Last month, we reported that KRA had been awarded a multi-year contract as a Prince George’s County Works provider, assisting customers enrolled in Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Supplementary Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), and Non-Custodial Parent Employment (NPEP) programs.  On September 7, 2011, “Ellie”, a TCA participant, enrolled in the KRA Job-Readiness Program, and on October 3, 2011, started a new job. In this economic climate, where the unemployed search for jobs for months…even years…this is a remarkable accomplishment. During intake, Jazmyne Byrd, KRA Career Agent, in the Landover, Maryland office, learned that Ellie, 22, needed immediate assistance: she had been unemployed
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Recently, Don Scott, KRA Senior Vice President, Workforce Operations, and Kim Staley, KRA Program Director for the CTWorks North Central Region, welcomed local and State guests to the opening of the newly-renovated Enfield CTWorks One-Stop Career Center (One-Stop). Dennis Murphy, Deputy Commissioner, CT Department of Labor (CT/DOL); Ken Nelson, Deputy Mayor, Town of Enfield; and Thomas Phillips, President/CEO of KRA’s client, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP) joined area business leaders, educational representatives, and jobseekers in celebrating the opening of the new Center.  The new facility’s “open-space” design greatly enhances the One-Stop service delivery system for both jobseekers and businesses. The Enfield
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Michael Castelvetere is a current KRA/CTWorks customer, and former Medic.  After his discharge from the Navy, he worked for many years with photographers and in the photo-lab printing industry. However, he was continually laid off from these positions as the industry shifted more and more from film to digital technology. When Melissa Cordon, KRA/CTWorks Enfield Site Coordinator/Team Lead, met with Mike, she learned that he had been living in a motel for 7 years, had exhausted his 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, and was in need of both food and money. Tackling the most pressing needs first, Cordon assisted Mike in
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This month’s Spotlight! cannot shine brightly enough on KRA Career Agent LeRoi Mason, who began working for the KRA/RESOURCE Workforce Centers (KRA/RWC) operation on March 1, 2011, as the coordinator of a new KRA/RWC-initiated ex-offender/re-entry program called Returning Citizens. Educationally, Mr. Mason has three AA degrees in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Computer Science Technology; a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration; and a Master’s Degree in Psychological and Religious Counseling. In addition, he is a Dale Carnegie graduate, a multiple national award-winning officer of the U.S. Jaycees, a recipient of an ACLU Man of the Year Award, and an 18-year
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The Supportive Work Project (SWP), a collaborative effort of the KRA Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (KRA/VIEW) Program and the Norfolk area Goodwill Industries, has provided more than 145 KRA/VIEW customers with employment opportunities during the past 5 years.  Not all positions were permanent fulltime jobs at the outset. SWP participants receive continuing guidance from KRA/VIEW Career Agents, and Goodwill Employment Specialists assist participants in developing appropriate skill sets, and perform job searches for participants, both inside and outside the Goodwill system. Generally, positions are 35-hour-a-week, 3-month opportunities that, more often than not, lead to full-time jobs. An essential business partner in the community,
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Last week we reported that recently KRA was awarded a multi-year contract as a Prince George’s County Works provider, working with customers enrolled in the County’s Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Supplementary Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), and Non-Custodial Parent Employment (NPEP) programs.  Operating out of three Maryland County locations, KRA staff are working diligently to provide customers with support and training as they prepare for unsubsidized employment opportunities…which require job interviews. It quickly became apparent that lack of appropriate business attire was one of the biggest barriers to successful interviewing that these customers face.  Just as quickly, Sarah Iriarte, KRA Career Agent,
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KRA has started a WIA-funded program for out-of-school youth under contract with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments.  KRA provides WIA intensive services and coordination for training and follow-up services for youth facing significant challenges to employment.  As part of the SC Works system, KRA will service Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, which together account for 1500 square miles.  According to Don Scott, KRA Senior Vice President for Operations, “The size of this service area presents its challenges, but KRA has honed techniques in similar regions elsewhere in South Carolina and other States which ensure that youth are fully engaged and
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Recently, KRA was awarded a multi-year contract with the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services.  As a Prince George’s County Works provider, KRA will be working with customers applying for or participating in the County’s Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Supplementary Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), and Non-Custodial Parent Employment (NPEP) programs.  KRA will be operating out of three locations in the County, providing customers support and training as they prepare for, enter, and retain unsubsidized employment.  According to Knowlton R. Atterbeary, KRA President & CEO, “It’s exciting to have an opportunity to bring the KRA operations model and techniques right into
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