Today we’d like to introduce you to Janie Bordner.
Janie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey to where I am has been a very painful experience. It has also been a character-building experience that has allowed me to focus on what is really important and appreciate the true meaning of life. Several years, I had a life-changing event happen to me. During an accident, I suffered a mild traumatic brain injury and that has changed my life forever. How it happened: It was December 3rd and my mom asked that I stop by the grocery store for a few items. I needed a 12 pack of soda. I went to the display at the back of the store. They were stacked very high. I simply reached for the one closest and caused an avalanche. I was hit by several from very high above.
My injury: Severe concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, shoulder dislocation and injury leading to replacement of c3 and 4 in neck. I was hospitalized for several months. I had and still do have sharp stabbing pains in my right eye, I have memory issues. I threw up all of the time. I had to retrain my eyes to track in order to stop the nausea and stop the equilibrium issues that kept me dizzy and to walk without help. I had seizures and lost my driver’s license for a few years.
I was in outpatient, all day rehab learning skills for close to two years. I lost my home, my job and my fiancé left while I was in the hospital. I ended up on my sister’s couch with my four years old child.
Lasting issue: still have memory loss and issues, I have severe pain in my right eye and debilitating headaches and I have had recent issues with dizziness and possible seizure episodes.
After rehab, I was referred to a workforce development program very similar to Skill QUEST program at the Community Council. Since my recovery – I have made it my mission to make the community a better place for those needing to start over or get help. I was the Executive Director for Skill QUEST for a while, then became Managing Director for Economic Mobility for the Community Council (Skill QUEST is now a program here). In July, I moved up to become only the 2nd woman in the 80 years history to be CEO of the Community Council of Greater Dallas. It is in this role that I hope to make the biggest difference in our community. I developed and am implementing a new initiative called #5000jobs2020. With the support of the Dallas Mayor’s office, Dallas County Commissioner’s Office and the office of the Governor, we are working with community agencies, partners and employers to train and place 5000 people in living wage jobs so families can become self-sufficient. We hope to transition around 20,000 people out of poverty by filling the 40,000 unfilled middle-skill jobs available in our community. This has never been done before in one year by anyone. We want to scale this program so that we can change the economic landscape of Dallas and North Texas.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This journey has been one of heartache, pain and eventually triumph. Just learning how to walk and talk again were struggles but the way that people treated me when I was a client and needing help was so demoralizing. I was treated as if it was my fault I needed assistance. I was lucky, I had four sisters and my mom all living pretty close. I tapped into their strength. It was hard and many days I just wanted to give up and do nothing. I remember one day that my mom told me she just couldn’t stand to see me be a quitter so she was not going to come back until I was ready to start living. She told me that it hurt her too much to see me this way and she then said “I need you to tell me what to tell your son.” That was the kick in the pants I needed to get my fighting spirit back.
I have had to face down doctors that wanted to control my symptoms with medication on top of medication. I took control of my own pain and now am medication free. I had to convince employers to hire me even though I had just been through a traumatic experience and was not sure what the future would look like. I worked twice as hard as everyone around me and proved myself. I became a more giving, more humble person through this process. I also learned that is was ok to ask for help when you need it. I had always been the strong one, the caretaker of my family but I had to learn to ask my family and friends for help so that I could recover.
My advice to young women is to find a strong mentor that will be brutally honest with you. Then – listen to the advice given. Always follow your dreams. Live life as it comes. Don’t spend most of your life planning for the future and neglect to live in the present as well. Our days and future are not guaranteed. I have recently been having conversations with community leaders about their legacies and how they want to be remembered. I encourage everyone to think about their legacy. If you want to change the community – then be that change. If not now, then when? If not you, then who?
Please tell us about Community Council of Greater Dallas.
OUR MISSION The Community Council Serves the community by providing leadership in: Determining priority issues solutions in the human services arena, with a focus on poverty alleviation Convening partners to significantly impact service delivery and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable populations in our community Increasing awareness of and access to services.
Community Council envisions vital communities which enable each individual to achieve his or her full potential: Vital communities in which individuals and families are stable and achieve economic security; Where people live healthy lives with maximum independence and resilience; And where people are engaged in building opportunities.
OUR VISION
Building local solutions specific to local needs Serving as a catalyst for community revitalization Supporting family stability as a foundation for economic security Pursuing positive individual, family, and community level change Maximizing involvement of people with low incomes Engaging local community partners and citizens in solutions Leveraging private sector and public sector resources.
2-1-1 Information & Referrals Emergency Assistance Programs Poverty Alleviation / Economic Mobility 5000 Jobs Coalition & Skill QUEST Careers Dallas Area Agency on Aging Community Wellness Solutions My RIDE Dallas & North Texas.
The unemployment rate in the nation is at a 30-year low, with the rate in Dallas currently at a record 3.2%. However, while the economic growth experienced across the nation and especially in Dallas is welcome news to many, there is one major drawback to the current economic climate. The economic boom has resulted in many jobs being created – without having a large enough skilled workforce to fill them. To fill this need, The Community Council of Greater Dallas is partnering with The City of Dallas, Dallas Housing Authority, Dallas County Community College and other anchor organizations have launched a major campaign promoting 5,000 job placements in Dallas in 2020. The initiative’s goal is to accelerate economic mobility in Dallas while moving families out of poverty through sustainable living wage earnings in high-demand career pathways.
