Graduation festivities at Life Learning Center reach their peak with the second ceremony of the year, 2025
The Life Learning Center (LLC) recently held its second graduation ceremony of 2025, recognising individuals who have successfully completed the Foundations for a Better Life program. This transformative initiative equips vulnerable and economically disadvantaged individuals with essential life skills and employment readiness, enabling them to reclaim their stories and create a brighter future.
John Zurborg, a longstanding volunteer of LLC, delivered a heartfelt speech at the graduation, celebrating the resilience, growth, and potential of the graduates. He emphasised that each graduate holds unique, God-given gifts, and encouraged them to pursue careers that align with their strengths, providing both income and fulfillment.
The Foundations for a Better Life program focuses on addressing five crucial domains of life: Physical, Financial, Spiritual, Emotional, and Relational. It empowers participants to transform the trajectory of their lives through life skills training, career readiness programming, and placement, as well as support resources.
Since its inception in 2005, the Life Learning Center has been instrumental in equipping over hundreds of individuals with the tools and resources for a better future. In 2024 alone, LLC put $8.5M directly into the local economy, and its recidivism rate was a remarkably low 4.45%, significantly lower than the national average of 83%.
The graduation marked a new chapter for individuals who have worked hard to overcome challenges, and each graduate was recognised with the traditional Pomp and Circumstance. The ceremony also highlighted the far-reaching impact of LLC in the community, as candidates who completed the Foundations for a Better Life program were celebrated.
The Foundations for a Better Life program is not just about providing skills and resources; it's about witnessing individuals overcome barriers with courage and discipline. Each graduate has chosen to reclaim their story, proving that transformation is possible with perseverance and support.
In conclusion, the Life Learning Center's Foundations for a Better Life program is an empowering, life-transformational initiative designed to provide critical skills and employment preparation for individuals striving to rebuild their lives and achieve stability. It's more than just a program; it's a beacon of hope for those seeking a brighter future.
[1] Life Learning Center website: https://www.lifelearningcenter.org/ [2] National Council on Disability report: https://ncd.gov/publications/2011/july11-ncd-report-transition-youth [3] Brookings Institution report: https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-transition-from-custody-to-community-how-can-we-better-support-formerly-incarcerated-youth/ [4] Prison Policy Initiative report: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/rates.html [5] National Association of State Directors of Special Education report: https://nasdse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NASDSE-Position-Statement-on-Transition-Services.pdf
- John Zurborg, in his heartfelt speech at the Life Learning Center's graduation, encouraged graduates to use their unique gifts earned through the education-and-self-development programs, such as the Foundations for a Better Life, to pursue personal-growth and career paths that will not only provide financial stability but also foster fulfillment within the community.
- The Life Learning Center's Foundations for a Better Life program, which focuses on addressing key areas such as education, physical health, finances, spirituality, emotions, and relationships, is transforming the local economy by providing essential life skills, career readiness, and resources, while reducing recidivism rates significantly lower than the national average and creating a brighter future for hundreds of individuals and their communities.
