Archives for Latest News

Work Group Led by KRA Corporate Counsel Recommends Repeal of Maryland LEO Bill of Rights

October 30, 2020 | No Comments

A previous Latest News article reported that Adrienne Jones, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, had appointed Vanessa E. Atterbeary, KRA Corporate Counsel, to chair a Police Reform and Accountability Workgroup. Recently, The Baltimore Sun posted an article, which read, “A group of state lawmakers endorsed repealing the Maryland Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, a tentative first step toward jettisoning a law that many believe protects police officers from being held accountable for bad acts.” Tantamount to righting a wrong, in 1974, Maryland was the first state to pass such a law—a blueprint for America on protecting corrupt and
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KRA Convenes “Back to Business Virtual Night” for Customers

October 23, 2020 | No Comments

As a TANF Employment Program (TEP) Provider for the DC Department of Human Services (DCDHS), KRA provides customized Job Placement for recipients ready to enter the workforce, and Education and Occupational Training for customers needing pre-employment readiness services. Since March, when COVID-19 prevention requirements forced the closing of the TEP office, KRA staff have continued to support customers, working from home and utilizing a Zoom-based service-delivery approach to augment daily e-mail and phone check-ins with customers. Furthermore, KRA collaborates with several local educational institutions, including UDC, to access additional distance-learning resources to continue supporting our customers and their families. Recently,
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KRA Opens Second Construction Academy in Maryland

October 16, 2020 | No Comments

KRA is a licensed provider of the Home Builders Institute (HBI) award-winning PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) Program, based on its proprietary National Construction Skill Standards, as well as National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Standards. On September 4, 2018, KRA opened its first Construction Academy, in Anne Arundel County, implementing PACT curriculum, which provides core skills for graduates to compete for entry-level and/or semi-skilled job opportunities across multiple specializations in the construction industry. For the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), KRA operates the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, assisting TANF-TCA jobseekers to increase sustainable-employment
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KRA Customer Helps Makello Create Potential Revenue Streams

October 13, 2020 | 1 Comment

Overlooking the beautiful San Diego skyline, on the top floor of the Central Library, the KRA San Diego Career Centers—operated for the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP)—hosted its 4th Annual JOB-I-CON Hiring Fair in September 2019. An SDWP/Career Center On-the-Job-Training (OJT) Program partner, Makello, understood just how daily solar progression, heat gain, glare, and backlighting, created by floor-to-ceiling windows, can affect trade-show success. Therefore, they chose a location closest to the Fair entrance to attract career-hopefuls before the heat-buildup became uncomfortable. To fill a Research Assistant OJT-position, Makello interviewed eight candidates, selecting Linda Boisvert, who, when offered the opportunity
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Customer Thanks KRA PGWorks Team for “The Hope Given”

September 29, 2020 | No Comments

KRA operates the PGWorks Employment and Training Program—for jobseekers applying for TCA/TANF benefits—for the Prince George’s County (PGC) Department of Social Services The Subject line read: The Hope Given. Melody Daniel, Program Manager, and Candi Rawls, Career Agent, opened their inboxes to find a message from Mark Shepard that began, “I am reaching out concerning the KRA Job Service team…whose interactions with me were patient, kind, understanding, and provided the information I needed to proceed toward achieving my goals.” Mark, 48, had worked as a Director of Operations/Supervising Chief Engineer until a COVID-19 lay-off. With no income, and UI benefits denied because he
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KRA Reno-based AJC of Nevada Re-opens After COVID-19 Closure

September 9, 2020 | No Comments

For NevadaWorks, Northern Nevada’s Workforce Board, KRA operates the American Job Center of Nevada (AJCN), which discontinued public access to services on March 18, 2020. Yesterday, the AJCN re-opened its facility in the Reno Town Hall, in compliance with all local and State guidelines, as well as KRA’s own Preparedness & Response Plan, developed in compliance with the latest CDC and OSHA guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 prevention. Mike Smith, Program Manager, commented, “With a regional 14.1% unemployment rate, we are anticipating high customer-foot traffic, and are 100% prepared for the task! Our AJCN Team is eager to see
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KRA to Operate New Southside Chicago Workforce Services Center

August 14, 2020 | No Comments

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) selected KRA to operate the new Chatham Education and Workforce Center (the Center) following a competitive RFP-selection process. On May 13, 2020, in a CCWP website announcement, Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO, stated, “The Center will open this fall and will feature an array of services, including but not limited to resume writing, interview preparation, job training services and employer related services to name a few. Additionally, it will be home to two premier initiatives of The Partnership: ConstructionWorks, powered by the Illinois Tollway, and Chicago Codes.” Chicago Codes is a 10-week, tuition-free computer coding/web
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Maryland Comptroller Thanks KRA Program Director for Contribution to Economic Recovery During Pandemic

July 18, 2020 | No Comments

Recently, Peter Franchot, Maryland Comptroller, thanked William McIntyre, “for participating in the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s virtual conversation…regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our society. The impact that you and other leaders in the Greater Washington region have on the economy is immeasurable for the jobs created and critical revenue generated.” Mr. McIntyre, KRA Program Director for a District of Columbia (DC) TANF Employment Program (TEP), stated, “We’ve been a TEP Provider for the Department of Human Services (DHS) since 2012, providing customized workforce-development services for TANF recipients ready to enter the workforce, as well as
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KRA Monthly Spotlight!

June 30, 2020 | No Comments

KRA Expands Online Services for Customers During Pandemic In March 2016, the San Diego Metro Region America’s Job Career Centers (AJCC)—now a County-wide workforce-services program operated by KRA for the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP)—launched its first major online program, Searching in San Diego, the official SDWP Podcast for on-demand access to the most up-to-date “workforce topics, trends, and tips” for both jobseeker- and employer-customers. To date, 81 podcasts have aired, dual-hosted by Diana Saldivar, KRA Career Centers Brand Manager and Doug Foresta, Workforce180 Director of Podcast Services and Communications, and supported by a team of Career- and Business-Services professionals, whose own experiences, many
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KRA Customers Excel Through OST Partnerships

June 26, 2020 | No Comments

KRA operates the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program, for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), assisting TANF-benefit jobseekers through strategic collaborations with private- and public-sector organizations to create employment opportunities through Community Work Experience and Occupational Skills Training (OST) programs. To address local employers’ needs for job candidates with computer-related skills— now, and in our new-normal virtual environment—last month, MedCerts joined KRA/Baltimore City in a partnership to offer Fundamentals of IT as a blended-learning program, with graduates receiving IT certification through CompTIA. To date, KRA has enrolled 33 female and two male customers for whom MedCerts IT Specialists
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