The WorkPlace Mobilizer - January 2006
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Bullock perseveres for medical career
- Norwalk resident Nafeesah Bullock is not one to pass up an opportunity.
Center develops providers' capacity to aid homeless in Greater Bridgeport
- The Center for Capacity Development, The WorkPlace’s fee-for-service initiative, was retained by the Greater Bridgeport Area Continuum of Care in early 2005 to coordinate and submit the Continuum’s 2005 funding application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
EPA funds environmental training for Stamford
- The WorkPlace, Inc. will receive $141,764 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support training for environmental cleanup of Brownfields sites, an economic development priority for Stamford.
The President's Report by Joe Carbone
- The latest CBIA survey found that “Fairfield County businesses are healthy and actively pursuing ways to continue growing” but are concerned about significant challenges to operating a business in Fairfield County . . .
- 2004 statistics show that 27% of Bridgeport’s senior class dropped-out, in contrast to 16% statewide. 84% of those that dropped out were either Latino or African-American.
- We thank our recent contributors for their support of WorkPlace projects.
Bullock perseveres for medical career
Norwalk resident Nafeesah Bullock is not one to pass up an opportunity.
When Nafeesah was told she qualified for a WorkPlace Scholarship, she immediately enrolled in Phlebotomy and EKG training at Norwalk Community College. She already had a healthcare background, but she realized that this additional training would help her advance and earn more. And that it did.
Nafeesah's earnings increased as she accepted new positions, and today she is earning $17.50 hourly as a Medical Technician.
"I feel like I've grown," she said. But she doesn't want to stop there. "My goal is to try to move up to an even better position -- possibly as a nurse or a surgical technician," she said.
Though Nafeesah’s training has made her a viable candidate for employment, she faces the struggles of a single-parent coordinating childcare, school, and competing in the job market.
After completing several temporary jobs, she is currently looking for full-time employment.
“They say the economy is growing,” said Bullock. “I am definitely optimistic about finding a job in my field.”
When her four-year-old daughter begins kindergarten in September, Bullock hopes to attend school for LPN training, possibly enrolling in The Academy for Career Advancement.
“I can’t sell myself short,” said Bullock. “If the right opportunity comes along I will definitely take it.”
Center develops providers' capacity to aid homeless in Greater Bridgeport
The Center for Capacity Development, a unit of The WorkPlace, was retained by the Greater Bridgeport Area Continuum of Care in early 2005 to coordinate and submit the Continuum’s 2005 funding application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In December, HUD announced that the Continuum would receive $2.5 million dollars in assistance. This funding will create new housing units for chronically homeless individuals and assist ten organizations in continuing their efforts to serve individuals and families who are homeless.
The Continuum is a network of over 100 agencies in the surrounding area that provide services to the homeless. The Continuum is funded through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs and awards funding based on the area response to homelessness.
A continuum of care system is designed to address the critical problem of homelessness through a coordinated community-based process of identifying needs and building a system to address those needs. The approach is predicated on the understanding that homelessness is not caused merely by a lack of shelter, but involves a variety of underlying, unmet needs - physical, economic, and social.
In 2002, the WorkPlace launched the Center for Capacity Development, a fee-for-service initiative aimed at building the financial, programmatic, and organizational capacity of organizations to have a bigger impact on the lives of those they serve.
The Center works with faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, grassroots groups, non-profits, and small businesses to increase their capacity to succeed in their missions.
The Center strives to make organizations stronger, healthier, while improving their abilities to identify, receive and manage grant funding from various sources.
For info, contact Michael McCarthy, The Center for Capacity Development manager, at (203) 610-8554.
EPA funds environmental training for Stamford
The WorkPlace, Inc. will receive $141,764 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support training for environmental cleanup of Brownfields sites, an economic development priority for Stamford.
"This is a great program that will help match job skills with employment needs in our area. When Stamford receives a Brownfields cleanup grant, contractors will have a pool of local Stamford residents to do the work," said Congressman Christopher Shays.
Unemployed Stamford residents with a family income level of less than 50 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program. Participants will receive training and job placement upon graduation, with follow-up for one year to ensure success.
"Our South End and Waterside neighborhoods will continue to benefit from the WorkPlace's commitment to job training," Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy commented.
"This grant will provide support for training of unemployed Stamford residents in a field that can greatly benefit the City - environmental clean-up."
Classroom and field experiences will provide environmental, health and safety skills for the students, who will receive lead and asbestos abatement, Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), and technical environmental certificates.
“This training opens up truly life-changing opportunities for the individuals who complete it,” said Joseph Carbone, President and CEO of The WorkPlace, Inc.
“In our experience based on other Brownfields training projects, participants will be able to quickly find jobs earning $13-14 per hour with good upward mobility in one of the growth occupations in our region,” said Carbone.
For more information, contact Frank Moore at (203) 610-8538.
The President's Report by Joe Carbone
The latest CBIA survey found that “Fairfield County businesses are healthy and actively pursuing ways to continue growing” but are concerned about significant challenges to operating a business in Fairfield County: transportation (18%), health benefit costs (18%), overall business costs (18%), and the availability of qualified workers (14%).
68% of respondents said it is “difficult/almost impossible” to hire qualified workers, 27% said it is “not a significant challenge”, and 5% said it is “extremely/somewhat easy”.
From our perspective the views of these business leaders represent a sea-change – recognition that demographic and global shifts are making human resource planning a strategic issue. With relatively low unemployment (4.6% in November), we must increasingly focus on enhancing the skills and long-term employability of current workers.
Meeting employers’ needs and supporting the economic growth of our region require that our focus be on investing in higher skills for four groups – low-wage workers, youth, mature workers, and immigrants.
You will be seeing more strategic and service-level initiatives in these areas in the months (and years) to come. We invite your thoughts and your participation.
Youth Focus by Nestor Leon
2004 statistics show that 27% of Bridgeport’s senior class dropped-out, in contrast to 16% statewide. 84% of those that dropped out were either Latino or African-American. Compounding this, the average scores on the Connecticut Mastery Tests for Bridgeport students are consistently at or below 48% of the state’s average. Opportunities for career training for out-of school youth are imperative.
Career Resources Inc., has responded by creating an exciting new opportunity to provide youth, ages 16 – 21 years old, with the opportunity to obtain Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. The program provides 200 hours of EMT training through American Medical Response (AMR). AMR is the nation’s leader in providing ambulance services to over four million people per year.
Career Resources has also included STRIVE (Support and Training Result in Valuable Employees) attitudinal training for all youth enrolled in this program. With dedicated case management and referrals to supportive services, youth receive seamless service delivery.
To date, seven youth have taken the state’s EMT test, and we are glad to report that all seven have passed. This is an exceptional rate since the current pass rate is in the 45th percentile.
The program is currently accepting applicants for the next cycle. For info, contact Eddie Cajigas at (203) 334-5627 ext. 392.
Thank you to our recent contributors!
We thank our recent contributors for their support of WorkPlace projects.
The Hollander Foundation
Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Foundation
Andree Brooks
The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Inc.
The WorkPlace, Inc. Board of Directors Meeting
Friday, January 20, 8-9:30 a.m. at the Trumbull Marriott. All are welcome. For info contact: Millie Brighindi at (203) 610-8522.
Stamford CTWorks is moving!
The Stamford CTWorks Career Center will relocate to 1642 Bedford Street on January 20. For more info contact: Maria Camacho at (203) 964-1557.
Community Job Fair
March 23 at Housatonic Community College. For info contact: Joyce Gonzales at (203) 334-5627 x398.
