WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Working for Change
H elping clients break cycles of poverty and violence is the central focus of Collaborative Solutions for Communities (CSC). Among its most effective strategies for individuals and families is advancing job training to give people a crucial leg up as they seek to build financial stability and secure their lives. Through the Progressive Employment Program, CSC offers essential tools for transforming lives. “Our philosophy in the Progressive Employment Program is that, if you want to make a difference, you should give someone a job,” said Trinette Hawkins- Coleman, CSC’s dynamic chief of staff. “This program is the special secret ingredient to CSC’s success, encouraging self-sufficiency and putting people on a path to personal and professional improvement.”
The program is comprised of a three-week, hands-on curriculum that prepares participants to do well in the workplace by honing interview and job readiness skills. “We teach people how to get and keep a job, but that’s just the beginning,” Coleman said. “Their first step may be finding a position at Chick-fil-A, but we want to help them think longer term. Maybe their ultimate goal is to become an IT specialist, or to advance to management at Nordstrom. Whatever their ambition is, we enable them to understand the difference between a job and a career.” To be eligible for the program, par- ticipants must be residents of the District of Columbia and meet certain income requirements. Unlike some other, similar programs, CSC’s Progressive Employment Program does not provide a stipend for attendance. “What we offer is much more than that,” Coleman said. “Our program has thrived because people have seen that our methods work, and once you graduate, you’re always part of the CSC family. We’re a referral-based program, and whether people are being routed to us by our violence prevention colleagues or through our reentry programs, they know that a relationship with CSC is one you can count on for life.” Coleman said she can track how well participants are doing during the three-week course session based on several key metrics. “When people are thriving in the program, we typically see steady attendance, a significant drop in substance abuse, and an increased emphasis on peer accountabili- ty—working with classmates to offer support and lift each other up,” she said. Each cohort of graduates often remains connected, building lasting relationships that can serve as a stabiliz- ing force in times of crisis or stress. Some alumni, like Sarah Robinson and Eric Morris, stay particularly close
Taquere Thomas graduated from the CSC Workforce Development, Progressive Employment Program
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