On June 9, 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of Richmond hosted Governor Elizabeth Duke, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States. As part of her itinerary, Ms. Valaryee Mitchell, One Stop Services Coordinator with the Virginia Community College System/Workforce Development Services, arranged for Governor Duke to visit KRA’s One-Stop operation, the Resource Workforce Center. “Betsy”, as she introduced herself, expressed a deep interest in the workforce development industry, and how its services impact the nation’s economy. She is visiting programs, like KRA/Resource, all around the country to learn about not only
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This month’s Spotlight! is shining on two outstanding student-participants in KRA’s Portsmouth In-School Youth Employability & Success (YES) Program. KRA congratulates these remarkable young people, and their dedicated Career Agent, Juliette Batten, on their inspiring achievements. On May 1, 2011, Conya Postell received a notification that truly changed her life forever. Conya, who maintained a 3.96 GPA at Franklin High School, found out that…of a pool of 23,000 applicants…she was selected for a prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS)* that covers the cost of not only undergraduate education, but her graduate and doctoral studies as well. With Ms. Batten’s advice, assistance,
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Twelve seniors from Georgetown and Horry Counties, South Carolina, who participated in KRA’s Youth Employability and Success (YES) Program graduated from high school this month…the first class of seniors from the KRA In-School YES Program. KRA staff from both County offices celebrated the students’ accomplishments with separate County graduation-dinner/award celebrations to which each student and one guest was invited. All faces lit up when the students opened their “awards” and discovered a $100.00 gift card and a copy of Life in the Hood, Adulthood 101, by Tina Raheem, Scholarship Director of Foster Care to Success, the largest provider of college funding and
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KRA Youth Services Program(YSP) Manager, Linda Cooper, and Career Counselors , Donna Grant, Barb Hettmansperger, Danelle Coomer, and Kristy Tarter recently participated in an Internet Safety Training Program at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky.  The training, presented by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, was funded through the Child Victims Trust Fund. The goal for the training was to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to work with parents, guardians, other family caregivers, and youth to deal with the risks associated with Internet technology, as well as specific strategies to mitigate those risks. During the training, participants examined
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Twenty-five KRA staff attended the 2011 National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, May 16-19, 2011.  Approximately 800 professionals from across the country had gathered to discuss strategies to “Turn the Tide” in our industry despite the great economic challenges we face. The KRA entourage included a team, from the KRA/CTWorks One-Stop Dislocated Workers Program, that presented a workshop on Power Programs for Placing Professionals.  For an SRO-audience of more than 50 attendees, the highly engaging presentation highlighted KRA’s best practices and programs for working with professional Dislocated Workers. Facilitated by Pamela Nabors, Director of
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On May 23, 2011,  Pamela Nabors, Director, Program Operations, Capital Workforce Partners (CWP), the WIB for the North Central region of Connecticut and KRA’s client; Christina Bartucca, Deputy Director, and Camille Grant, Reemployment Coach…both from the KRA/CTWorks One-Stop Services Program…made a presentation on the KRA/CTWorks One-Stop Dislocated Workers Program.  The Seminar on Worker Dislocation in New England was held in Boston, Massachusetts, and focused on unemployment statistics and  trends in four critical areas: what are the recent trends in the pool of Dislocated Workers; who are the region’s Dislocated Workers; how have they fared in the labor market; and what
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Piggy-backing on the 2011 NAWDP Conference theme, Alisha Bazemore, KRA Program Manager, reported that the “Tide” certainly “turned” as Norfolk’s VIEW (Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare) and Portsmouth’s YES (Youth Employability Services) programs, both operated by KRA, welcomed President & CEO, Knowlton R. Atterbeary, May 17-18, 2011. Mr. Atterbeary’s visit coincided with the NAWDP Conference held in nearby Virginia Beach from May 16-19, 2011, and began with a stop in Norfolk, where he met with VIEW program staff. Ms. Bazemore stated that “Anticipation and excitement filled the office with enthusiastic staff waiting for the Q&A session with the CEO.” 
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On May 14, 2011, Troy Calvert, Jr. and Joshua Goodman were among the 465 students honored at the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+Men Inc’s 14th Annual 200+ Scholars Breakfast, which salutes the achievements of “African American Male High School Honor Graduates” in the region. Troy and Joshua, seniors enrolled in KRA’s Youth Employability and Success (YES) program, were joined by their KRA Career Agent, Kathy Confer, and more than 1300 other family members and friends. Both students readily credit Confer and the KRA/YES program with expanding their knowledge and abilities in the areas of communication, decision-making, leadership development, problem-solving, and
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In letters sent to KRA Program Manager, Anita Davis, the Mayor of the Borough of Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey, John Wolk, and Frank Filipek, Jr., Mayor of the Borough of Bellmawr, New Jersey, expressed their appreciation to the KRA Camden, New Jersey office for the effectiveness of its Community Work Experience Program (CWEP). The Mayors became aware of KRA’s work by the number of successful CWEP referral-placements to various Borough departments. While many New Jersey municipalities are struggling…due to budget cutbacks and staff layoffs…to meet public maintenance (parks and recreation facilities, public works and sanitation services, etc.) obligations, KRA’s partnership with these
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