Lights, camera, action!
New Community Workforce Development Center debuted its new public access television show called “NCC: Connecting You To Resources” in April. The program highlights the career technical programs offered at NCC and features real life students who talk about their experiences in the training programs and the careers they dream of pursuing.
Episode 1 and Episode 2 are now both on YouTube and also posted on the New Community Corporation Facebook page (www.facebook.com/newcommunitycorporation). The roughly 28-minute program, filmed at the Cablevision studio on Central Avenue in Newark, is designed to raise public awareness about the Workforce Development Center and its successful job training programs.
In 2016, the Workforce Development Center, which is an accredited, post-secondary school offering education and occupational training, boasted an employment placement rate of 72 percent of its students.
“New Community Workforce Development Center has great stories to share,” Director Rodney Brutton said. “We view the Cablevision program as an excellent vehicle to share and promote our career and technical programs.”
New classes start on May 22, 2017, for the following training programs:
· Ford Automotive Technician
· Building Trades
· Certified Medical Assistant
· Culinary Arts Specialist
· Patient Care Technician
To apply for a training program or to get more information, call Workforce at 973-824-6484 or visit the school at 274 South Orange Ave. in Newark.
In Episode 1, Brutton provides an overview of all the programs offered at the Workforce Development Center and highlights the key employer partnerships that help students to secure jobs upon completion. Interviewed by Director of Special Projects Richard Cammarieri, Brutton noted that the Workforce Development Center offers financial aid to eligible students.
In addition to Brutton, the television program is produced by Victor Silva, Richard Cammarieri and Eunice Lee.
Aside from the hard skills gained at Workforce, students also receive life skills training, mental health workshops from the Family Service Bureau of Newark, an affiliate of NCC, and have access to resources such as the Financial Opportunity Center and one-stop Family Resource Success Center.
In Episode 2, Brutton interviewed five current students who represented programs ranging from the Ford Automotive Technician Program to the Certified Medical Assistant Program.
Ayanna Thomas, a current student in the CMA program, discussed how she wanted to gain skills for the healthcare field but did not want to be stuck in school for several years.
The Workforce Development Center has also arranged recruitment sessions with future employers, she said, citing a recent visit by University Hospital representatives.
“We were able to give them our resumes,” Thomas said. “A lot of places don’t really give you that direct conversation with possibly your future employer. So that’s awesome.”
She also spoke about daily life as a student.
“We have homework daily, we have weekly tests and quizzes on medical terms, abbreviations, all the body systems,” Thomas explained, adding that her instructor “pays attention to each and every one of us.”
To watch the rest of the interview with Thomas and to watch our latest episodes, go to YouTube and search “NCC: Connecting You To Resources.”
