In August the PSI team traveled down to IMPACT Community Action in central Columbus to help distribute fresh produce to community members in need.
IMPACT Community Action’s mission is “to fight poverty by providing hope-inspiring help and real opportunities for self-sufficiency.”
IMPACT’s call to action is the “ripple effect” — the repercussions of an event or situation experienced far beyond its immediate location. Moreover, IMPACT’s brand identity was inspired by the following quote from Senator Robert F. Kennedy …
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
At the community produce market PSI had the pleasure of working alongside several inspiring, dedicated IMPACT team members who shared with us what drives them to serve their mission.
“At IMPACT we are all about the ripple effect and in this sense it is to make sure all the people in our community are eating,” commented Cherokee Smith, IMPACT Team Member. We are all about helping our community.”
Cherokee’s focus with IMPACT is workforce development which can include a myriad of services such as coaching students though school, helping someone to get a license, providing access to work scrubs – whatever a community member needs who is involved in an IMPACT program Cherokee advocates for. IMPACT provides a variety of programs to build up youth and young adults in the community through workforce development.
For example, one program is a three-week course teaching critical skills and techniques to help restored citizens re-enter society, reduce recidivism and confront significant barriers to self-sufficiency.
Another example is the Roads2Work program which provides participants the opportunity to earn the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training Program. This program offers certified driver and life skills training, one-on-one coaching with a self-sufficiency coordinator, and other supportive services.
As part of PSI’s give-back mission, we strive to elevate our community by spreading information and opportunities within the field of technology. By partnering with IMPACT on the community market, we had the opportunity to nourish families with healthy produce, and have those conversations about the various avenues individuals can go down through technology.
IMPACT actually has an IT program which is a great opportunity for eligible Franklin County residents seeking to enter the IT field. Through the partnership of IMPACT Community Action and Pyramid CDC.
Community Responsibility is a continuing commitment by PSI to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of our workforce and their families as well as of our local community and society at large through the “PSI Gives” Program.
“Without our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to serve the community,” said Kevin Jones, IMPACT team member. “It matters no matter who you are. We are glad to have everybody be a part of this project with us. We serve over 2,500 people a month.”
To get an inside look on PSI on location spreading volunteerism, check out the video footage: https://youtu.be/AmZh-VDQvYo .