KRA/Baltimore City customers enrolled in the Work Participation, Placement, and Support Services Program must complete an unpaid Work Experience (WEX) Internship, at the end of which, the jobseeker is hired by the employer, assigned to another WEX-site, or placed in permanent employment elsewhere, if appropriate.
Some WEX-site employers embrace a mission so aligned with our own, that a partnership is inevitable—as in the case of Paul’s Place, Inc. that offers 20+ developmental and support-services programs, e.g. computer classes, family workshops, and job training.
Shawnda Walker, KRA/WEX Program Supervisor reports, “Paul’s Place supervises, on average, seven Interns daily. During the previous 3 months, Nicole Davis, Site Supervisor, observed one volunteer to be especially reliable, taking initiative and consistently going ‘above and beyond’.”
To discover a career path about which she felt passionate, Lakiesha Summerville participated in several diverse WEX assignments and completed six occupational-skills programs—one of which finally captured her interest, i.e. ServSafe Certification in Food Service Management.
Paul’s Place prepares and serves 75,000+ free hot lunches annually—an undertaking not overlooked when Ms. Walker and Ms. Davis discussed the ideal WEX opportunity, i.e. Kitchen Assistant.
Working under the main cook’s guidance, Ms. Summerville soon demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and ability to manage the entire kitchen operation, which led to an offer of employment when the Internship ended.
Ms. Walker concluded, “She has been happily employed since July 5th, and looks forward to moving up within the company.”
Dr. Boone’s 20+ years’ experience in the industry is extensive and her expertise in private-, public-, and non-profit sector workforce-services organizations is unparalleled, particularly in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area.
