Search Results for YouthWorks

KRA YouthWorks! Construction Academy Goes Online During Pandemic

June 12, 2020 | No Comments

On September 4, 2018, in partnership with the Home Builders Institute (HBI), the YouthWorks! program—operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation—celebrated the opening of its Construction Academy with an enrollment of 13 students, nine of which graduated on January 11, 2019. HBI is the creator of the award-winning, results-driven PACT [Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training] Program that combines academic learning and vocational hands-on instruction. From January 2019 and March 2020, thirty-eight more students enrolled, with 21 earning PACT certification, 19 gaining training-related employment, 9 placed in paid work-experience programs, and 10, unfortunately, in limbo status due to Maryland-enforced COVID-19
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KRA YouthWorks! Customer Achieves Multiple Career-Path Goals

July 14, 2019 | No Comments

May 2018…Keniya Strong, 22, and mother of a 4-year old daughter, enrolled in the YouthWorks! career-development program, operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC), developer of the Maryland Workplace Excellence Program that combines career assessment and guidance with workplace-skills training to equip young jobseekers with resources that maximize potential for workforce success. A lack of marketable job skills was the most obvious barrier to sustainable employment for Keniya. However, contributing factors included lack of childcare and an unstable home environment, challenges confronted head-on by Vinaeja Gaskin, Outreach Specialist, and Shandra Womack, Case Manager. Vinaeja referred Keniya to the Department of Social Services,
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KRA YouthWorks! Celebrates First Construction Academy Graduation

February 11, 2019 | No Comments

According to equipmentworld.com, “During and after the Great Recession—between 2007 and 2011—2 million workers left the construction industry, either retiring or finding more stable work in another industry” and a recent Associated General Contractors of America survey found that 63 percent of U.S. construction firms faced a shortage of skilled workers in the last year, with 30 percent forced to turn down work because of it. One of the largest industry trade associations, the Home Builders Institute (HBI), is responding aggressively to this critical shortage with its award-winning PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) program, customizing academic-skills learning with hands-on vocational-skills training to address the unique
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Motherhood No Obstacle for Young KRA Customer

August 12, 2019 | No Comments

In February 2018, Jakayla McGill, 19, enrolled in Youthworks!, operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Board, 2 months pregnant. A challenge to receiving career-development training and employment? Yes! An obstacle? Not by a long shot!! Right off the bat, Youthworks! enrolled Jakayla in a 12-week office internship with PrimeAmerica, an assignment through which she gained much-needed real-world work experience, but not related to her ultimate objective of Healthcare training, particularly the geriatric sector of the industry. Youthworks! arranged for Jakayla to enroll in coursework at Anne Arundel County Community College, providing her the opportunity for both Certified Nursing Assistant
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

May 31, 2019 | No Comments

Young KRA Customer Continues Journey to Career Success The article, KRA Staff Put the “Work” in Networking, reported on 21-year old, unemployed Iain Tapscott, who in November 2017, enrolled in YouthWorks!, operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC). Subsequent to required career-development assessments, counseling, and guidance provided by the Career Coaching and Workplace Excellence Teams, Iain remained unwavering in his career objective to become a certified, licensed HVAC Technician…presenting quite a challenge to identify companies willing to hire him, without industry experience or training, except for a few high-school courses. Relentlessly, Team members researched and networked
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Young KRA Customer “Constructing” Her Career Path

April 14, 2019 | No Comments

In February, KRA reported on the overall success of the first graduating class of the Construction Academy, operated through YouthWorks! for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation. Now, we are extremely pleased to report on an individual success story of one of the graduates, Taya Moore. James LeBlanc, Program Manager, reports, “Taya Moore is a 20-year-old OSY participant, who enrolled in the Academy in October 2018. Coming directly from completing a Summer Youth Internship Program with the Finishing Trades Union, she brought more hands-on experience than some of the other students. Right away, it was obvious that Taya was unique,
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

February 28, 2019 | No Comments

KRA Westside AJC Supports Chicago Construction Industry – Recently, from Linthicum, MD, a report emerged related to the KRA YouthWorks! Construction Academy that is contributing to the industry’s efforts to address a critical skilled-worker shortage. In Chicago, IL—700 miles away—another KRA program is playing a pivotal role, under the auspices of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (CCWP), in the development of three training projects, one of which is ConstructionWorks, powered by the Illinois Tollway under the Workforce Development Technical Assistance Initiative (WDTAI). Ron Hearns, KRA Director of Midwest Workforce Operations, reports, “As the vendor selected for the Initiative, the CCWP tasked
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Young KRA Customer Proves to be a “Cut Above”

November 26, 2018 | No Comments

In August 2018, Chance Shelton, 23, enrolled in YouthWorks!, a career-development program for Out-of-School Youth and young adults (18-24) operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC). James LeBlanc, KRA Program Manager, reported, “After working with our Career Exploration Team (CET), which was focused on assessing Chance’s job skills and career interests, it was clear that his passion was to become a Master Barber and one day own his own barbershop.” The CET agreed that Chance was “workforce-ready”, so LeBlanc contacted Derrick Adair, owner of Unique Looks Barbershop, who agreed to a 200-hour ‘earn & learn’ Work Experience
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

October 31, 2018 | No Comments

In January 2018, when James LeBlanc, KRA Program Manager, recruited a local drivers’ education business as a Work Experience Program supporter, he was more than pleased that YouthWorks! was gaining not just a valuable employer-partner, but an invaluable community-involvement partner as well! Benjamin and Allan Griffin founded B&A Brothers Driving Academy, LLC in honor and memory of their brother Bernard Griffin. Allan comments, “The unbreakable bond between Bernard, Benjamin, and myself guided the establishment of B&A to foster service in the communities where it was most needed, working toward the common good of individuals, especially our youth.” Both brothers attended Morgan State University. Allan (on
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KRA Customer’s Success Leads to Career Opportunity for Another

September 18, 2018 | No Comments

Three months ago, Tiana McLeish enrolled in YouthWorks!—a career-development program for Out-of-School Youth and young adults (18-24)—operated by KRA for the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation. Adhering to the Workforce Excellence Series, developed by AAWDC, YouthWorks! combines career assessment and guidance with workplace-skills training to equip young jobseekers with resources that maximize their potential for long-term workforce success. James LeBlanc, KRA Program Manager, reported, “During a Workplace Excellence Workshop, our Career Exploration Team agreed that Tiana’s skills-and-interest assessments indicated she would be highly successful in a customer-service career environment.” Following productive career-planning and-counseling sessions, the Team also agreed that Tiana was workforce-ready, and
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