Navigating Success — How Empower UC’s Navigators Transform Barriers into Opportunities
Empower Upper Cumberland has built its impact on the strength of 24 dedicated Navigators, each embedded in the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency, serving families across all 14 counties of the region. These Navigators deliver one-on-one coaching, guiding participants through employment and educational pathways while ensuring support is tailored to individual circumstances .
A Holistic Approach to Workforce Preparedness
Navigators help families connect to an array of resources and opportunities, including:
Milestone Payments and Financial Support: Participants receive financial assistance tied to key benchmarks—like completing job training or educational steps—helping them manage immediate obstacles without compromising long-term progress .
Higher Education & FAFSA Assistance: Navigators assist participants in navigating FAFSA processes and planning for post-secondary goals .
Soft-Skills Training (“Aim High”) and Career Planning: Empower UC’s “Aim High” credential focuses on developing soft skills such as communication, reliability, and teamwork—essential assets for sustainable employment .
Budgeting & Ready to Learn Programs: Additional coaching facilitates financial planning and parental engagement to support education readiness
Building Strong Community Ties
The Navigator model functions as more than just a referral system—it’s a gateway to meaningful community connections. Navigators act as local liaisons in counties such as Cannon, Overton, Putnam, Smith, and many others, ensuring geographically distributed access across the entire region . Their role reinforces the value of consistent encouragement, contextualized support, and trust-building relationships in community-based workforce development.
Fueling Regional Prosperity
Empower UC’s Navigator-driven strategy is part of a broader initiative to lift 800 families—and 1,600 children—out of poverty by 2026 . By creating personalized support systems, the program helps families directly engage with available training, improve employability, and move beyond immediate hardships toward sustained employment and economic mobility.