The Community Council of Greater Dallas is a Dallas-based nonprofit organization that focuses on a multi-faced programs and services that support and provide economic mobility for working families and individuals living at 125% or below the federal poverty level. The nonprofit makes connections and provide opportunities for low-income families to obtain the skills they need to find living wage jobs in addition to offering educational opportunities for workforce in areas such as health care enrollment and workforce development. The new initiative to put 5,000 Dallas-area residents to work will rely heavily on collaboration between the Community Council, its partners and community support to ensure its success.
“Our mission always placed a priority on supporting Dallas residents by equipping them with the necessary tools they need to accomplish their personal and professional goals,” said Janie Bordner, CEO of the Community Council of Greater Dallas. “We not only want to initiate change for families but create a discussion and a collaboration where businesses and organizations are a part of uplifting those who need direction and encouragement to succeed.”
Since 2000, the number of people living in poverty in the City of Dallas has increased approximately 39.1%, while the total population has only increased 7.6%. Poverty is a complex issue – especially in Dallas County where 25.3% of the Dallas County population is 125% below the poverty line and 27.1% of the population making less than $25,000 annually. Contributing factors include transportation limitations, lack of training, lack of childcare access and an inability to afford adequate housing. The average transportation cost in the US is 15% of household income; however, Dallas transportation costs range from 14% to 26%. More than 73% of Section 8 Multifamily Affordable Housing properties in Dallas are unaffordable due to high transportation costs.
Additionally, while most low to middle-skilled positions require education beyond a high school level, according to the Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty, 46.2% of Dallas residents have a high school degree or less. Only 21.5% of the Dallas population graduated high school or obtained and educational equivalent and 24.7% have never completed high school-level education.
Through their workforce development programs, including Opportunity ONE and Skill QUEST, the Community Council of Greater Dallas enables participants to receive certified skills training for placement in-demand jobs. Their educational programs provide free tuition, books, career counseling and tools and help students on average raise their annual salary from $9,000 to $48,000 in six to twelve months following program completion.
The Community Council has been proven to be a good investment solution, especially for corporations and government agencies. In fact, their program data shows a 7x to 10x return on investment based on increased school and career achievement, reduced costs in public assistance, reduced health costs and decreased criminal justice expenditures. Community Council saves the taxpayers over $24 million a year just in reduced costs for public assistance.
Convening with others to foster the 5,000 jobs in 2020 initiative, the Community Council of Greater Dallas plans to work with corporate partners to train and place a skilled workforce into careers in healthcare, information technology, auto and equipment technology, logistics and other high-demand professions. They will also work with organizations to help fund unplanned expenses that are incurred with workforce participation including transportation costs, childcare expenses and obtaining a professional wardrobe. Furthermore, Community Council will partner with substantial agencies like the City of Dallas, Dallas County, and Dallas Housing Authority and area employers to introduce connections between the community and job opportunities. The nonprofit organization is hoping to create an incredible movement that will not only impact that lives of Dallas residents but inspire others to join the campaign so all citizens can learn, work and thrive in a vibrant and welcoming city.
“An important part of fighting poverty and successfully finding work for families who are training for the appropriate skillset is to have potential employers involved or organizations that can provide funding for the costs involved,” said Janie Bordner, President & CEO. “By combining our efforts with those who are seeking employees, we hope to build a supportive community where everyone involved benefits.”
To spread awareness about the initiative and promote community involvement, Community Council has created a hashtag, #5000Jobs2020, for individuals to post on social media as a way to share their success stories, provide information that might help their fellow citizen in obtaining the resources or job opportunities they need, and reach employers who are seeking employees for skilled positions within the workforce. Keeping its focus on the sustainability and holistic wellness of the community, The Community Council of Greater Dallas provides assistance to over 500,000 individuals annually. Their support comes from public and private funders who understand the importance of lifting families out of poverty by connecting them with vital resources that address community wellness and workforce mobilization.
To learn more about the #5000Jobs2020 campaign, visit www.Dallas5000Jobs.org or text “PLEDGE” to 972-325-7484 to join the movement!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I am an avid user of LinkedIn and find that is has many resources. The communities there can give you guidance and support for almost any situation. I believe in the power of mentorship. I have a strong network of people I can turn to tell me the truth and to always support me in any situation. I love to read books of leadership. I am currently reading The Question – Find Your True Purpose by Bernardo Moya.
Pricing:
- All of our services are free
Contact Info:
- Address: 1341 W Mockingbird Ln
Suite 1000W
Dallas, TX 75247 - Website: www.ccadvance.org
- Phone: 214-871-5065
- Email: jbordner@ccadvance.org
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janieb/
Image Credit:
Debra Barcuch, Heather Stevens, Cerissa Powdrill
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