Search Results for WEX

KRA/Baltimore City Hires WEX Program Participant

March 19, 2021 | No Comments

Christine Washington, in need of fulltime sustainable employment, enrolled in the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, operated by KRA for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. Participation included KRA’s Job Readiness Program, an integral component of which is an unpaid Work Experience (WEX) Program Internship for customers with little, no, and/or outdated work-experience histories. Ms. Washington, who was working two part-time jobs to support herself and two young sons, learned that KRA had an open WEX Housekeeping Internship, and asked to be considered for the position. Shawnda Walker, Lead Job Developer/WEX Program Supervisor, stated, “All Internships, even
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Temporary Internship Leads to Permanent Hire for Local Employer

August 8, 2022 | No Comments

KRA/Baltimore City customers enrolled in the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program must complete an unpaid Work Experience (WEX) Internship, at the end of which, the jobseeker is hired by the employer, assigned to another WEX-site, or placed in permanent employment elsewhere, if appropriate. Some WEX-site employers embrace a mission so aligned with our own, that a partnership is inevitable—as in the case of Paul’s Place, Inc. that offers 20+ developmental and support-services programs, e.g. computer classes, family workshops, and job training. Shawnda Walker, KRA/WEX Program Supervisor reports, “Paul’s Place supervises, on average, seven Interns daily. During the previous
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KRA/Baltimore City Customers Train for Self-Employment

January 14, 2022 | No Comments

The Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, operated for the BCDSS, includes a mandatory 3-month Work Experience (WEX) Program Internship. The Druid Heights Community Development Corporation (DHCDC) has been a valued WEX-site for several years, recently providing workplace-readiness internships for seven KRA customers. Since all of the WEX participants had expressed interest in developing their own businesses, Azalee Fisher, DHCDC Community Outreach Director, offered them the opportunity to enroll in an Entrepreneurial Training Program founded by Dr. Lela Campbell, and directed by Katrina Leonard, both from the Workforce Development Center of A Step Forward Inc. Several small-business development specialists
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

December 30, 2021 | No Comments

KRA Non-Profit Partner is a Valued Employer The WIOA and TANF programs that KRA operates across the country cultivate collaborative partnerships with local employers—businesses and non-profit organizations—essential to the workplace success of our jobseeker-customers. In Baltimore City, the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, operated for the BCDSS, requires up to a 3-month Work Experience (WEX) Internship, at the end of which, the intern-jobseeker is either hired by the WEX employer, or given another assignment. The New Vision House of Hope (NVHOH), an exceptional WEX-site provider, has assisted dozens of KRA jobseekers optimize their employment options, hiring several in
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KRA Customer on Career Path to Realize Childhood Dream

November 5, 2021 | No Comments

In 2015, Myrtice Taylor applied for TANF-TCA benefits through the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), which required her to enroll in a Job Readiness Program (JRP)—a critical component of the KRA Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program—prior to qualifying for occupational-skills training and/or job-placement opportunities. While attending JRP workshops, Ms. Taylor also participated in KRA’s unsubsidized Work Experience (WEX) Program. Volunteering at several public schools led to a job offer from the Baltimore City School System as a Classroom Aide, helping children with special needs. Unfortunately, in July 2021, Ms. Taylor became unemployed, re-applied to BCDSS, and was
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Two Years on Bumpy Road Lead to Smooth Career Path for KRA Customer

October 8, 2021 | No Comments

Keshana Dorsey enrolled in the KRA Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program on September 12, 2019, after applying to the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS) for TANF-TCA benefits. Two critical Program components include Community Work Experience (WEX) assignments with local private- and public-sector organizations, and a comprehensive Job Readiness Program (JRP) —both of which optimize opportunities for sustainable employment and career development. Unfortunately, personal circumstances led to Ms. Dorsey leaving the Program when her first WEX assignment ended on November 24, 2019. On January 15, 2020, having re-enrolled with BCDSS, she began a second WEX-site assignment, only
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A Bright Future Emerges from a Dark Past for KRA Customer

September 24, 2021 | No Comments

In December 2017, the Baltimore City Department of Social Services referred Alfred Howard, a TCA-TANF recipient, for enrollment in KRA’s Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, which requires comprehensive Job Readiness Workshops (JRW) and Work Experience (WEX) Internships prior to eligibility for Occupational Skills Training (OST) opportunities. As a single father of an 11-month-old son, and desperately warding off homelessness, Mr. Howard sometimes engaged in questionable “street activities” for money. In fact, he was facing criminal charges that jeopardized not only his freedom, but custody of his son! Shawnda Walker, Lead Job Developer & WEX Site Supervisor, developed a strategic
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Temporary Assistance Develops Into Permanent Career for KRA Customer

September 10, 2021 | No Comments

In 2013, the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS) referred Ms. Shandra Womack, a TCA-TANF recipient, to KRA for enrollment in the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, which includes a Work Experience (WEX) Internship with a community-based organization, and participation in Job Readiness Workshops (JRW). Since there was a WEX opportunity open in the KRA office, she was assigned as a Receptionist Intern to manage front-desk operations, welcome customers and visitors, and ensure that everyone received timely service. Ms. Womack commented, “All of a sudden, I was on the other side of that desk! Becoming confident in
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

May 28, 2021 | No Comments

Another Customer-Intern Success Leads to KRA Career Path Shawnda Walker, Christine Washington, and Nikia Washington (no relation) have much in common: they are extremely Knowledgeable, Responsible, and Achievement-oriented young women, and they were outstanding customers, whose KRA qualities led to their employment with the company. Also, they share an integral connection to the KRA Job Readiness Program (JRP), a requirement of which is a Work Experience (WEX) Internship, usually developed through partnerships with local private- and public-sector organizations. However, these particular JRP participants were selected to serve their Internships with KRA. Shawnda is currently the WEX Program Supervisor, as well
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A KRA Spotlight! Story

December 4, 2020 | No Comments

A KRA Customer’s Journey from Job Seeker to Job Developer March 2019: Shawnda Walker enrolled in the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program operated by KRA for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. During Orientation, the Operations Manager was impressed with her demeanor and professionalism, passing her resume on to the Program Manager, Greg Alexander, who needed to fill an unpaid Intern position in the Business Services Department. April 2019: KRA offered Ms. Walker the Internship, to which Mr. Alexander commented, “Not only did she ‘check all the boxes’ in meeting the position’s technical requirements, I felt her
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