In June, The Partnership, which oversees the largest public workforce development system in the country, issued a press release announcing Mr. Wright’s appointment as chief executive officer. Since 2016, KRA has valued its relationship with The Partnership, beginning with our operation of the Garfield One-Stop Career Center, and expanding over time to include the Westside AJC and the Chatham Workforce and Education Center on the South Side. Through career services for jobseekers and business services for the region’s employers, KRA supports The Partnership in the operation of many diverse programs, including many in the construction sector. For example, KRA plays
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  Disability Pride Month serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of embracing diversity and advocating for inclusion. Observed in July, this celebration is dedicated to fostering acceptance and understanding, while spotlighting the accomplishments and contributions of individuals with disabilities.   Disability Pride celebrations began in 1990, after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, with the first Disability Pride Day being held in Boston the same year. On October 1, 2012, President Obama issued a Proclamation recognizing October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and his message included a call to action for “Federal agencies
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Under the auspices of the DC Workforce Investment Council, Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, KRA operates Career Coach DC (CCDC), expanding the capacity of the DC public-workforce system to connect residents—affected by the economic downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic—with educational, training, employment, and other services to progress in their careers. The CCDC linchpin, the Community of Practice (CoP), supports Career Coaches, and other DC workforce-development (WD) practitioners, to share  concerns, challenges, and interests, deepening their knowledge through ongoing interactions. Pivotal CoP components include the Career Coach Connection (CCC) and the Career Coach Boot Camp (CCBC):  CCC hosts in-person and virtual professional-development sessions,
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Pride Month, celebrated annually in June, is a vibrant and empowering time when individuals and communities come together to honor the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, asexual/aromantic/agender/ally and others) community. This month-long celebration serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equal rights and acceptance, while also highlighting the accomplishments and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Photographer Grey Villet – The Life Picture Collection (Getty Images) Pride Month traces back to the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal event that occurred in June 1969 in New York City’s Greenwich Village. After years of systemic discrimination and police harassment, the
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On Monday, June 19, 2023, KRA employees topped off their 3-day weekend, or enjoyed a special day of celebration, with families and friends to honor Juneteenth, a Federal Holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. “Juneteenth”, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth”, reflects June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger issued an order, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 in Texas, freeing all remaining slaves. Juneteenth was observed annually in various parts of the country for 150+ years—commonly celebrating history, literature, music, and other traditional mainstays of African-American culture through church-centered community gatherings. On
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  Melody Daniel, Program Director, with KRA since 2015, and Gina Brotherton Mayo, Career Readiness Facilitator, in her 5th year with the company, will co-present  Victory in the Valley: Maximizing Career Success While Navigating Real-life Trials, Traumas, and Tragedies at CWA WORKCON: CLARITY THROUGH ACTION!  May 31 – June 2, 2023. Melody reports, “Through a roundtable discussion, we will examine the role resilience plays in our career accomplishments as Workforce Development Professionals. We will achieve insight and clarity, dissect the essential building blocks of resilience, and discuss navigating the highs and lows of our personal lives, while maintaining motivation, focus,
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The movement for a national Asian American and Pacific Islander holiday, celebrating the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S., began in the late ‘70s with Jeanie Jew, a fourth generation Chinese American who was instrumental in the acknowledgment of the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience. Since its founding in 1981, KRA has embraced and practiced DEIBA principles, and is fortunate that two of our Asian American employees are willing to share with us a bit about their experiences, and their families’ journeys. We’ve chosen to highlight these
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For 15 years, Vanessa E. Atterbeary, Esq., KRA Corporate Counsel, and as a Maryland General Assembly Delegate is Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, has been receiving newsworthy attention in KRA Latest News, The Baltimore Sun, and most recently, The Daily Record, which chose Vanessa as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women of 2023 that recognizes high-achieving women making an impact through their leadership, community service and mentoring. Last night, at The Lyric Baltimore Performing Arts Center, hundreds of well-wishers gathered for the Awards Celebration to honor Vanessa and the other incredibly accomplished women. The KRA Family is extremely proud of
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