Discover Church’s workforce program celebrates first graduates and state citation

Discover Church’s Discover Hope initiative marked its second-year run with seven graduates, more than 250 applications for 20 available seats and an official Maryland General Assembly citation. The Brooklyn Park program is now looking to expand training and employer partnerships across Anne Arundel County.

Why it matters: - Discover Hope is trying to close a local skills and access gap in Brooklyn Park, where household income trails the county average and transportation barriers affect access to services. - The program’s early demand shows strong interest in workforce training that connects residents to practical certifications and job pathways. - The Maryland citation gives the initiative public recognition as it seeks to scale beyond its first class.

What happened: - Discover Church celebrated the first seven graduates of its Discover Hope workforce development initiative on Nov. 1, 2026. - The initiative also received an official Maryland General Assembly citation dated Nov. 1, 2026, signed by Sen. Clarence K. Lam and Delegate Simmons. - The citation recognized Discover Hope’s commitment to workforce development and to empowering individuals through skills training and certification. - Discover Church was founded in November 2024 by Pastors Nate and Katrina Brown in Brooklyn Park, Maryland. - Discover Hope received more than 250 applications for its workforce programming. - The inaugural class had 20 seats.

The details: - The first course ran for eight weeks from Sept. 13 through Nov. 1, 2026. - William R. Savage of William R. Savage & Associates taught Therapeutic Aggression Control Techniques, known as TACT2. - The course covered crisis intervention, de-escalation and behavior-management skills for educational and care settings. - Seven participants completed the course and received certificates at graduation. - Savage urged graduates to trust their training and use what they learned in practice. - Delegate Gary Simmons attended the ceremony and told graduates the program was about the rest of their lives and about community. - Bekki Leonard, vice president of program strategy and operations at Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation, told graduates success is whatever they define it to be. - Chick-fil-A Glen Burnie provided gift cards for the first class.

Between the lines: - U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2020-2024 put Brooklyn Park’s median household income at $87,989, compared with $124,911 for Anne Arundel County. - Estimated poverty rates were 8.3% in Brooklyn Park and 6.6% countywide. - The county’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment identifies transportation challenges in Brooklyn Park, which supports the case for neighborhood-based training. - Pastor Nate Brown framed Discover Hope as both spiritual outreach and practical economic support, signaling a broader church-based model for workforce development. - The program’s strong application count suggests that available seats are far below current demand.

What’s next: - Discover Hope’s three-year workforce initiative continues with support from the Anne Arundel County Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission and grant administration by Arundel Community Development Services, Inc. - The training catalog includes TACT2, ServSafe Food Handler, Plumbing 101 and Job Readiness, with Medical Billing planned. - Discover Hope has also launched a Girls Leadership and Development Program at Brooklyn Park Middle School. - The initiative is seeking employers, philanthropic partners and supporters to expand course access and connect graduates with jobs. - Discover Church says supporters can learn more about the workforce program and donate through the church’s designated giving page.

The bottom line: - Discover Hope is turning a local church into a workforce pipeline, and the early response suggests Brooklyn Park residents want more training than the program can currently supply.