History

• Jacob’s Ladder was founded in 1998 by Molly Dewey and Reverend Charlie Summers as an outreach ministry of Seigle Ave. Presbyterian Church.
• In 2001 Steffi Travis was hired and within a year she grew the program and adjusted it from a single week program to the current four week program.
• In 2005, JLJC won the Bank of America multi-year Neighborhood Initiative Excellence Award as well as the Women’s Impact Fund Award.
• A year later JLJC separated from Seigle Ave and ministry status and applied for 501(c)(3) non-profit status and moved to the Plaza Presbyterian Church.
• That same year the program added A Perfect Fit clothing boutique thanks to funding from the Reemprise? Fund and a partnership with Myers Park Baptist Church was created to use their Cornwell Center to house computer training provided by NGAAP and Center for Community Transitions
• In 2009 the program expanded to Charlotte’s Westside Corridor thanks to funding from the Sisters of Mercy of NC Foundation and the City of Charlotte (Wingate Community)
• The next year the west program relocated to the Arbor Glen housing community and created the Center for Employment Services with collaboration from the Charlotte Housing Authority.  In addition, Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank funded a computer lab at JL West with help from Sisters of Mercy of NC Foundation for the expansion.  JLJC also teamed up with the Department of Social Services to serve its Work First Clients.
• In 2011 Steffi Travis left Jacob’s ladder and an interim director was in place until 2012 when Holly Cummings was named as the new Executive Director.