In the heart of downtown, the nonprofit StepUp Wilmington works to restore heart in those seeking fulfilling employment. StepUp strives to serve people affected by unemployment and underemployment, which are often associated with incarceration, homelessness, recovery and domestic violence.
History
StepUp Wilmington was founded as Phoenix Employment Ministry in 2003 by the Rev. Don Skinner, who launched a one-of-a-kind job program here. “During our initial decade of work, we hosted monthly ‘orientations’ to train and partner with 10 job seekers a month,” said Will Rickard, executive director of StepUp.
Then, in 2013 the organization partnered with StepUp Ministry in Raleigh. It was the partnership that made StepUp Wilmington what it is today. With the collaboration came a focus on data tracking, increased capacity and a clearer picture of what was achievable in the region. Two years later, in 2015, Phoenix Employment Ministry integrated with Hometown Hires — a program of the United Way — becoming Phoenix Hometown Hires. The integration welcomed the first time the organization was able to place 100 jobs in a single year.