Archives for Latest News

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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In 2015, KRA launched the proprietary Knowledge2Career (K2C) Academy, offering Out-of-School Youth customized career services, including on-the-job training (OJT) linked directly to employment with companies in high-demand industries. KRA operates the K2C Academy for Capital Workforce Partners, the North Central Connecticut WDB, in partnership with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT). Targeting the Manufacturing Industry, traditionally, K2C provided coursework through Tooling U-SME, and hands-on instruction through OJT agreements with participating employers. However, on March 17, just when KRA introduced a new K2C cohort, with 19 K2C students, who had passed the required Mechanical Aptitude Test, COVID-19 restrictions went into effect in the state. Tony
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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 Remained “Open for Business” After Closing Program Sites Between March 19 and April 7, “lock downs” were implemented by 43 States, including varying quarantine, stay-at-home, and social-distancing orders. Ahead of the curve, on March 18, Knowlton R. Atterbeary, KRA President & CEO, announced, “We are collaborating with our client agencies to implement adjustments to our operations, which vary based on local circumstances, [which might include] moving all customer interactions on-line.” California was the first state to go into lock down. KRA was more than ready, closing its One-Stop Career Centers and transitioning staff to Work-From-Home (WFH) status at most
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In 2016, KRA created the company’s first Virtual Job Fair (VJF), utilizing Twitter’s Blab.im live-streaming application, to expedite recruitment of candidates for a start-up DC Public Charter School. Four years ago, a VJF was a resource of expediency; today, it is one of necessity, as we adapt critical workforce-services to comply with social-distancing requirements imposed by COVID-19. On Wednesday, the 10th Annual “Career Pathways to Success” Job Fair, organized by the National City Chamber of Commerce (NCCC) in partnership with the San Diego Career Centers, operated by KRA for the San Diego Workforce Partnership since 2012; the Employment Development Department;
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On March 6, KRA Staff Present at National, Regional, and State Training Events announced that Corporate Training and Development Coordinator, Joseph Seymour, was presenting The Art of 3-D Presentations – Develop, Design and Deliver and The Art & Science of 5-Star Customer Service in the AJC at the Southeastern Employment & Training Association (SETA) Spring 2020 Conference.   On March 11, SETA convened its closing session—with 500+ participants in attendance—at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. It was not totally unexpected when, on April 6, South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster, issued a “shelter-in-place” order as part of the State’s effort
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KRA Collaborative Program Graduates’ Career Plans on Hold Due to COVID-19 On January 9, KRA Latest News reported on an innovative 3-partner collaboration to benefit recipients of TANF and SNAP benefits in Prince George’s County, Maryland, through PGWorks, operated by KRA for the Department of Social Services.  On February 28, we provided a follow-up article on the incredible success of the collaborative pilot program in our KRA Monthly Spotlight! One month later, the COVID-19 pandemic would lead Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to announce, “he doubts the state will be able to loosen its coronavirus restrictions in the next two weeks.”  He continued, “…we don’t see
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Through the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, KRA offers jobseekers receiving TANF benefits a wide range of Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services. However, job-placement in sustainable positions can present challenges if customers have little-to-no work experience, or an outdated job history. One solution to this obstacle is hands-on, real-world work experience (WEX) with a KRA-partner agency or business, usually on an unsubsidized basis. Recently, Latarsha Ellett, School Social Worker, e-mailed, “We currently have a few KRA volunteers here at Lakewood Elementary School…could you let me know how I can request more?”  On this, Greg Alexander, KRA Program Manager,
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Last year around this time, Latest News posted March Madness – The KRA Way—and the beat goes on! During the next 3 months, several KRA staff members will be hitting the road to conduct presentations and facilitate workshops; however, here we highlight the upcoming March events. On the 10th, for the Southeastern Employment and Training Association (March 8-11, Myrtle Beach, SC), Joseph L. Seymour III, Corporate Training and Development Coordinator, will present The Art of 3-D Presentations: Develop, Design and Deliver. The description in the conference agenda reads, in part, “The ability to engage, educate, and empower others through well-developed, meticulously designed, and masterfully
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