Host: Cristan Engelke
Guest: Marla Smith-Brown
VIDEO
{“url”:”https://youtu.be/N4P00B8Rk3o”,”type”:”video”,”providerNameSlug”:”youtube”,”responsive”:true,”className”:”wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio”} –>
DESCRIPTION
She walked away from a stable government career to help people find second chances in Southaven.
In this episode, Marla Smith-Brown, Executive Director of ACTS Career Center at Brown Missionary Baptist Church, shares how faith, purpose, and opportunity come together to rebuild lives and connect people to real jobs.
What you’ll hear:
•How Marla’s story moved from corrections to calling
•What ACTS offers the moment you walk in the door
•The 2,400 people they’ve helped in just 18 months
•Why curated hiring events lower employer turnover
•How the Brown Youth Initiative is changing teen employment
•The ION program that turns justice-involved youth into job-ready adults
•How faith-based partnerships are reshaping workforce development
Why this conversation matters:
Every business owner needs dependable hires who stay.
Every job seeker deserves a plan that fits their goals.
Every student deserves a first job that teaches real skills.
ACTS Career Center connects all three.
Their programs don’t stop at training—they rebuild confidence, community, and careers.
Ways you can act today:
• Employers—host a curated hiring event
• Job seekers—schedule a resume review or skills assessment
• Parents—get your teen into the next BYI session
• Partners—sponsor a cohort or lead a workshop
Watch if:
You believe in giving people a real shot at success.
You’re building a business that depends on good people.
You want to see what purpose looks like in action.
Calls to action
Subscribe to stay close to the stories shaping Southaven’s business community.
Share this with one employer and one student who should see it.
CHAPTERS
- Why community outreach matters (00:00 – 00:45)
- Show intro and subscribe (00:45 – 01:40)
- Meet Marla Smith-Brown (01:40 – 02:27)
- Family roots and early service (02:27 – 04:21)
- From corrections leadership to nonprofit work (04:21 – 06:07)
- Mentors and the path to public service (06:07 – 06:46)
- Joining ACTS and Penny Nelson’s legacy (06:46 – 08:28)
- Why ACTS exists—Access, Connections, and Success (08:28 – 09:18)
- Partnership with Brown Missionary Baptist Church (09:18 – 10:28)
- Sponsor break—Wisdom Integrators (10:28 – 11:22)
- What to expect when you walk in (11:22 – 12:23)
- Holistic services and job assessments (12:23 – 13:58)
- 2,400 people served in 18 months (13:58 – 14:25)
- Job fairs and outreach across the Mid South (14:25 – 15:41)
- Curated hiring events for employers (15:41 – 16:07)
- How to become an employer partner (16:07 – 17:32)
- Vetting that reduces turnover (17:32 – 19:15)
- Faith and resilience through transitions (19:15 – 20:27)
- Brown Youth Initiative overview (20:27 – 21:22)
- Real placements and growth stories (21:22 – 23:08)
- Goal—125 students next year (23:08 – 24:03)
- Chamber collaboration and impact (24:03 – 27:13)
- ION program for justice-involved youth (27:13 – 29:38)
- Program list and open hours (29:38 – 30:27)
- Address and business support (30:27 – 31:51)
- Whole-person approach to success (31:51 – 33:15)
- How to reach ACTS (33:15 – 34:22)
- Production note—Pure Focus Media (34:22 – 35:12)
- Sponsor call to action (35:12 – 35:22)
YOUTUBE URL
