On July 27, 2012, the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Development (MOED) sponsored a luncheon at the Museum of Industry for approximately 50 Baltimore City employers who met the challenge of hiring at least one youth for a minimum of 6 weeks’ employment through MOED’s Hire 1 Youth Initiative. More than 100 young people, who were successfully employed for 6 weeks, also attended the luncheon.  The Mayor herself, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, was the keynote speaker for the event.  She thanked all the employers for “stepping up to the plate” and supporting the 2012 YouthWorks campaign, emphasizing that everyone…businesses, youth, and the economy…benefits from its
Read More

Since its inaugural issue, the KRA Spotlight! has shown brightly on many inspiring stories featuring KRA jobseeker- and business-customers.  In a departure, the next few months’ issues will highlight an industry vital to the American economy…Hospitality…and the role that KRA programs play in maximizing job development and placement opportunities presented by the Restaurant sector, a significant industry sub-group. From Sunday brunches to Saturday-night dates, and every conceivable drive-through, eat-in, or take-out breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner in between, Americans love to eat out…a lot.  And, because of this trend, the Restaurant industry is booming, reaping huge economic benefits: the industry’s
Read More

On July 2, 2012, KRA launched a new workforce services project in San Diego, California.  KRA was selected by the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) for Management and Operation of the San Diego Metro Region One-Stop Career Centers. SDWP entrusted KRA to be its funded partner in the largest and most impactful area of the city.  As stated on their website, “At the Workforce Partnership, our goal is to make the workforce ever stronger. That’s why we fund partners committed to training and placing those who are ready to join it.” KRA’s operation includes two multi-service One-Stop Career Centers (One-Stop)
Read More

David Amaker, 19, lives with his grandmother, who is his biggest fan. It was her motivation and loving support that on January 30, 2012, led him to attend a WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Orientation at the Lower Savannah Council of Governments’ Orangeburg SCWorks Center.  After careful assessment of David’s situation, Stephanie Evans, a member of the Certification Staff, recommended that his specific educational goals and career objectives would be better served by KRA.  Following through on Evans’ referral, David was assigned to Jahkesha Abraham, KRA Career Agent, who conducted another orientation, this one focused on KRA’s Out-of-School Youth Program.    Abraham scheduled
Read More

On June 27, 2012, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), KRA’s client and the North Central Connecticut Region’s Workforce Investment Board, and the Hartford Public Library (HPL) issued a joint press release announcing that in the first collaboration of its kind, CWP and HPL have partnered to open a satellite CTWorks One-Stop Career Center…CTWorks @ HPL…at the library’s downtown Main Street location. The CTWorks @ HPL center, which opens today, offers a wide variety of workforce development services for KRA/CTWorks jobseeker-customers, and at the same time assists its business-customers in fulfilling their hiring needs. Martha Rolon and Anthony Gulino, KRA Career Agents, will be
Read More

On June 20, 2012, programs that serve customers’ workforce development needs in KRA’s Washington, DC and Prince George’s County, MD offices co-hosted a Putting America Back to Work job fair and networking event, as part of the KRA Job Fairs in June campaign.  Held at the KRA office in DC, more than 135 pre-screened and pre-qualified customers, who are currently receiving public assistance, attended.  Anthony Featherstone, KRA Program Manager for the PG County operation, reported, “It seems like our employer-customers began contacting the job developers at our DC and PG locations all at the same time, seeking assistance in filling various positions in different locations.
Read More

In recognition of American Job Fair Month, as well as KRA’s own Job Fairs in June campaign, the Norfolk VIEW (Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare) Program pulled out all the stops, scheduling a major event each week for jobseeker-customers enrolled in the VIEW Job Readiness Academy (JRA).  June 6: Michael Johnson is the Office Supervisor of four Liberty Tax Services offices in the Hampton Roads area, as well as a motivational speaker and philanthropist. His main message for the JRA participants focused on “success.” Using his own life and workplace experiences, he spoke about how he achieved success through hard work
Read More

On June 4, 2012, we announced KRA’s intention to participate in the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration’s American Job Fair Month [June] campaign to create opportunities for the workforce system, the One-Stop Career Centers, and all partners in the American Job Center Network, to promote their services to business customers. Since June 11, 2012, we have been reporting on the success of KRA’s Job Fairs in June campaign, which continued through the end of the month.  Navi Perez, Job Developer for KRA’s Camden, New Jersey, Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Program, recently reported, “In a lot
Read More

The Spotlight! is once again shining brightly on the Power of Partnership!  Last month, we highlighted how KRA’s Workforce Development operations serve two customers simultaneously: jobseekers in need of career guidance, educational/occupational development, and job placement; and private, public, or non-profit partner organizations that provide jobseekers with valuable employment, training, and other skill-building opportunities.  In that light, this month’s Spotlight! is right on target.  KRA’s Camden, New Jersey operation*, Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Program,  has partnered with Gloucester County College to offer the nationally recognized Serv/Safe Food Safety Manager Training and Exam Program, a 16-hour certification course
Read More