New Community Workforce Development Center has been awarded a three-year grant totaling $225,000 to provide academic literacy support and vocation training services related to its occupational training programs.
The annual $75,000 grant comes from LISC’s Family Income and Wealth Building program and is meant to help New Community Workforce Development Center align with LISC’s Bridges to Career Opportunities model. The model includes a period of “contextualized bridge training,” which means the instruction focuses on industry-relevant material. An example would be teaching fractions through the lens of measurements that are needed in the field of construction. The goal is to teach the academic skills in a way that more readily prepares students for their future careers.
“Ultimately, we’re going to blend vocational services, academic support and financial coaching to enhance the social and financial status of area job seekers,” said New Community Workforce Development Director Rodney Brutton.
Workforce will use the funding to operate a Bridges to Career program with outreach and recruitment, direct classroom instruction, vocational training, financial services and career services, including job placement assistance.
“This is an outgrowth of our Financial Opportunity Center and Academic Enrichment Program by combining those two initiatives,” Brutton said.
There are no residency requirements for the program, but participants must be at least 18 years old.
“This work is supported by our local Greater Newark LISC office under the direction of Rhonda Lewis, executive director, and Jerrah Crowder, program officer,” Brutton said. “Both Rhonda and Jerrah understand the importance of combining contextualized learning with occupational skills and financial coaching and how that leads to a more well-rounded job seeker.”
New Community Workforce Development Center is an accredited post-secondary career and technical school offering the following programs: Automotive Technician, Patient Care Technician (Certified Home Health Aide, EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician), Clinical Medical Assistant (EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Office Administration, Medical Billing/Coding), Culinary Arts Specialist, and Building Trades Specialist (Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Flooring, Painting). All programs offer industry recognized credentials. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
For more information about the school, call 973-824-6484. To complete an application online, click here.
The mission of New Community Workforce Development Center is to improve the quality of life of all students through education and occupational training in a community that fosters life-long learning.
