YouTube Podcast - Southaven Business Beat

Southaven Business Beat On YouTube

YouTube Video UExVc2lYU0loa1d0cUM5bWM5M3E0dk9oVWd0aGJROGtDNS4wMDkwRkI3NzExODA2MTFG

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.

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:
00:00 Why community outreach matters
00:00:45 Show intro and subscribe
00:01:40 Meet Marla Smith-Brown
00:02:27 Family roots and early service
00:04:21 From corrections leadership to nonprofit work
00:06:07 Mentors and the path to public service
00:06:46 Joining ACTS and Penny Nelson’s legacy
00:08:28 Why ACTS exists—Access, Connections, and Success
00:09:18 Partnership with Brown Missionary Baptist Church
00:10:28 Sponsor break—Wisdom Integrators
00:11:22 What to expect when you walk in
00:12:23 Holistic services and job assessments
00:13:58 2,400 people served in 18 months
00:14:25 Job fairs and outreach across the Mid South
00:15:41 Curated hiring events for employers
00:16:07 How to become an employer partner
00:17:32 Vetting that reduces turnover
00:19:15 Faith and resilience through transitions
00:20:27 Brown Youth Initiative overview
00:21:22 Real placements and growth stories
00:23:08 Goal—125 students next year
00:24:03 Chamber collaboration and impact
00:27:13 ION program for justice-involved youth
00:29:38 Program list and open hours
00:30:27 Address and business support
00:31:51 Whole-person approach to success
00:33:15 How to reach ACTS
00:34:22 Production note—Pure Focus Media
00:35:12 Sponsor call to action

Inside the Program Turning Job Seekers Into Job Keepers

November 10, 2025 9:00 am

Show More Videos... Subscribe