Monthly Archives April 2023

The National Association of Job Training Assistance—dedicated to the development of government and non-government workforce-services professionals—will convene its 39th Annual National Conference, May 1- 5, 2023, in Chicago. According to its website, “NAJA has a dynamic line up…to ensure a successful conference.”  Included in that line up is  KRA Dynamic Duo, Zaskia Ruiz, Executive Vice President, Administration & Finance, and Joseph L. Seymour,  Managing Director, Operational Excellence, and 1st VP, Southeastern Training Association. With KRA since 2017, Zaskia leads the Accounting & Finance, People & Culture, and Communications Departments, but still makes time to share her 20 years’ experience through
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On March 31, 2023, President Biden proclaimed April 2023 as National Second Chance Month and called for the observance of the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. As a national leader in workforce development, KRA has been an advocate for the success of our returning citizens for decades, collaborating with local workforce agencies to deliver effective and compassionate services. Many KRA jobseeker-customers face multiple barriers to sustainable employment.  Therefore, KRA’s workforce programs strives to ameliorate a plethora of obstacles, e.g. educational and job-skills deficiencies, lack of adequate employment history, homelessness, et al—in addition to former incarceration. Recently, our KRA
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Today’s Real-World Experience for Tomorrow’s Skilled Workforce April represents more than 50 National observances, some of which seem to relate to special-interest food groups, such as Fresh Celery Month, Fresh Florida Tomato Month, Pecan Month, and Soft Pretzel Month. However, on a serious note, there are April observances important to KRA’s special interests, including National Internship Awareness Month. Either complying with client-contract requirements, or adding to existing work-preparation services, KRA has incorporated Internship Programs into its TANF- and WIOA-funded operations for both Adults and Youth. Spanning 3- to-12-month commitments, Internships with our employer-partners are indispensable for jobseekers with little or no
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In December 2022,  Shree Royal—eager to explore her options for a major career change—attended a Chicago Housing Authority Job Fair, where she met Eric, a Career Coach with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, for which KRA operates both the Chatham Workforce and Education Center and the Westside American Job Center WAJC. Eric was impressed with Shree’s confidence, personality, and professionalism, and while assisting with her resume update, noted she had worked for UCAN as a Residential Treatment Specialist, and possessed applicable skillsets transferable to many aspects of a KRA Business Services Representative position. He referred Shree to the KRA/WAJC, where an
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