Since 1987, The Education and Employment Ministry has been serving Oklahoma City with education, training and job placement assistance for those in need of better employment.
On a typical day at TEEM a cascade of sound signals the bustle of student activity that makes its way throughout the building. Lively chatter mixed with an occasional mumble or grumble indicates the anticipation and longing for a better tomorrow. Laughter, tears, the serious and the silly all seem to energize student as well as staff. TEEM: Where hopelessness is not an option and happiness is a gift received through self-recognition of interests, values and abilities.
TEEM’s Mission: Reduce poverty, homelessness and unemployment in Oklahoma by serving people in all 77 counties.
Our programs address some of the most critical issues in our state:
- Oklahoma ranks 10th in the country with the highest percentage of people living in poverty, approximately 460,000 people in Oklahoma live at or below the poverty level
- We are 12th in the nation in homelessness and our homeless population increased by 5% over the past year.
- Oklahoma is 4th among the states in incarcerations per 100,000 people and number one in female incarcerations with a cost to the state of approximately $25,000 per inmate, per year
- 80,000 adults in the Oklahoma City area read at or below a first grade level
- 18% of Oklahoma adults and 67% of our prison population are functionally illiterate
Clients come to us as referrals from other agencies, parole officers, DHS, churches and word of mouth. As a faith-based organization, TEEM places no restrictions on individuals accepted into our program. We serve, at no charge, all persons who seek our help. Most of our clients reside in the Oklahoma City metro area.
