Daughters of Zion Continues Its Full Court Press on Crime Intervention With Economic Mobility As 14 CNA Hopefuls Attend Orientation.
Crime and unemployment are the chicken and egg phenomena. Daughters of Zion, through its Shelby Safe initiative, is cracking the very expensive egg of unemployment as a medium for crime intervention, and on March 11, 2025, 14 individuals from high crime and/or low-income communities showed up for an orientation to enroll in the 5-week tuition-free Certified Nursing Assistant class. Dr. Kiner, the Executive Director and native of the Orange Mound Community, has firsthand experience of the power of financial stability for upward mobility so therefore, when he created this program at Daughters of Zion – he knew the powerful impact that the program would have on the community. The healthcare industry in Shelby County is a growing field with a greater demand for workers than available supply. As of press time, CNAs in Memphis can earn over $28k on the low end and over $35k annually on the high end. These 14 hopefuls see this class as a stepping stone to a better future and life for them and their families based on the economic empowerment that comes with high-quality employment.
One of the 14 hopefuls is Charles Downey – he resides in one of the communities, which is considered one of the most crime-ridden – but that has not deterred his drive to become a CNA. He has been trying to enroll in the class for the last two years and had a look of relief on his face to finally be sitting in the enrollment seat. He found the process to enroll easy and the orientation was very informative for him. He believes the class will teach him the skills he needs and provide the training for him to go further. He also hopes that because there are not many males in the field – he will have more job opportunities.
Shanticka Davis, also from another high-crime area in Memphis, has a special determination in her enrollment in this March class. Ms. Davis was enrolled in a previous cohort, but due to circumstances beyond her control, she had to withdraw from the program. However, the seed of a better life was planted in her and she always had her eyes on her next opportunity to enroll in the program. The application process was smooth and simple for her and she hopes to pick up where she left off. Her long-term goal is to open a group home so the class will provide her with the foundation she needs to achieve her dream.
Ms. Toni Spurlock was radiant all throughout the orientation. While crime is moderate in her neighborhood, it is considered a low-income area. Ms. Spurlock has been waiting for this moment and the fulfillment of it was pure joy. Like most members of the younger generation, she is looking forward to financial freedom. She said the application process was simple and easy to go through. She hopes to gain medical knowledge in the class. She will use the CNA training to get foot in the proverbial healthcare door as her ultimate goal is to get further training to be able to do ultrasounds.
Ms. Charlena Branigan, who also attended the session, wants to become a Caregiver because she loves making the lives of others less lonely and more joyful, while helping and respecting the physical needs of the clients. Ms. Branigan has experience in the field and she knows that the training and the license will enable her to command a better salary. Ms. Branigan is also from a high-crime area but that has not deterred her from seeking how she can improve herself. She heard about the program almost two years ago and has been trying to enroll. She is also from a high-crime area and understands that this is her shot at a brighter future.
Daughters of Zion knows that economic mobility plays a critical role in crime prevention and intervention, particularly in communities affected by poverty, unemployment, and systemic inequality. By providing individuals—especially those at risk of engaging in criminal activity—with pathways to stable employment, economic mobility serves as a proactive approach to reducing crime rates. If you want to make a change in your community then contact Daughters of Zion to begin your career in the healthcare field – please call 901-570-3220 or email us at info@daughtersofzion.org.
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