SPRINGFIELD, MO – Change isn’t something to be afraid of, especially for the participants in first-ever cohort for Change One Thousand. This innovative program created by staff at the Missouri Job Center and supported by the Ozarks Region Workforce Development Board aims to change 1000 lives over the course of three years. Partnering with manufacturers in Partnership Industrial Center East (PIC East), the Missouri Job Center will be kicking off the first classes—with around 30 participants—February 8, 5:30-6:15 p.m. at the Fusion Center, 1320 N. Campbell Ave., with an orientation and dinner for the first cohort members.
“Change One Thousand is a great example of the life changing good that can happen when local industry and government collaborate to tackle the problem of poverty in our community,” said Greg Herren, General Manager at Change One Thousand partner Multi-Craft Contractors, Inc. “This program truly creates a win, win, win situation for citizens of the Ozarks because it teaches the participants the soft skills necessary to get and keep a good job.”
Change One Thousand was created after numerous conversations with manufacturing companies about the workforce trends that they were observing. Many employers noted that there was a lack of skilled employees and mentioned that soft skills were often lacking. Change One Thousand consists of a 5-week Skills Academy that will teach participants soft skills like resume writing and proper work etiquette and other more technical skills as designed by the employers at PIC East. At the end of the Academy, participants will take the National Certified Work Readiness Test to determine their skills in areas like math, writing, and information gathering. On the final day of the Academy, participants will attend a graduation and hiring event with PIC East employers.
“The wins come when local industry has more qualified, dependable workers who appreciate being employed; when the tax burden is decreased on our citizens due to a reduction in unemployment; and most importantly, the wins come when the under-resourced in our community receive the hope, freedom and self-dignity that stable employment creates,” Herren said. “Multi-Craft Contractors is proud to be part of the Change One Thousand program and we look forward to the Changes it will create in people’s lives.”
For information about the event, please contact Josh Klein, [email protected], 417-841-3354