September 2016

In This Newsletter
Employer Spotlight
Construction Ready
Generation Atlanta
Participant Spotlight

UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
Fri. Sept. 30 - Construction Ready Orientation at TCWFI; 9am

Sat. Oct. 1  -  Homebuyers Education Course; 8am

Tues. Oct. 11 - TCWFI Orientation; 8am

Tues. Oct. 11  - Palate with a Purpose at participating
restaurants; 6pm

Mon. Oct. 17 - Construction Ready Class (Cohort 4) begins

Tues. Oct. 18 - TCWFI Orientation; 8am

Sun. Oct. 23 - Falcons vs. San Diego Chargers; all proceeds will benefit the Center; purchase tickets here

Wed. Nov. 2 - Job Fair at Dunbar Neighborhood Center Gymnasium; 9am
 
Employer Spotlight 
 
Our work is made whole with the support of our Employer Partner network. Special recognition to VXI Global Solutions for helping us place participants in entry-level positions. Kudos partner!



If you're interested in employing well-trained candidates, contact Anita Foster at afoster@tcwfi.org. 
DONATE TO TCWFI

Dear Reader, 

Exciting things are happening at The Center for Working Families everyday and we want you to be in the know! In this review, you will learn about the Center's recent news, upcoming events , employer partnerships and other news. Read on and enjoy!
October 11 - Friendraiser
On  October 11 we have your dinner plans covered! We are partnerin g with a few restaurants around the city to present Palate with a Purpose in an effort to raise funds towar d our skills  tra ining programs. Guests will be able to visit participating restaurants and donate to the Center! Participating restaurants include: No Mas! Cantina, Agave Restaurant, 656 Sports Bar & GrillDakota Blue and Six Feet Under in Grant Park!
October 23 - Falcons vs. Chargers Game
We're partnering with the Atlanta Falcons next month to raise support for our skills training programs! On  October 23  the Falcons will take on the San Diego Chargers and a  portion of every ticket sold will be donated back to The Center! This of fer is valid through October 3rd  or while tickets last.  Purchase your tickets  here   and use code: RISEUP. 
Are you looking to enter the Construction field?
Construction Ready at TCWFI equips participants with the fundamental tools, long term supports and access to jumpstart a career in construction. In this pilot year, 60 residents will be trained in Construction and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class B, earning over eight (8) nationally recognized certifications. T his training is a partnership between The Center for Working Families, Inc. and CEFGA. It is made possible with the support of The Atlanta CareerRise, Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds provided by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency and The Annie E. Casey Foundation.  

Our next class will start on October 17, 2016. Interested candidates can read more, register  here  or attend orientation this Friday, September 30, 2016 9am at The Center for Working Families (477 Windsor Street, SW Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30312).
Over 50 Customer Service Graduates later...
Photo: Generation students at graduation
Launched early this year in partnership with McKinsey Social Initiative, we've graduated over 50 Atlanta residents from our Customer Service skills training program, titled Generation Atlanta (Generation). The program  is TCWFI's second hard-skills training helping young adults (ages 18 - 29) kickstart th eir career in the customer service field through a six-week, part-time program that teaches trainees the technical and behavioral skills needed to excel in retail, hospitality and telecommunication s industries. 

Generation is a program of McKinsey Social Initiative (MSI), a nonprofit founded by McKinsey & Company, that brings together the social, public, an d private sectors to implement innovative approaches to complex societal challenges. With programs across the nation and abroad, MSI selected the Center as its pilot and entry into Atlanta. Since its exception, Generation Atlanta has grown from one site to three across two counties (Fulton and Clayton). 

For information about the program visit tcwfi.org or apply at generationinitiative.org/USA. 
National Night Out 2016 
On Tuesday, August 2, 2016 TCWFI partnered with the Neighborhood Planning Unit V (NPU-V) National Night Out Committee to host National Night Out; an annual community-building event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. This year's host community was Peoplestown. TCWFI provided backpacks and school supplies to over 500 families. 

Please visit our  Facebook page  to see more photos from past events. 
Participant Spotlight: Monifa Taylor
Meet Monifa Taylor , a former track star who found herself just 200th of a second shy of making the 1992 American Olympics team. With her father as her coach, he helped her land a track scholarship to the University of Florida where she studied economics. Monifa dreamed of a lifelong career in sports until she was injured during a meet in Germany. She flew back to the United States, landing in Alabama where she worked a few jobs to make ends meet.
 
Desiring a new start and wanting to put her undergraduate degree to use, in 2001 Monifa moved to Atlanta. That year she landed a job with SunTrust Bank while working toward her real estate license part-time. Just one year after working at the Bank she left the company to pursue her passion for real estate full-time. Over time she transitioned from sales and investing to property management.
 
Just a few years into her career, Monifa felt the early impacts of the economic recession, which hit housing the hardest in Atlanta. Monifa and her partner would also welcome their first child in the midst of the worst downturn in recent history. Money was slow and bills mounted. Monifa worked several part-time jobs and joined a local real estate investment group, which helped spark her interest in development and construction. A peer from the group recommended she enroll in The Center for Working Families' inaugural four-week Construction Ready training program; equipping candidates for entry-level positions in construction. Entering the training program would allow Monifa to enhance her understanding of the field as well as earn a better living wage for her family. "The start of the program was perfect timing because it was around the same time my partner lost a work contract," said Monifa.
 
Monifa enrolled with the goal to land a job with a major construction company, and she did. She was hired as a Laborer with J.E. Dunn Construction Group at $15 per hour. "After gaining my OSHA 10, D.O.T. Flagger and Laser Certifications as well as national construction core credentials I felt like meeting employers immediately was the icing on the cake", said Monifa. "I don't know many programs that connect you to employment before the program ends, and stay in touch after to make sure I'm on a solid path."  Ms. Taylor recently completed her 90 day review and was promoted from a yellow hat to a white hat; an employee milestone at J.E. Dunn; as a result, she will begin receiving benefits. 

Ms. Taylor is Trained, Credentialed and Back to Work!