Light House Celebrates Training Graduation

Mayor Gavin Buckley was the keynote speaker at The Light House Homeless Prevention Support Center’s graduation for their 19th Class of Building Employment Success Training (B.E.S.T.) students. The B.E.S.T. program is a 16-week job-training program for people impacted by homelessness and poverty that provides hands-on training in Culinary Arts or Facilities Maintenance and Landscaping. With this 19th class, The Light House has graduated a total of 309 students since it began in 2011. 100 percent of these graduates have passed their rigorous exit exams, qualifying them for gainful employment in Anne Arundel County and beyond.

During the ceremony, each student gave a moving speech about their personal journey, what they learned during their time in the program, and their hopes and plans for the future. The May 24th event at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis brought together Light House volunteers, donors, important city and county officials, and friends and family of the graduates. The sanctuary was filled with attendees eager to celebrate the positive path these graduates are now on, and their determination to overcome their barriers.

“The B.E.S.T. Program was the next step I took after going through treatment. I was determined to do something new and positive. At The Light House I was able to learn, grow, and start on a new path. Now I can build a better life for myself. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and encouraged me when I needed it most.” – Tim, Graduate of The Light House B.E.S.T. Culinary Program

The Light House is pleased to announce a grant award of $5,000 from State Farm for their Building Employment Success Training (B.E.S.T.) Program, an entry-level workforce development program for people impacted by homelessness and poverty. To kick off this new partnership, State Farm representatives visited The Light House to meet with Light House staff, toured the facilities, and learned about the programs and services provided by the organization. During their visit, State Farm Agent, Debbie Hart, also dropped off 20 bags of pantry items that had been collected during their recent State Farm food drive, stating that “State Farm is here to help things go right and whatever I can do to further that mission, especially in my community, is my pleasure.”

The Light House is deeply grateful for State Farm’s significant investment in the B.E.S.T. Program and looks forward to building a lasting partnership. The B.E.S.T. Program provides rigorous job-focused, hands-on learning modules that include paid in-house training in Culinary Arts or Facilities Maintenance. Case management, addictions counseling, and social service support are also provided during the 16-week comprehensive skills training program.

The B.E.S.T. Program has trained over 300 people since 2012, with 100 percent of graduates having passed their rigorous exit exams, qualifying them for gainful employment in Anne Arundel County and beyond. The Light House provides emergency shelter, food, clothing, case management and other vital homelessness prevention and support services to over 2,000 community members in need each year. This important work is only possible thanks to the generosity of their community and companies like State Farm.

Photo: (L-R) State Farm Public Affairs Field Specialist – DC Metro, Delaware, Maryland, Dwayne Redd, Light House Director of Development, Jenny Crawford, Light House Culinary Assistant and Former B.E.S.T. Culinary Graduate, Liz Fleury, State Farm Agent, Debbie Hart, LTCP, RICP, State Farm Sales Leader for the Annapolis Sales Territory, Tawana Mensah, and Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Arts Training, Linda Vogler