Mr. Torre Lewis, 27, applied for TANF-TCA benefits through the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), which required him to enroll in KRA’s Job Readiness Program—a critical component of the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program—prior to occupational-skills training (OST) and/or job-placement.
One such OST opportunity is the KRA Knowledge2Career Construction Academy (K2C-CA) co-funded by the BCDSS for TCA customers and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development for WIOA-eligible Youth jobseekers.
KRA is a licensed provider-partner of the Home Builders Institute’s award-winning PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training) Program, compliant with National Construction Skill Standards, as well as National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Standards.
The 12-week course provides Residential Carpentry and Facilities Maintenance Certification, and an OSHA Card after a 10-hour course on safety and health hazards. In addition to technical OST, the instruction model includes Soft Skills and Professional Development Workshops on topical areas that enhance success in the workplace.
At first, Mr. Lewis doubted that KRA/Baltimore City could do anything for him, feeling confident he could accomplish what he wanted on his own. However, he soon realized his lack of marketable job skills was a barrier to his goal of “finding gainful employment or a sustainable career path.”
After receiving his Carpentry Apprentice Certification and OSHA Card, Ms. Shawnda Walker, KRA Lead Job Developer, guided Mr. Lewis in adding his newly acquired credentials to his resume, and provided interviewing- and job-placement support by passing on leads about potential positions.
Mr. Lewis interviewed successfully with several companies, including Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, which after a second interview, offered him fulltime employment in the area of Home Health Hazards Reduction.
KRA/Baltimore congratulates Mr. Lewis in “finding gainful employment” and “a sustainable career path”, and wishes him much future success.
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Dr. Boone’s 20+ years’ experience in the industry is extensive and her expertise in private-, public-, and non-profit sector workforce-services organizations is unparalleled, particularly in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area.
