Monthly Archives May 2012

KRA Reports Impressive Placement Numbers

Natividad Perez, Job Developer at KRA’s multi-service* Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Program in Camden, New Jersey, was working hard to meet the employment goals for the Program’s jobseeker-customers. But as the winter months passed, she became really concerned; the Program’s business-customers were slow in responding to her inquiries about their hiring needs.  But then the weather began to warm up, and so did Perez’s spirits.  The office was suddenly alive with positive energy; the phones started ringing on May 1st, and didn’t stop until the 25th. During that time frame, 20 customers began working for a dozen
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

KRA’s May Spotlight! is shining brightly on the Power of Partnership! It has been reported previously that KRA’s Workforce Development operations serve two customers simultaneously: jobseekers in need of career guidance, educational/occupational development, and job placement; and private, public, or non-profit partner organizations that provide our jobseekers with valuable employment, training, and other skill-building opportunities.  Our programs’ success is only possible through the collaboration, cooperation, and integration of the special-interests of these two vital KRA customer bases. Our partnership with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Theater Department was developed by KRA’s TANF programs in Washington, DC, that
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KRA Prepares Customers for Present and Future

In early March, a KRA Career Agent assisted a customer in getting hired at a company where she had worked previously.  Is this a job-placement success worth reporting on? For several reasons, which will become clear in this article, the response is a resounding “yes”! In January, 37-year old Latrina McCrea enrolled in KRA’s Dislocated Worker Program in the Waccamaw Region of South Carolina.  She was not short on marketable assets: an Associate’s Degree in General Studies with a focus on Business Administration, an 8-year stint in the Army as a Supply Sergeant and Human Resources Sergeant, and 12 years’
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KRA Child Care Certificate Program

Timmikki Brown is 37, single, and mother to a 14-year old daughter.  She had a strong work history, having been employed as an Administrative Assistant, a Lead Cook, a Home Health Aide, and a Food and Nutrition Supervisor…but was unemployed when she enrolled in KRA’s Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program in Baltimore, Maryland.  The Program, which is 12 weeks in duration, provides comprehensive Community Work Experience (CWE), occupation-specific skills training, and job-search and placement assistance for recipients of Temporary Cash Assistance benefits. CWE, 3 days a week, and Professional Development Workshops, 2 days a week, are  mandatory parts
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KRA Commended for Work With Probationers

Recently, Gary Fletcher, Program Director for the three KRA/Resource One-Stop Career Centers in the Greater Richmond area, received a letter of commendation from Diane Wilkins, an Offender Workforce Development Specialist with the Chesterfield Women’s Detention & Diversion Center Programs, Department of Corrections (DOC), Commonwealth of Virginia.  KRA has DOC’s permission to share the letter with our readers. Attention: KRA Director, Case Managers, & Representatives We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the many services that you have provided for our probationers at the Chesterfield Women’s Detention and Diversion Center.  The women have a renewed sense
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KRA Staff Engage in Long-Range Planning

Sometimes customers come to KRA with goals and objectives that, with dedication and perseverance, can be achieved within a few months. However, there are those jobseekers whose long-range aspirations can take years to realize.  The following story is representative of the hundreds of customers who work with KRA Career Agents, Business Services Representatives, Instructors, and other workforce services staff for a year or more to achieve their final career objectives. Robert Strong, 27 and the single parent of 6-year old Kailey, attended the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Orientation on November 28, 2011, at one of KRA’s three program offices in
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KRA Supports Partner WHRO in Pledge Drive

On April 27, 2012, Kathy Confer and Juanisha Evans, Career Agents, and Uniqua Jones, KRA customer, from the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) Program volunteered their time at the Spring Pledge and Membership Drive for WHRO* Public Television and Radio.  During the Drive, banks of telephones are answered by volunteers in the TV studio to take pledges of financial support from viewers and listeners.  Annually, there are four TV campaigns that require 33 nights of coverage, as well as two FM Radio campaigns that require 28 days and nights of coverage, all provided by volunteers.  WHRO wrapped up
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