About
Welcome to Moving Forward Chattanooga, where we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families. Our program is designed to provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed in life. We offer mentorship, career coaching, and other valuable services to help you achieve financial independence and personal fulfillment. If you're ready to take the next step on your career journey, we invite you to join our community and see what's possible.
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Our Mission
Equip ... Encourage ... Educate
Moving Forward Chattanooga is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower women to improve their lives and the lives of their families through education, training, and support.
Our Vision
At Moving Forward Chattanooga, we have a passion for helping women find hope and a better future. (Jeremiah 29:11). Our program focuses on equipping, encouraging, and educating our participants, ensuring they have the tools they need to execute their plans and reach their goals. Our 12-week program addresses the Fundamental Areas of Life, giving our participants the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Upon completion of the program, each participant has the opportunity to celebrate their success with a cap and gown graduation ceremony.
The Need
Living paycheck to paycheck while hovering just above the poverty line is the reality for 26 percent of families in Hamilton County, according to a recently released report from United Ways of Tennessee, ALICE® in Tennessee: A Financial Hardship Study. This doesn’t include those living below the federal poverty line, who represent another 13 percent of Hamilton County households. That means that 39 percent of our neighbors are unable to make ends meet. Within Chattanooga city limits, that number increases to 47 percent which is the reason we are passionate about workforce readiness and empowering women to improve their lives.
Our Leadership
Beth Ray, workforce developer and job coach, became Executive Program Director with Moving Forward Chattanooga, in 2021. Moving Forward is an authorized site of Christian Job Corps since 2013.
Prior to this, she served MUST Ministries from 2007 to 2016, first as an education and employment coordinator and later as Director of Employment Services (2011-2016), overseeing 4 physical locations and outreach into 2 surrounding counties. She is a visionary with a passion for advocating for the underdog.
From 2012 to 2016, her department of 3 employees and 75 volunteers assisted over 4,000 individuals return to work, with an overall earnings contribution of $32 million, and produced a 4000% return on investment to donors. Ray has been successful in the creation and implementation of Industrial Training programs designed to remove barriers and return participants to work, and the very popular Step Up Your Game; a day to inspire and motivate job seekers.
A lifelong Learner, Ray holds a BBA in Marketing from Mercer University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. Additional certifications include Certified Disaster Case Manager, Offender Employment Specialist, Project Management Fundamentals and Leadership UMC class of 2009.
Executive Program Director