Makin� it Work Advances Across the Province

The Provincial Government is supporting the Community Centre Alliance with $120,000 to develop a career and employment strategy for families living in social housing in Labrador, Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor and Marystown.

Today, the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, and Amy Percy, General Manager of the Community Centre Alliance, launched the province-wide expansion of the Makin� it Work program.  This initiative builds upon the Community Centre Alliance�s successful Makin� it Work pilot project held in St. John�s in 2007.

�I am pleased to see this community-driven initiative made available to people living in other social housing communities across the province,� said Minister Skinner.  �Last year, the Community Centre Alliance demonstrated the value of adopting a straight forward and practical approach in addressing labour market shortages.  I support expanding it to other areas as we move forward with the neighbourhood-based career and employment strategy and help more people get connected to work.�

Makin� it Work connects employers experiencing labour shortages with individuals who want to work.  In 2007, over 20 social housing community members enrolled in the program.  The program featured a combination of in-class instruction in life and essential skills, on-the-job training, two hospitality industry certifications, and practical work experience for entry-level housekeeping jobs at the Delta Hotel and Holiday Inn in St. John�s.

Last year, Allan Thibert participated in the Makin� it Work program.  As a result, he achieved full-time employment with the Holiday Inn.  Mr. Thibert commented, �I had some doubts when I started with Makin� it Work, if I could get through it.  I had been out of school and unemployed for a long time.  Now, I am working full-time, my self-esteem is high, I love my job and I have purpose in my life.�

In addition to an expanded Makin� it Work program, the neighbourhood-based career and employment strategy will improve access to services, enable the Community Centre Alliance to connect with key stakeholders and inform community members about locally available programs.  It will encourage collaboration in the delivery of services, provide labour market information, offer career and employment services directly to program participants, and identify and connect individuals to job opportunities with employers.  The goal is the creation of a career and employment service delivery model that supports the needs of social housing residents.

�We keep hearing that employers can�t find the skilled labour they need. This program shows we can work with employers to find out what skills they need, and then support local people to achieve that required skill level,� said Amy Percy.  �We know there are great people out there who are eager to learn and work here in our province.  I look forward to sharing our project model�s success and supporting its implementation at the four new locations.�

The Community Centre Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that provides employment, education and empowerment programs to five community centre neighbourhoods in St. John�s.

�This government believes in working together with people, community groups and employers, so that everyone who wants to work can gain access to the career and employment supports they need at the local level,� said Minister Skinner.

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2008 03 05                                                        12:10 p.m.