Through a grant awarded by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, the nonprofits are teaming up to quickly give people marketable skills and connect them with employers
Partners in Careers and Bridgeview are offering free short-term job training to unemployed and underemployed people in Clark County.
Through a grant awarded by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, the nonprofits are teaming up to quickly give people marketable skills and connect them with employers. Each training will provide hands-on education tailored to specific career paths and skills.
“We want to increase everyone’s ability to be employed,” said Sharon Pesut, executive director of Partners in Careers.
The short-term training provides a path for people to get into living-wage jobs — ones that pay above minimum wage — without having to take a long educational route. Those who are shying away from higher education or who lost their job during the pandemic, may want to explore other options.
With the short-term training, they can “try on” a new career, Pesut said.
The first training is a prep cook boot camp March 4 to 7 at the Northwest Culinary Institute. In addition to learning soft skills such as communication and professionalism, participants will earn their food handlers card, learn knife handling skills and be provided a chef coat; they can also opt to get ServSafe certification. The training concludes with a job fair connecting trainees to restaurants seeking workers.
“There is a good likelihood at the end of this short term training to go right into employment,” said Jodi Freydenfeldt, volunteer and engagement supervisor at Bridgeview.
While the free training is aimed at young adults aged 18 to 28, there are no age or eligibility requirements. The organizations have been recruiting Vancouver Housing Authority residents, but anyone can participate.
Future trainings will be aimed at bus driving and paraeducation. Surveyed VHA residents have also expressed interest in construction, property management, childcare and home health trainings. Through hands on learning, they can experience what one career may involve. If one training doesn’t spark their interest, they can sign up for another one.
“This is an opportunity to figure out what you enjoy and what you want to do,” said Mary Nicholson, data and compliance manager at Partners in Careers.
Those interested in the prep cook boot camp or future short-term job training can contact Nicholson at mary@sswpic.org or (360) 597-2062.
Information provided by Vancouver Housing Authority.
