 Above: GES staff (L to R) Program
Coordinator Jordan Dockendorf; Career Specialists Lisa Gallant, Avery Baird,
and Ghidey Berhane; Program Director Jim Durdle; and Career Specialist Patrick
Ley
Goodwill-Easter
Seals Minnesota (GES) has been a contracted provider of Dislocated Worker
services for Minneapolis Employment and Training since 1999 and currently
provides Dislocated Worker, Minneapolis Works, and Train-to-Career services. These
services include career exploration and counseling, skills assessment, job
search and development assistance, work readiness training, Unemployment Insurance
support, and follow-up/retention services. GES participants also have access to
other workforce development and supportive services through its network of
community and partner agencies.
GES is highly visible and deeply integrated in community-based
locations including Minneapolis public libraries and workforce centers leading to
rapid connections to services and programs, stronger relationships, and diverse
clients.
This year, GES partnered with the Office
to End Homelessness, Hennepin County Library, and St.
Stephen’s Human Services to expand
employment services at the Minneapolis Central Library.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED) recognized the GES Dislocated Worker program as the state’s
top performer among minorities and long-term unemployed in 2016.
From July 2015 to June 2016, the Minneapolis Employment and
Training -funded programs served 253 individuals, enrolled 104 new participants,
and placed 106 individuals in jobs aligned with their interests, with an
average hourly wage of $17.25.
Nicole came to GES for help after finding it difficult to
obtain employment due to her criminal background. A Minneapolis Works Career Specialist assisted her in creating an employment goal, addressing
barriers, and preparing for interviews. Nicole found employment with an electronics
recycling company as a sales coordinator and quickly became the top salesperson.
The grand opening of the Cedar
Riverside Opportunity Center on March 12 was a great success.
Government officials, nonprofit leaders
and Cedar Riverside community members mingled with one another to discuss the
future of the center and the role it will play in the community.
In the month of March, there were
already four Employer of the Day events scheduled bringing more than 12
employers into the neighborhood to meet with and interview job seekers. Anchor partners EMERGE Community
Development, Hennepin
County, City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County Library, and Minneapolis
Community and Technical College will have a constant presence at the
center and will work together to provide program participants with a holistic
employment and educational experience.
The Cedar Riverside Opportunity
Center located at 505 15th Avenue South is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. The center’s telephone number is (612) 425-4700.
Below: Mohamed Ali (EMERGE) speaks to the
crowd at the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center Grand Opening.
Graduation ceremonies were
recently held for the first cohort groups of BUILD Leaders. American Indian OIC,
in partnership with Little Earth of United Tribes (LEUT) and EMERGE are the
service providers for this program that focuses on violence
prevention/intervention, youth development, and coalition building. BUILD
Leaders, ages 18-24, receive paid training in facilitation, leadership, and job
skills to deliver the BUILD youth violence prevention curriculum to Minneapolis
youth (9-12 years).
American Indian OIC/LEUT
participants completed youth development and trauma informed care training and
facilitated the culturally adapted BUILD Native curriculum to YouthCare participants.
American Indian OIC/LEUT also
incorporates construction training into its program. BUILD Leaders completed
American Workshop’s 120-hour Introduction to Construction and Building Trades
earning industry credentials and certifications.
EMERGE’s BUILD program focused
on entry-level positions in the youth work and/or education fields.
Participants earned First Aid/CPR and Youth Intervention Programs Association
certifications. They also participated in EMERGE Youth Work 101, trauma
informed care trainings, and public speaking skills sessions.
EMERGE BUILD Leaders facilitated
the youth violence prevention curriculum at Lucy Laney Community School.
The second BUILD Leaders cohorts
started in late February and the third cohorts are slated to begin in August.
Below: Top picture - American Indian OIC/LEUT
Build Leaders
Bottom picture - EMERGE
Build Leaders
 
On February 14, Mayor Betsy
Hodges joined over 250 Twin Cities business leaders for breakfast at the Target
Field Metropolitan Club to kick off the employer recruitment season for summer the 2017 STEP-UP Achieve youth
employment program (a part of the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP program ).
At the event, Twin Cities
employers pledged over 400 paid summer internships toward a goal of 750
internships. STEP-UP is seeking
businesses, public agencies and nonprofits interested in employing interns in
2017. Employers can sign up here to hire interns.
STEP-UP not only changes young
lives but can also help businesses in countless ways. Interns can increase an
organization's productivity, energy and diversity, providing rich payback for
the organization’s investment of time and training. In the most recent survey
of STEP-UP employers, 93% reported that their intern made a valuable
contribution to the workplace.
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