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| Graduates of the 2012 Work Readiness program stop to pose for a picture. |
The Work Readiness Program, a four-year old job skills program for teens, is now recruiting for their upcoming class.
"The program not only offers valuable 'work readiness' skills it also offers students potential opportunities to market their professional skills to potential employers," says Blake Kush, job developer for Albany Community Action Partnership. "Successful graduates are also offered potential incentives and valuable references, mentors and support services."
The Work Readiness Program is a collaborative effort of the Central Ave BID, Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP), the Liberty Partnerships Program based out of SUNY Albany's School of Social Welfare, and the City School District of Albany. The program takes students from the Adult Learning Center or Albany High School and teaches them how to get a job. Since 2008, the Work Readiness Program has trained close to 100 students, offering vocational soft skills building, interview preparation, resume building, work place etiquette, and effective problem solving, says Kush.
Kevin Fox, Family Support Coordinator at the Liberty Partnerships Program and Emily Cody, an alum and current graduate student at SUNY Albany, currently co facilitate the course. The Work Readiness Program currently meets in Draper Hall, at the downtown SUNY Albany campus.
Antonio Di Carlo, the job placement specialist who works out of the Central Avenue Business
Improvement District offices, has assembled a large network of employers, including many businesses in the district. He has placed students at Hannaford, ShopRite, and McDonald's.
While the program accepts any high school aged student, job placement and internship assistance is only offered to students 16 and over. Participants must be enrolled in some form of traditional or remedial high school in order to qualify.
Interested candidates are encouraged to attend the Orientation Session before the semester course begins (to be scheduled soon). All interested applicants should call Antonio Di Carlo at (518) 462-4300 or Kevin Fox at Liberty Partnership (518) 442-5590 for more information about enrollment.
