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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
to the program’s orbit, parlaying their certificates of completion into a career helping others at CSC. “When the class started, I was a little iffy. I’d done a training before, and it had ended up feeling like a waste of my time,” recalled Robinson, who today works at CSC as a truancy case manager. “But the Progressive Employment Program was differ- ent. The instructors were great, and you could tell they were really interested in helping us. They taught us all kinds of things, like how to put together a resume, how to be on time (or to let your employer know you’re going to be late) and how to use your ‘inside voice.’ The class was so valuable.” “This program is the special secret ingredient of CSC’s success—encouraging self-sufficiency and putting people on a path to personal and professional improvement.”
me with tangible things like mock interviews and learning what colors to wear to get a job, as well as bigger picture strategies such as Thinking for a Change.” After completing the curriculum, Morris was recruited by CSC to join the youth violence team; that was two years ago, and he has never looked back. “I’m grateful to the program for what I’ve accomplished,” he said. “And the best part about it is that anyone can be successful. You just have to show that you’re interested and actually want to be employed.” As Eric sees it, desire and determination are essential. “The Progressive Employment Program can take you part way, but you also need to be motivated,” he said. “In the end, the only way to be successful is to do some of the work yourself,” he said. l
For Morris, a program graduate and current supervisor of CSC’s Safe Passage Program, which helps kids travel safely to and from school, the experience was similar. “I’d done a different job training program that had never amounted to anything,” he said. “But at CSC, they helped
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