The demands were tough, the time frame compressed and the expectations high, but by the end of the summer, the payoff was apparent: Almost 660 youths completed summer work readiness training and were better prepared to focus on  future careers and the education necessary to get them there.
 
Our five summer providers -- Arbor E&T's Career Works, Easter Seals Work Resource Center,Great Oaks, Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates, and the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati -- targeted disadvantaged youths, eligible through the requirements of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The vast majority of youths in the programs were from low-income families, and included former offenders, those in foster care, or persons with disabilities.  
 

The participants came from a wide swath of Hamilton County neighborhoods that spanned 21 ZIP codes, with 16 percent coming from the Madisonville ZIP code. Substantially more females (69 percent) than males (31 percent) were represented.

"The $2 million funding from ARRA allowed us to offer an opportunity to over 650 youths who otherwise might have been unemployed and disengaged in productive activities this summer," said Sherry Kelley Marshall, President/CEO of the SWORWIB. "The five programs developed work readiness skills that will pay off for these youths, and society, down the road."

Added Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper:
"We now have hundreds of young people who are much more ready to go to work to do the jobs this community needs done now and in the future."

 

For a complete wrap-up on the summer programs, click here.
For a look at Great Oaks Freshman Challenge, click here:
Youth from Career Works clean up Mt. Airy Forest, click here.

 

As a result of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati's (GCUL) summer youth employment training in customer call center skills, 15 young adults have been hired by several regional employers.

The summer youth employment program was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Urban League was one of five providers selected by the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board to offer work readiness training for eligible youths. The Urban League was funded $205,006 and enrolled 81 youths, ages 18-24, in its program.

"We are thrilled that these young people found a job as a result of the training they received here," said Donna Jones Baker, President/CEO of the GCUL. "Our summer youth program prepared them for a real-world work environment, and employers recognized this."

Customer service industry employers included T.J.Maxx, Convergys Corp., the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, Vianda LLC and U.S. Bank.

To read more, click here

 

The three-day training, which takes place Nov. 23-25 at the SuperJobs Center, will be taught by Master Trainer Emily Hatfield of Knoxville, Tenn. Hatfield has trained more than 250 workforce professionals in the Career Development Facilitator curriculum. Hatfield is the Services Manager of the Tennessee Career Center, the one-stop in Knoxville, Tenn., and has more than 25 years of experience in workforce development. 

 

The training for Global Career Development Facilitators particularly focused on working with ex-offenders and getting them into the workforce. For Tina Kavanaugh, a field representative and peer trainer for the Ohio AFL-CIO, the barriers that ex-offenders face are the most daunting of all. "If I can work with ex-felons and the barriers they face, I can deal with the barriers dislocated workers face." she said. "So I am really excited to be able to take the 'Train the Trainer' course."  
 
This additional training, which is being funded by the  Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, will allow this core group to train others for the GCDF certification.