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July 2024: Updates & Opportunities
Our full-service Tompkins Workforce New York Career Center is located in downtown Ithaca in Center Ithaca on the Commons, and we offer services for every job seeker. Tompkins Workforce New York is a collaboration of agencies with Tompkins County Workforce Development, the New York State Department of Labor, and lead partners. Every individual should be able to have a chance to meet their potential and we are here to help. Please visit our website to learn more and connect with us!
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Beaming with pride, Yasmine graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program at GST BOCES this June. During the years she spent in higher education, she was also caring for her children as a single parent.
“I have three kids. In between, like halftime, I’m trying to read a paragraph [of the textbook],” she says. “When everyone is tucked in, I have to study all night long.”
Everywhere she went, Yasmine was studying. She even played audio recordings of her lectures and textbooks in her car, even with her children complaining in the passenger seats. By day she was in school, and by night she was working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Between parenting, working, and studying, there was little time to relax or have a social life.
“Basically, my life was on hold,” Yasmine says. “Lots of long nights.”
By her graduation in June, she had been in school for seven years. She previously earned her GED because she had dropped out of school in eighth grade. Her lifelong goal was to become a nurse, so she attended Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) for its Nursing program. This was where she discovered just how much time and effort it takes to earn a medical degree. She had young children and a social life. Her time was stretched too thin, and she failed out of the program twice.
Still, Yasmine could not be deterred. Her time at TC3 gave her valuable clinical experience, so when she began the LPN program at BOCES, she had already spent years in the field through work and school.
Yasmine’s financial aid had been exhausted after so many years in higher education. In its absence, her employer paid for half of the tuition, and for the other half, Yasmine sought help from OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources). They then referred her to Cindy Sloan, Workforce Development Specialist at the Tompkins County Career Center, for additional resources and funding opportunities.
One of the challenges Yasmine faced was test anxiety, so Cindy recommended test-taking tips to soothe it. “That was a big deal for me,” says Yasmine. The two also worked on developing her resume and cover letters in preparation for job applications. Yasmine’s son has also had the opportunity to find work through the Career Center’s Youth Program by working with Earl Brooks, Transitional Workforce Specialist.
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Yasmine’s drive is inspired by her late father, who died in a hospital many years ago. “I’m not going to be able to save everybody’s life, but my goal is to more so save lives because they didn’t save my dad’s life,” says Yasmine.
She wants to care for critically ill patients, but is also interested in working in emergency departments, sexual assault examination, and forensics. As she studies for her practical nursing exam, she is also making plans to apply for work in an Emergency Room.
Although the eleven-month LPN program is over, life for Yasmine is still as busy as ever. “You have to give it your all,” she says. Her kids have been her support system while she works and studies. “They’re my team, for real.”
After years of hard work, all that stands in Yasmine’s way now is one last exam for her nursing license. “Oh my god, I’m so excited!” she says about graduating. With people like Yasmine joining the ranks, the future of nursing is bright.
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Do you feel called to serve your community? Tompkins Community Action, a non-profit community action organization, is currently hiring for multiple roles. TCAction focuses on family, community, and housing services, with the goal of moving people out of poverty.
On the outside, many people may view TCAction as just a childcare program, but its programs cover so much more. Qualifying families also have access to the emergency food pantry, victory garden starter plants, early education, rental assistance, housing choice vouchers, and supportive housing. Head Start is the TCAction program that serves families with childcare, school readiness curriculum, and general support services. This is also the program with current job openings!
The current openings for Head Start include Teacher, Teacher Assistant, Classroom Assistant, Mental Health Manager/Integrated Services Manager, Family Partner, Cook, and Infant/Toddler EHS Teacher. All positions are full-time (35-40 hours per week) with living wages and benefits. These benefits include generous paid time off, a flexible spending account, retirement, employee assistance, life insurance, and health and dental insurance.
Danielle Harrington, the Executive Director, describes the staff as “really good-hearted people.” New hires can look forward to a positive working environment where staff members are encouraged to share ideas and support each other. TCAction also ensures that expenses for background checks and trainings are paid for, so applicants do not need to worry about additional barriers to employment.
“The staff are really good at problem solving,” says Michelle Blodgette, Program Director of Head Start. “When there’s a family in crisis, everyone just mobilizes.” The organization serves families from all over Tompkins County, so the staff works with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
TCAction is seeking applicants who are driven by compassion for both children and their families. Collaborating with families during the Head Start program is essential for removing barriers they may face due to poverty. It is important for staff to embrace the philosophy of family involvement, as teachers, aides, and especially family partners work closely with families to address challenges.
“You have to want to help people,” says Danielle. Many educators know that this line of work can often be thankless, but Head Start is all about investing in the children’s futures. “It’s the little success stories you don’t see for a long time.”
