LEAPS Classes in Highland Park

LEAPS (Literary Education and Parenting Success) is holding GED and adult literacy classes in Highland Park!!

Cortland Elementary School

138 Cortland, Highland Park MI 48203

Mon-Wed 8:30am-11:30am and 12:30-3:30

To enroll call:

313-873-6000

313-324-7922

NaNoWriMo 2014!

Hello ECHO friends! So you might be wondering from the title of this post...

What is NaNoWriMo?

Yes, it is a strange word. No, it is not a video game or the latest electronic. This crazy word stands for National Novel Writing Month. In The month of November people all over the world commit to the challenge: writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Sounds crazy? Yes, it is indeed a bit crazy...however with all the talk we do about setting goals on this blog I thought it would be interesting to share. I'm not saying you have to write a novel in November (though if you do contact me in the comments below!) I just think this is a great model for goal setting in a community.

What are your goals for the month of November?
What can you accomplish in 30 days?

Leave a comment or call us at ECHO! We're here to help you achieve your dreams one step at a time!

Re-branding!

We're in the process of going through a lot of changes here and ECHO...hint hint REBRANDING. Its still under secret protection wraps, but we've been learning so much about branding the organization we thought it would be cool to talk about re-branding yourself!

When we use this word "rebranding" it basically means we're looking at the way our clients and the greater Detroit view the ECHO Project. We're trying to put ourselves in your shoes. What messages are we really sending to the community? So we're analyzing our marketing materials (brochures, flyers, public service announcements, website, graphics, etc. etc.)

So how does this apply to you reader, you might ask? Well, we all show the world who we are by our clothes, attitude, language, job, presence etc. etc. all of these things are a way that we communicate our message to the world. How we want to be seen and treated. You might just think oh, I'm wearing a t-shirt and jeans today, but that sends a message! (Especially if you show up to a job interview in that outfit!) See what we mean?

So today we challenge you to think about your brand.
What messages do you send to the world in through your clothes, lifestyle choice, attitude, the way you speak etc! Try to view yourself as if you are meeting you for the first time. What do you notice?
Perhaps you want to try some 'rebranding' like us here at ECHO. How can changing your clothes change the way the world sees you?

Jobs & XPAC Challenge

New job posting today! 

The U.S. Department of Census is looking for interviewers in Wayne County! To set up an interview for this listing call: 1-800-865-6384, Extension 15 or reach out to us via blog/twitter/call us up at ECHO and we can help you apply! This is a really great opportunity with great pay and we would love to see some of our ECHO clients get hired!!

As for the rest of this blog post today, I have a little question/challenge for you guys. I just discovered this new website today via Social in Detroit on Twitter. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments! Detroit XPAC describes themselves as a political action committee determined to elect officials who will "consistently stand up for the rights of Detroit." Sounds pretty nice right?  Explore the website a bit and lets talk about it! Leave a comment or email us at tinacecho@gmail.com!

http://www.detroitxpac.org/about-detxpac/

Job Listings!

Hi everyone! Here are a couple more DESC job listings this week to throw your way. Remember, if you are interested in any of these jobs contact us for some extra help on your resume, interview attire, and help preparing! That's what we're here for!

(855) 363-ECHO (3246)

CDL Class-A Drop & Hook Drivers 
Tuesday, October 21st, 2014
1:30pm
5555 Connor Avenue Detroit MI 48213
Valid CDL Class A lisence with at least 1 year recent experience
Valid medical card
Professional, timely, reading and writing skills
No DUI conviction in 7 years

CDL-A Drivers
Tuesday, October 21st 2014
8:30am
9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI 48210
Minimum CDL-A endorsement
Must have a flexible schedule
Required training and meetings
Pass background check and drug screen
High school diploma/GED

Customer Service Representatives
Tuesday October 21st
1:30 pm
9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI 48210
Valid drivers license
Pass background check and drug screen

Certified and Non-Certified Teachers
Tuesday, October 21st 2014
8:30 am
9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI 48210
Teaching certification
At least 60 hrs of teaching experience
Official transcript
Minimum 90 college credit hours
Pass background check and drug screen

General Laborers and Machine Operators
Friday October 24th, 2014

8:30 am
9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI 48210
High school diploma or GED
Previous work history with at least 2 years in manufacturing environment
Reliable transportation
Available to start right away
Pass background check and drug screen

SocialDetroit

I don't know why it has taken me this long, but today I discovered "SocialDetroit" FREE calendar. Basically it is a list of all things FREE to do in Detroit by day. How great is that? 

http://socialindetroit.com/calendar/#/48201-detroit/all/today

So here's some help with the website navigation if it is confusing to you: 

Once you click the link above it will take you to a page where there are lots of tiny little boxes across the top. Ignore those for now. Instead, scroll down a bit and look under "Wednesday October 15th" There you will see a bunch of small pictures with the name of the event, location, and on the top right corner in blue, the TIME. You can click on the picture for more specific information, or scroll down for another date later in the week or month. 

