el barrio/WSEM workforce development center of excellence
Ramon, a father of three, needed to find employment quickly to support his family.
Jennifer was reluctant at first to enroll in El Barrio's Job Readiness/Job Search program until she met the helpful and positive staff.
Santosh was a Bhutanese refugee who was living in a refugee camp in Nepal to escape political corruption when he came to the United States in June 2010. He needed to learn English and find employment quickly if he was going to remain in his newly adopted country.
The stories are different, but the need is the same. West Side Ecumenical Ministry knows that for any individual or family, gainful employment is important to achieving personal and financial stability. That's why El Barrio/WSEM Workforce Development Center of Excellence secures employment for more than 350 adults and youth each year. Through effective programs supported by community partners, those we serve succeed in the labor market, build earnings and assets, and participate more fully in the larger economy.
The Center focuses on employee recruitment and preparation by providing training and/or educational programs that will result in steady jobs and career-building positions. El Barrio offers career pathways through pre-vocational training in Customer Service for youth and adults.
Referrals into the Center come from a variety of sources. Clients can be referred to El Barrio as part of a welfare-to-work program, while others may seek our services directly. Additionally, all WSEM Centers of Excellence channel interested or eligible clients to our programs and provide an important pipeline into the Workforce Development Program.
Regardless of how individuals in need find us, El Barrio welcomes anyone who would like to change their life through hard work and employment.