Although the work has its challenges, the rewards are great. The children get a jumpstart in life, experience a better classroom environment, and gain a greater quality of life with the help of TCAction’s programs and staff.
“You may not see it,” Michelle says. “But you’re making a difference every single day with these kids.”
For more information, visit Tompkins Community Action’s listings on Indeed for current openings and their official website for programs. Resumes and cover letters can be emailed to Cindy Martin at jobs@tcaction.org. Apply today to join the mission of moving families in our community out of poverty and changing lives for the better.
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Do you enjoy working with your hands? BorgWarner, a vehicle parts manufacturer, is seeking applicants for multiple full-time roles for its Ithaca facility. Both entry-level and experienced workers are welcome to apply.
Incentives include quarterly retention bonuses, shift differentials (increased wages for night and weekend shifts), as well as medical, dental, and vision insurance. To keep its workers happy and healthy, BorgWarner offers on-site physical therapy from Guthrie, ADA reasonable accommodations, stretching programs, work rotations, and a cafeteria.
With wages starting at $18.22 per hour and opportunities for mobility within BorgWarner, entry-level production workers can quickly become financially independent. There are even opportunities for onsite apprenticeships for workers who wish to advance into skilled positions with higher pay.
Although BorgWarner requires background checks and physicals for the safety of all employees, the company offers second-chance hiring to individuals affected by the justice system. Jobseekers can be assured that applications will not be filtered by AI. Instead, the Human Resources team works to match applicants to the job openings at BorgWarner that suit them best.
No manufacturing experience? Applicants do not need to have formal experience with manufacturing or a diploma/GED to be a good fit for BorgWarner. If you enjoy working with your hands, have problem-solving skills, and can maintain good attendance, BorgWarner wants you to apply! English fluency is not necessary either—Human Resources works with individuals to ensure alternative forms of communication and translation so that all employees can succeed.
For more information on how to apply, visit BorgWarner's website.
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Direct to Work Informational Session
Please join us on Zoom or at the Ithaca Area Economic Development office on July 12th at 10am for an informational session on Direct to Work - Pathways to Manufacturing. This will be the final informational session for the summer cohort. Whether attending online or in-person, attendees can register in advance through this link.
The Pathways to Manufacturing program is a full-time, five-week training program to equip people with the technical skills needed by area manufacturers. Upon completion, participants get a one-time $1000 stipend (previously $500), guaranteed interview with a participating manufacturer, and can take the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) exam–a national credential.
The Pathways to Manufacturing program is a blend of online learning and hands-on experience using Virtual Reality, employer engagement, and team-building exercises. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of manufacturing processes and techniques and spend an entire day with each participating manufacturer, meeting with several departments and Human Resources.
For more information about the Pathways to Manufacturing program, contact Mary Holland-Bavis at maryhb@ithacaareaed.org.
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Longview Senior Living Job & Career Fair
Attend their event on July 17th from 10AM to 2PM for an opportunity to explore multiple career options at Longview Senior Living! Available positions include medicine tech and resident aide, servers, housekeeper, and recreation assistants. Longview is located at 1 Bella Vista Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. For more information, please email Kristi Downham at kdownham@longviewithaca.org.
NYS Department of Labor Webinars
The New York State Department of Labor is hosting informational sessions on Zoom every weekday for the rest of July. These virtual workshops are free and available to the public through online signup links. While most of the webinars are in English, many topics are also covered in Spanish during separate webinars. This month's topics include salary negotiation, civil service, time management, and using age to your advantage.
How It's MADE: Manufacturing and Development Expo
On October 10th at 9am-2pm, Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) is hosting the annual Manufacturing and Development Expo in the BorgWarner Morse TEC Field House. Businesses are invited to register for the event by July 19th. This will be a great opportunity to engage high schoolers and showcase manufacturing as a viable field. Create interactive displays and activities to inspire the next generation of manufacturers!
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The Tompkins County Workforce Development Board met on Tuesday, May 21st to approve the Operating Fiscal Budget, discuss workforce updates, and learn more about the Employer Resource Network (ERN).
The Board welcomed James Vander Hulst, President and Chief Disruptive Officer at the ERN. Vander Hulst developed the ERN to increase job retention for participating employers with a secondary goal to improve worker productivity. Companies share a success coach who can be a confidential resource for employees, provide on-site assistance, fast-track barrier removal, be a conduit to local resources, give ongoing coaching, and provide effective solutions for employee issues (financial/debt, childcare, attendance, etc.).
President and CEO at the Tompkins Chamber, Jennifer Tavares, CEcD, has been organizing ERN orientations and presentations, and development sessions in Tompkins County. Leadership from the hospitality and tourism sector have been involved along with other partners that could support this initiative.
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For questions regarding the newsletter, please contact Scout Frost, Communications Specialist: sfrost@tompkins-co.org
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