Since 2014, the Jeremiah Program has been helping single mothers and their children disrupt the cycle of poverty two generations at a time.
The nonprofit was founded in Minneapolis in 1993 and began expanding beyond that as need grew. Fargo-Moorhead’s program aims to support mothers in their personal and professional goals as well as challenges social stigmas about single motherhood, according to jeremiahprogram.org .
The organization focuses on helping single mothers access college and career support as well as quality early childhood education. In addition, mothers are offered a supportive community, a 12-week empowerment and leadership training course as well as safe and affordable housing. Participants of the program are encouraged to earn or finish a college degree as well as participate in leadership training to promote stability and independence.
In 2021, the organization affected 100 lives of mothers of children in the Fargo-Moorhead area, an increase of 32% from the previous year, according to its website .
In 2019, the Jeremiah Program in Fargo-Moorhead saw one of its first participants graduate from college. Olivia Foss had been living in the program’s apartment complex with her then-3-year-old son Leo as she completed nursing classes at Rasmussen University. In May 2019, she graduated and shortly after began working for Sanford Health in the oncology department, according to a May 25, 2019, Forum article .
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As of January, Foss began working at Edgewood in Fargo as nurse manager, according to a Facebook post by the organization, where she previously worked as a CNA.
According to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research , single mothers are less likely to complete a college degree due to child care or financial issues; the Jeremiah Program aims to remove those barriers.
As with any nonprofit organization, the Jeremiah Program offers a number of ways individuals can support its work, whether that involves making a financial contribution or volunteering. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities and needs is encouraged to contact info@jeremiahprogram.org .
The organization holds its annual fundraising gala in April. Applications for participation in the program are accepted year-round, with the training kicking off in September. Participants qualify based on income and must be on a two-year or four-year college track.
