On the same day, February 26, 2024, that Lisa Erby, 69, visited the Chatham Education & Workforce Center—operated for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership)—she enrolled in KRA’s Workforce Readiness Training Program, on the advice of Patricia (Pat) Hill, her assigned Career Coach.
Laid off by her employer, and despite 25+ years’ insurance-sales experience, Lisa was struggling to find employment when a friend informed her about KRA, an organization “committed to quality customer care”, an assessment that led Lisa to believe that KRA would support her goal, proactively, to reenter the workforce.
Lisa completed training on March 1st, having upskilled competencies related to resume development, interviewing, networking, time management, and more to prepare her for the 2024 workforce.
On March 27th, Pat referred Lisa to the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) that worked to mitigate her age as a potential barrier to employment. Focusing on her wealth of knowledge, skills, and abilities, developed through 2+ decades’ steady employment, SCSEP succeeded in finding employment for Lisa with Agora Community Services as an Intake Assistant, starting April 22nd.
Susan Massel, Director of Communications and External Affairs for The Partnership, was at the Center on April 18th, and met Lisa, who was there to see Pat and to print out documents needed to secure her employment with Agora. Ms. Massel engaged Lisa in a brief impromptu interview, which she captured on video and sent to KRA as a thoughtful gesture.
On the job for more than a month now, Lisa expressed gratitude to the KRA staff for their support, “You all are always willing to help me and others.”
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