Monthly Archives June 2016

KRA Monthly Spotlight!

June 30, 2016 | No Comments

One year ago today, the Maryland Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation announced that the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) had received a $5M demonstration grant, part of a $22M nationwide USDOL grant to seven urban areas with high youth unemployment, “to develop innovative job training strategies and work opportunities for at-risk youth and young adults.” Industries targeted in the Federal grant included Construction, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Technology, and Transportation/Logistics. Ernestine Chambers, 2016 NAWDP-Award winner and KRA Operations Manager for a TANF Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program—funded by the Baltimore City Department of Social Services—reports, “MOED
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KRA Supports Community Partner Preparing Jobseekers for Employment

June 22, 2016 | No Comments

David Holman, Job Developer, KRA/TANF Employment Program—operated for the DC Department of Human Services—participated recently in a unique workplace-prep event at the invitation of Reginald Black, Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, which offers a variety of services similar to those provided by KRA/TEP, including helping jobseekers overcome barriers to employment—such as not being prepared for job interviews. Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of what employers expect from job candidates, Holman joined Black, and other Academy staff, in conducting mock interviews with 20 ready-to-work jobseekers, covering appearance, greeting, body language, ability to discuss the content of their own resumes, knowledge of position applied for, and
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Industry Credentials Key to KRA Customer Success

June 13, 2016 | No Comments

When Tanishia Barnes lost her job, a history of 20 years’ commercial cooking experience was insufficient to find another quickly enough to support her five children. Consequently, she applied with the DC Department of Human Services (DCDHS) for TANF benefits. Through KRA/TEP (TANF Employment Program), operated for DCDHS, Tanishia worked with Career Agent Brittany Switzer on a plan that included resume-development, interviewing, and job-search skills, which led to several interviews, but no suitable offers. To increase her industry marketability, Brittany advised Tanishia to enroll with KRA/TEP food-services training partner, ServSafe, which resulted in her passing the Food Handler’s Course, but
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Award-Winning KRA Operations Manager Featured in Podcast

June 6, 2016 | No Comments

In April, we reported that Ernestine Chambers, KRA Operations Manager, had been selected by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals for its coveted 2016 Jodi Spiegel Enhancement of Customer Service Award. Attending the NAWDP Awards Luncheon, one of many highlights of last month’s Annual Conference program, Mike Fazio, Founder/CEO, WORKFORCE180—a web-based workforce-services training resource—was so impressed by her “unbelievable acceptance speech…brief, but impactful”, he invited everyone to “Meet Ernestine Chambers” in one of his educational and informative 180PROGRAMS Podcasts. We congratulate Ernestine, a previous KRA customer, for her many accomplishments and contributions, and thank her for providing the highest
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KRA Attracts Employers at GO-Biz Summit

June 3, 2016 | No Comments

Recently, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) convened a “Grow California Business” Summit to help small business owners access available State services and local resources—such as the KRA Knowledge2Career (K2C) Academy, operated for the Pacific Gateway WDB, in partnership with the City of Long Beach. For Shawna Wright, KRA Project Director, the Summit presented an excellent opportunity to introduce K2C, a comprehensive workforce-services program for older out-of-school youth, to employers needing skilled workers to sustain and/or expand their enterprises. “It was an ideal event for sharing information on KRA/K2C’s pre-, onsite, and post-employment hiring-support services, especially work-experience internships;
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KRA MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT!

June 1, 2016 | No Comments

KRA Receives Workforce Board Award for Business Service Recently, the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (ACWIB) presented awards to KRA and other workforce-services leaders, partners, and providers for their contributions to the local business community. For its operation of the ACWIB-funded Alameda County Business Development Group (BDG), KRA was honored “In Recognition of Outstanding WIA Employer Services and Commitment to Alameda County Businesses.” In a letter to KRA announcing the award, James Paxson, Chairperson, and Patti Castro, Director, stated, “The ACWIB would like to acknowledge your organization’s outstanding service commitment. Your contributions in sustaining ACWIB’s vision and mission, including your
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