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APRIL 2023
WORKFORCE
CHRONICLES:
Happy Spring!
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CEO Insights
Happy Spring! Spring is a season of immense growth and new beginnings. As temperatures rise and daylight increases, there is a palpable, invigorating energy.
“April showers bring May flowers”: this popular adage is true at Employ Milwaukee. Our team works hard in spring to ensure the seeds we planted in fall and winter are nourished and ready to successfully bloom in summer, Employ Milwaukee’s busiest season for youth programming. This summer we look forward to connecting nearly 1,500 Milwaukee underserved youth to paid work experiences through Earn & Learn and Camp RISE. This lofty summer goal wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and work that is invested during the rest of the year.
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As the spring season gets underway, I encourage you to take stock of the seeds you have planted and evaluate what you need to do this season of growth for those seeds to flourish. Employ Milwaukee is invigorated to serve you: if you are an employer or job seeker, connect with us this season to see how we can help you achieve your goals! | |
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NATIONAL UPDATES
The White House: Second Chance Month
President Biden has proclaimed April 2023 as Second Chance Month.
"America has always been a land of second chances, founded on fresh starts, new possibilities, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. During Second Chance Month, we recommit to helping people forge the new beginnings they have earned and building a safer and more just society." -President Biden
Employ Milwaukee is committed to serving the reentry population. The term “reentry” describes individuals returning to the community from jail or prison. Employment has been proven to substantially reduce the risk of reoffending; however, many former offenders struggle with a lack of adequate education and job skills that employers demand. Employ Milwaukee provides employment services to justice involved individuals, and is a resource for employers who are interested in tapping into this underutilized talent pool. Visit our website to learn more and follow our social media accounts as we celebrate Second Chance Month.
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STATE OF LABOR
EMI's State of the Labor Market Brief
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Employ Milwaukee is your expert on the labor market in Milwaukee County. See below for the latest metrics. | |
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SUCCESS STORY
Finding Her Place
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After graduating from high school in Milwaukee, Yesenia Delgado was going through a difficult time in her personal life. With a desire to work in financial services, she struggled to find any opportunities. After discovering an ad for BankWork$ at Employ Milwaukee on Facebook, Yesenia knew she was on the path to achieving her dream.
“I always had this goal of wanting to work at a bank, but I thought it would require a college degree, but it turns out I was wrong. After I applied for BankWork$, I got a call, and the next thing I knew, I was there doing assessments and an interview,” recalls Yesenia.
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For Yesenia, BankWork$ was nothing short of life-changing. She joined the program in April 2022 and graduated that June. Despite the program’s intensity at times, Yesenia was optimistic about her experience and full of praise for Employ Milwaukee program’s instructors, Adriene Wright and Oscar Delgado. “I gained a lot more positivity. I tend to doubt myself a lot regarding things like this, but Adriene and Oscar helped me develop my skills to become a more confident person,” said Yesenia.
After completing the program, BMO hired Yesenia as a Relationship Banker, where she loves helping customers and impacting her community. When asked what drew her to the banking industry, Yesenia stated, “I’m passionate about helping the Hispanic community develop financial skills. As young adults, we don’t get taught a lot about our finances, even in schools, and I felt it was important for me to teach them to be more knowledgeable. I love that I get the opportunity to help customers and be involved with my community. It’s not just a job for me. It’s a passion.”
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Jesenia (second from right), with her Summer 2022 graduating class.
Adriene Wright, the BankWork$ instructor at Employ Milwaukee, was impressed with Yesenia’s attitude toward learning. “Yesenia was a pleasure to have in the classroom. She was the confident supporting voice in the room for everyone, a leader who always volunteered and assisted others. We knew that she would be an asset to any company she would join by bringing seasoned experience, a passion for helping others, a willingness to learn, and determination to succeed,” said Adriene.
Yesenia said about her experience with BankWork$, “it’s a lot of knowledge to take in within eight weeks. It can be stressful at times, but you already know that on the other side is a successful life and career.”
Are you interested in launching your career in Financial Services like Yesenia? Learn more about BankWork$ on our website.
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SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Industry Highlight: Financial Services
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Upcoming Opportunties and Events! | |
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Digital Literacy Lab
Could you or someone you know use basic digital literacy training? Check out our Digital Literacy Lab, an 8 hour training program over two or four weeks that supplies participants with essential computer skills and a free computer! We are accepting registrants for multiple future cohorts.
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TDCON 2023
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association is hosting its annual Talent Development Conference (TDCON) 2023. The conference will offer high-quality programming highlighting successful workforce development strategies from across Wisconsin. Attendees will hear insights from Wisconsin's top workforce development leaders. We hope to see you there!
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BankWork$
BankWork$ was developed to open a door for young adults and adults from low income and minority communities to help them find and succeed in well-paying jobs that can lead to a lasting career. Students are often those who otherwise would not be considered a qualified candidate for positions in banking/financial services. Participants in the BankWork$ program will be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or GED, have basic computer skills, and previous cash handling and customer service experience. Employ Milwaukee will assess individuals prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility requirements are met. BankWork$ classes will be provided at no cost to the participants. The next cohort begins in April. Register Now!
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Healthy Homes Construction Careers
Jumpstart your career in the construction industry or advance your current construction experience! Healthy Homes Construction Careers offers $15/hour paid training to earn while you learn valuable skills for a family-supporting job in the growing construction industry. Interested in learning more? Visit our website.
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HIRING CORNER
Looking for a career in workforce development? Come join us at Employ Milwaukee! We are currently on the lookout for ‘go-getter’ talent to join our A-Team at the agency in the following areas:
- Program Specialist
- Data Entry Specialist
- Camp Rise Counselor
- Workforce Specialist
- Business Sector Specialist – Construction
- Earn and Learn Specialist
- Accounting Intern
- Compliance Intern
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For more information about
Employ Milwaukee’s programs
and services, please visit: www.employmilwaukee.org
or call (414) 270-1700.
Employ Milwaukee is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Service Provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to
individuals with disabilities or language needs.
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