On Wednesday, April 28th, the Hartford CTWorks One Stop Career Center (One Stop), operated by KRA, hosted U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut, who visited to participate in an extremely informative and productive Roundtable related to the positive impact that Workforce Development Act (WIA) education and training programs have on the local community, and how they benefit both the recipients of these services and the businesses that employ them. Senator Blumenthal and his staff interacted with Alex Johnson, COO, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP)…KRA’s client; Charles Smith, Chair, CWP Board; and Glenn Marshall and Dennis Murphy, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, respectively, CT Department of Labor. Other attendees included local business leaders, other community-based service providers, and youth from Hartford’s Law and Government Academy. During the Roundtable, Kimberly Staley, KRA North Central Regional Director and Christina Bartucca, KRA Deputy Director, had the opportunity, along with WIA job seekers in attendance, to relate to Senator Blumenthal the many, many success stories that have been “written” as a result of the various WIA workforce development programs operated by KRA. Senator Blumenthal also took the time to tour the Hartford One-Stop facility, to speak with several customers, and even to sit at a computer and try his hand at using job searching techniques taught to the many customers who come though the One Stop doors every day. Concurrently, U.S. Representative Joe Courtney, Connecticut, participated in a meeting and tour of KRA’s One Stop facility in Enfield, as he too was on a fact-finding mission to witness firsthand just how valuable WIA services are to the job seeking public, as well as the local businesses who rely on the One Stop centers to provide qualified, highly motivated to fill their open positions. Pictured below left to right: Christina Bartucca; Senator Blumenthal; Kimberly Staley; and Beth McCabe, Program Director, Career Team.