Check this website regularly for various events in the area. It is always good to know what is going on in your community - and remember - it doesn't have to say "networking event" to be a networking event. Meeting people in any situation can lead to a new job, new idea, fresh start etc. etc...

Get out there and enjoy all that Detroit has to offer! Woohoo!!

Happy Birthday Bishop Vann!

As many of you know, here at ECHO we have sites at various churches in Detroit. We partner with churches to connect with the spiritual community and expand our services to Detroiters who go to their church for help. One of our sites that we love sincerely is Second Ebenezer! Today Bishop Vann is celebrating a birthday and everyone is welcome to come join and celebrate at 7pm tonight! Thank you Bishop Vann for all of your hard work and dedication to your community! We're so grateful for you!

New Job Postings!

Today we have two new job opportunities to share with you guys from DESC:

Customer Service Representatives
Tuesday, October 14th 8:30am
5555 Connor Avenue, Detroit MI 48213
Strong work ethic, high school diploma/GED, typing skills, detail oriented, pass a drug test

Cake Decorators
Tuesday, October 14th 8:30am
9301 Michigan Avenue, Detroit MI 48210
Pastry experience required, pass a drug test, detail oriented, able to work with customers

Keep checking in with us at ECHO for many, many more job leads to help you on your way to success!

Pick up the phone and call us!

(855) 363-ECHO (3246)

Winter-Proof your Abode

To elaborate on our post yesterday, here are a few tips to help prepare your home for the winter!


1. Caulk around windows and doors to block those tiny, sneaky leaks. You might have done this last year or the year before, but fresh caulk and new eyes can save you from a wintery chill! (and lower your heating bill)

2. Clean out your gutters! I know this is not a favorite household job, but if your gutters are crowded, icicles and dams will build up in the winter time causing potential water damage!

3. Divert the water. Add extension gutters to your home to divert the melting water 3-4 feet away from your foundation. Ultimately, protecting the base of your home!

4. Cover your windows. Old Detroit homes are quite charming, but also quite drafty. Old windows scream money pit. Cover your windows with plastic and insulating material for warmth and savings!

5. This is a fascinating tip - if you have a ceiling fan that has a reverse function, try the opposite direction after you turn on your heat. Apparently, this creates an updraft and pushes heated air down from the ceiling. If any of you try this, please let us know! We're so curious!

Lets Think Ahead

Hi everyone! October is moving right along before our eyes! Since the fall season seems to be flying by, I thought it appropriate to talk about how to start preparing for winter. I know, I know... Not as fun as our Apple sauce recipe and homemade fall decorations from last week, but preparing for another winter is crucial! The earlier you start the more calm and prepared you will feel (not to mention saving money!) Prepping for winter will be te theme this week so sit back and enjoy...

1. Start buying packaged food on sale. Take advantage of coupons and Halloween specials and start gathering for your pantry! Think like a squirrel gathering nuts...embrace your inner squirrel...
2. Check your house. Before the temperatures drop dramatically: look for leaks, creaks, and drafty corners. Don't wait to freeze in your own home before you take action. Look for handy man deals or get your neighbors together to pool funds for supplies to winter proof your him!
3. Stock up on supplies for snow. Salt, shovels, antifreeze, windshield wipers, scrapers etc. etc.

I know it can be hard to think about winter in the midst of a beautiful fall, but the more you can think ahead, the more money and time you will save! Do you have any prep for winter tips? Let us know in the comments below or tweet to us!!

Clothing Drive!

FREE CLOTHING DRIVE: 

New Providence Baptist Church. 

Sat Oct 4th 9am-2pm 

118211 Plymouth Rd., Detroit, MI 48228

Bring Fall SMELLS into your Home!

I found this gem of a blog post and thought I would link it to ours today! Since this week we've been talking all about fall looks, tastes, decorations...I thought I would include this blog post about incorporating yummy fall SMELLS into your home! Making your own pauperie, scented candles, baking pies, making your own fire starters and so much more! Yummy....

HomedIT Blog

DIY AppleSauce

Here's a quick recipe for homemade apple sauce!

Chop a bustle of apples and throw them into a pot on the stove. Add some cinnamon (and a pinch of sugar if you desire, though they don't need anything!) and some lemon juice with a bit of water. Put a lid on the pot and leave the apples to simmer for an hour (or longer!) and do a taste test! If you like your apple sauce more chunky, take it off the heat sooner. If you like your apple sauce fine, mash up some of the apples and let it simmer for a while longer! You can also make applesauce in your crock pot if you have one of those!

PinchOfYum Blog