Archives for Company News

Fifteen Youth Employment Success (YES) program participants have been visiting museums to assist them in linking theories, learned in their YES classes, to real-world practices. On February 10, 2011, they visited the Academy of Natural Sciences and on February 25, 2011, The Franklin Institute, both of which are in Philadelphia, PA.  For some students, these trips represented their first time going to “Philly”, and a few expressed a little anxiety about taking the train from Camden across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. However, in the end, excitement overcame treidation and all the students thoroughly enjoyed the trips, museum exhibits, and the
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 On February 28, 2011, a High School Coordinator from Everest College introduced KRA Youth Employability & Success (YES) program participants from Maury High School to two extremely educational and eye-opening interactive workshops, both of which were completed using iPod Touch technology. In the first workshop, Game Plan, the students engaged in a four-step strategy game that provoked them to begin planning their future by setting realistic life goals and making decisions on how to achieve them.  The second workshop, Professionalism Pays, engaged the students in activities focused on the importance of “professionalism”….from effective resume-writing to the impact of handwritten thank-you
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KRA has enrolled 20 Granby High School students from its Portsmouth YES (Youth Employability and Success) program in the Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Program, which runs from February 1 through May 10, 2011. To learn about the pros and cons of business ownership and management, the students will be hands-on in creating business plans and mission and vision statements,  conducting consumer surveys, and researching product lines. As part of the start-up process, students chose a name… United Leaders Foundation…for their enterprise,  sold 75 stock certificates for $2.00 each to generate revenue, and selected company officers, including a President and five Vice Presidents for
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KRA would like nothing better than to report every customer success story. Since that is neither possible nor practical, frequently we do report on truly inspiring and motivational successes experienced by one of our participants. KRA’s CTWorks’ staff provided their customary level of great service in helping a WIA (Workforce Investment Act) dislocated-worker to advance his skills after he lost his job due to a plant closing. First, staff provided him with effective educational assistance and funding, the result of which was enrollment at Central Connecticut State University’s (CCSU) Institute of Technology and Business Development (ITBD). The participant reported that he was
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On January 24, 2011, the Smithfield High School Fine and Performing Arts Department presented “A Night of Dramatic Expression” with two KRA/South Hampton Roads Youth Employability & Success Program students, “Mr. B” and “Ms. B”, among the performers. In sync with January as “Bully Awareness Month”, their performances reflected issues that confront today’s youth…bullying, self-esteem/self-confidence, youth violence, etc. Mr. B’s scene, “The Letter”, was about 3 young friends and the unexpected changes that occur in their relationship.  Reading from a letter written to his friends, his performance was excellent as he expressed his feelings and explained how important it is, as friends, to be
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CTWorks’ Pantry Points Program (PPP), a KRA innovation, continues to be highly successful. Since January 2010, the PPP has distributed more than 32,000 items (more than 5,700 orders!) to program participants. Here’s how it works: participants earn points by complying with certain program attendance requirements (appointments, employment-plan activities, orientations, etc.) and then redeem their points for items from the “pantry”, which stocks hundreds of products…from pacifiers to pencils and diapers to dish-washing detergent. For instance, part of the PPP is “Diaper City @ CTWorks”, in which participants can redeem 5 pantry points for 1 pack of disposable diapers, a real
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For the second time in 2 months, KRA staff have been invited to share their knowledge and expertise on local television shows. (See KRA on TV! posted 12/26/10). On February 10, 2011, Joseph Seymour, KRA Re-employment Coach, and Mohamed Chaouki, a KRA Career Agent in the Jobs First Employment Services program, were featured on the Fox 61 Morning News program as part of a series entitled “Hire Ground.” The focus of the series is “preparing for the job market ” to maximize jobseekers’ chances of finding  jobs in Connecticut.  The topic for this show was “proper interviewing techniques”, wherein Chaouki role-played an interviewee fielding questions from a
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A customer, whom we will call “Laurel”, was an eager and motivated participant in KRA’s Camden County Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) for TANF recipients. Recently, through completing KRA’s Microsoft Digital Literacy and Software classes, she earned her Microsoft certification…an achievement that has already proven to be an asset on her CWEP work assignment. Recognizing the value of Laurel’s expanded skills and abilities, the local animal adoption center, with which she had been placed for temporary work experience, offered her a fulltime, permanent position.  In addition to assisting with animal care, she will be performing myriad clerical/computer functions for the agency.
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An Out-of-School Youth program participant, whom we will call “Jeda”, passed her General Educational Development (GED) test on January 7, 2011, earning her the distinction of being the first graduate of KRA’s Camden County Youth Employment Success (YES) program. In December 2010, KRA had invited the Chief GED Examiner, Camden County Community College (CCCC), to present the GED examination process to 17 YES participants. A real go-getter, Jeda took full advantage of the opportunity by scheduling her test that day, and by completing the paperwork for Spring semester enrollment at CCCC, where she intends to pursue a degree in Human Services.    
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A Youth Employability & Success (YES) Program participant, whom we will call “Didi”, was a featured speaker…and dancer…at her recent BFF high school assembly. BFF…is she someone’s “Best Friend Forever?” Undoubtedly, and in this situation, she is a true friend to many as an active member of Be Fight Free, a collaborative campaign of  the Community Action Coalition of Suffolk (CACS), the Suffolk School Board, and the Suffolk Public Schools. This BFF’s message is aimed at reducing youth violence by raising awareness and participation in youth programs, such as YES,  and educating students and their parents and school staff on effective ways to prevent and/or reduce youth violence. Student leaders, including Didi, were driven to
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