City Council delivers jobs for NYC
The City Council’s workforce development programs help thousands of New Yorkers every year build skills, get jobs, and succeed in their careers. Jobs to Build On, Worker Service Centers, and Immigration Protection Group provide job training, career placement, and other services to help workers succeed, whether they are looking to advance in their careers or entering the workforce for the first time. These programs are administered by CWE and direct funding to dozens of neighborhood organizations around the city to run training programs for their communities.
Here are some of the New Yorkers who have been helped by these City Council-funded programs.
Chovair Graham found financial freedom - and a career - with help from SoBro
Many New Yorkers have been in Chovair Graham’s position. She had once had a good job, but now found herself unemployed and newly a mother. She knew she needed help.
Graham discovered SoBRO at a job fair and instantly felt supported. “I didn’t get any discouragement. They said ‘that’s attainable, let’s see what we can do to get you to that point.’”
At SoBRO, a Jobs to Build On partner, she received the Customer Service and Sales Certification as well as assistance getting work attire, resume support, and interview preparation. Graham is now working with disabled New Yorkers, assisting them with employment opportunities. She feels a sense of freedom from the financial burdens of unemployment and believes she is setting a positive example for her son. Not a week or two goes by without a call from SoBRO, checking in on her progress and offering support.
Maria Larrosa was unsure of her ability to complete entry-level training when she first came to Cooperative Home Care Associates, another Jobs to Build On partner. She was over 55 and had not previously held a job. Looking around the classroom, Ms. Larrosa saw a significant number of younger trainees, and worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demands of a home health aide job. CHCA’s associate instructors helped her develop the confidence to overcome these fears—and to overcome anxiety about speaking in front of others. She grew more comfortable asking and answering questions, and with participating in role-play exercises. She was soon employed as a home health aide and succeeded in keeping the full-time job.
After training from St. Nicks Alliance, Dian Walters got a job as a school bus driver
On the day that Dian Walters graduated from St. Nicks Alliance’s Commercial Driver’s License Training Program, she had an interview with a school bus company where she could put her new license to work. Just three days later, she was starting her new union job as a school bus driver.
Ronnie came to Brooklyn Workforce Innovations for help finding a job. A criminal record had long prevented him from getting a good, stable career. At BWI, Ronnie enrolled in the Made in NY Production Assistant Training Program. Within a year of completing the program, he had worked on several network television shows and cable reality shows, and loves his job.
Stephanie Ramos was able to change careers with help from the Actors Fund
Stephanie Ramos moved to New York to be a musical theater performer. She loved acting on stage, but over time, her priorities changed. She was looking for something new and a meaningful full-time career outside of the performing arts.
The Actors Fund helped her build her professional network and seek out job opportunities, leading to a job as a communications manager at Mount Sinai Health System, focused on internal communications. Ramos puts her creative side to work facilitating communication between the executive team and staff. She creates videos, takes pictures, writes articles, and seeks out new ways to create two-way, interactive communication.
“What I learned about myself at Actors Fund led me here. It’s the best year that I’ve had in a while.”
Sandy came to Coalition for the Homeless for help starting her life over. She had been homeless and was a victim of domestic violence.
She enrolled in the First Step program, a 14-week job training program that combines job training and placement with case management. After five weeks of computer and other job training, Sandy was placed into an internship as a receptionist and administrative assistant at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Her success in the internship paved the way for a job offer at Estee Lauder.
The strength and breadth of the CWE network is an asset to all partner organizations, who can draw on the expertise and programs of other partners. When Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow graduate Sinad Wadsworth was interested in a career change, the organization was able to refer her to another Jobs to Build On partner, Nontraditional Employment for Women. She is now working in the unionized building trades.