A Regional Response to Poverty: The Empower UC Model
In partnership with Workforce Connections, Empower Upper Cumberland (Empower UC) is taking bold steps to lift families out of generational poverty across our 14-county region.
🤝 Who They Are & What They Do
Empower UC brings together a coalition of community leaders—including Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation, Highlands Economic Partnership, Tennessee Tech University, Upper Cumberland Development District, the local workforce board (us!), and WCTE PBS—to streamline support for struggling families. Their unified goal: empower 800 families and 1,600 children out of poverty by 2026 .
🧭 Direct Support Through Empathy & Resources
At the heart of Empower UC are 24 trained Navigators—housed within Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency—working one-on-one with participant families. These Navigators guide participants through:
Financial assistance for overcoming barriers
Milestone payments, tied to education and employment goals
Career planning, budgeting, FAFSA help, and soft-skill training (“Aim High”)
🌱 Building Community Through Circles
Empower UC also facilitates Circles® peer support groups, pairing families with trained “Allies” who offer mentorship, encouragement, and trusted connections—bolstering personal resilience and community ties .
🎯 Addressing Systemic Barriers
With support from the Upper Cumberland Development District, Empower UC is actively working to dismantle structural obstacles—focusing on:
Childcare access, where only 20% of children have reliable care
Housing instability
The “Cliff Effect”, where minor earnings cause major losses in benefits
🚀 How Workforce Connections Fits In
Workforce Connections plays a vital role by connecting participants to sustainable employment:
Helping employers become Empower-certified, offering financial incentives like wage reimbursement and recruiting help
Supporting poverty-awareness training for businesses, helping employers overcome biases and retain participants ()
🏁 The Road Ahead
Empower UC’s work—driven by real-time relationships, systemic change strategies, and community partnerships—represents a major step toward shared prosperity. As Workforce Connections, we are proud to amplify this work, match qualified participants with meaningful employment, and support the regional vision of prosperity for everyone.
Let’s keep the momentum going—reach out if your organization wants to plug into this powerful network and help families flourish.
📞 Get in Touch with Empower UC
🌐 Website & Apply: Visit empoweruppercumberland.org to learn more, apply, volunteer, or become an employer partner.
📧 Email: connect@empoweruppercumberland.org is the direct line to the Empower UC team .
📞 Phone: Call 833‑EMPWRUC (833‑367‑9782) for immediate assistance or inquiries
