explaining what the organization does. If you know someone that could use some help in their business, give them a shot.
Our History
Economic Opportunities, LLC [EcOP] was established in 1991 as a program of the Memphis Leadership Foundation to serve individuals with prior criminal justice involvement. EcOp was a program for On-The-Job [OJT] training with a general focus for the adult reentry population of the Greater Memphis area. However, in 2017 EcOp’s program was revitalized initiating a new program model that transitioned into “The Shepherd’s Work Program” we are today.
Present
EcOp’s purpose is to recruit, train, and develop “shepherds” who serve the justice-impacted adults and dislocated worker population in the Greater Memphis Area through life coaching, work-place mentoring, spiritual guidance, support services, career counseling, work readiness, direct job placement, and employer services by providing living wage employment pathways that lead to sustainable outcomes.
Annually Shelby County has over 7,000 returning citizens who need life development in multiple areas and employment opportunities. Shelby County also has over 22,000 individuals actively on probation or parole each year who are required to maintain employment and improve their life management skills. Without employment opportunities the likelihood of these individuals returning to prison is very high; national recidivism average is above 76%. And without life development skills the likelihood of these individuals maintaining employment opportunities is very low. We believe with a Shepherd guiding the way for these individuals is their greatest advantage to long term success. Therefore our purpose is to provide Shepherds who will recruit & develop justice involved adults to be placed in various worksites through a life-on-life approach. Our experience is that through our Shepherd’s Work model we can empower justice-impacted adults to rebuild trust and restore faith within the communities they live by building into them self-sufficiency, economic mobility, and living wage income.
Ec Op employs life coaching, spiritual guidance, and mentoring to carry out its mission. Our program model is centered around the Elements of Effective Practice six core standards for mentoring: Recruitment & Referrals, Screening & Eligibility, Training & Onboarding, Matching & Placement, Monitoring & Support, Closure & Transition, and Follow-up engagement.
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Father God, thank you for not condemning us because of our sins. Instead, You sent your perfect son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. He is the Great Shepherd and His sheep know His voice. Lord, we pray that the call is still heard by those wandering today.
Lord, we lift up Keusi Donald and those he works with to shepherd and live life with those seeking a better way. May You surround EcOp and the shepherds with love and protection. Do not let the adversary stop them from modeling Christ-centered lives and relationships with those they work with. Lord, we pray for glorious redemption stories that You may be known. We pray for jobs with dignity and purpose for those in the program. We pray that lives are turned around while in prison, that they know they are not forgotten, and then embraced with loving kindness once out.
Lord, forgive us for our hard hearts. Soften them that we may see each individual as a child of God. Help us to open doors for those that we are tempted to shut out. We ask that you bless EcOp with more volunteers and employers willing to work with them. We pray James, Nick, Antonio, Malcolm, Terrance, R.L., and Criss are fortified by the Holy Spirit as they work as Shepherds with these men and women in the program. We pray Keusi, Edith, and Rebecca have the resources to keep the program running. Bless their work Lord and those partnering with them to provide opportunities.
In Christ’s Name, amen