WSEM > Centers of Excellence > el barrio/workforce development

students/classes

El Barrio, the Workforce Development Center of Excellence of WSEM, provides clients like Ramon, Jennifer and Santosh with pre-employment programs and employment referrals to youth, adults and families in need across the Greater Cleveland area.

These services include:

Intensive and culturally sensitive case management services in 3 languages (Arabic, Spanish and English). Our experienced case managers do everything they can to help you overcome your barriers to success.
Essential Job Readiness training. A two-week course that will provide you with basic skills on how to look for, find and retain meaningful employment with the best companies in town. Ramon received his full two-week course in Spanish with highly qualified instructors who helped him practice and refine his bilingual skills.
Job search and placement services. Our experienced career consultants make sure that your needs and goals match the search of our partnering companies. Jennifer, for example, obtained employment with an international hotel chain that partners with El Barrio to hire qualified candidates.
English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. With levels ranging from beginning to advanced, our signature ESL classes are a perfect tool for those needing to learn or improve the English language. Many clients like Santosh come to El Barrio having just recently arrived to Cleveland without knowing the English language.
Pre-Vocational Workforce Channel in Customer Service. After completing Job Readiness, program participants may choose to further their studies with our Customer Service Workforce Channel program in which El Barrio partners with a broad network of companies that deliver industry-focused training.
Year-round after-school work ethic workshops and employment readiness programs, including summer jobs for youth.
Refugee Employment. In partnership with resettlement agency US Together, El Barrio recruits and provides case management to refugees in need of employment. Refugees from countries such as Russia, Iraq, Bhutan, Nepal, and various African countries, are first trained in life and job readiness skills depending on their English proficiency and then placed in self sustaining employment. For example, at US Together, Santosh was able to learn English while learning valuable career lessons, such as how to fill out applications and dress for an interview, that helped him land a job at a local restaurant.

Why attend El Barrio training?

Total of 2-6 weeks intensive cost-free training
Focused on high-demand areas with local companies engaged in instruction and hiring
Direct exposure to employing companies
Instruction includes classroom learning, site visits to partners, hands-on activities, online training, expert instructors
We provide certifications for each area: National Retail Federation (Customer Service).

If you are enrolled with Cuyahoga County cash benefits, please contact your county case worker to be referred to our program, or if not, stop by our office and talk to our recruiter who will provide you with the most updated information on our cost-free trainings.

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