COVID-19 disproportionately impacted the lives of women and underscored the challenges women face in balancing family and workplace responsibilities, including Annemarie Feltman and Bacillia Acosta.
Annemarie was laid off from her job at the beginning of the pandemic, and Bacillia, a Watts resident, had been looking for work but was forced to stop after her children’s school closed. Through the Watts WorkSource Center (WSC) they were enrolled in the COVID-19 National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) program, a transitional employment program funded by the federal CARES Act.
Annemarie and Bacillia both completed 300 hours of work at the Watts Empowerment Center in the Imperial Courts Public Housing Development. Their duties included assisting with food distribution to families impacted by the pandemic, back-to-school events, the weekly farmer’s market, and sanitizing common areas to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
After completing their hours, both women were hired permanently to work at the Watts WSC, operated by EWDD contractor, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). Annemarie is now the Director of Programming and Bacillia is now the Community Communications Liaison. They said that they are both grateful to secure permanent employment and are looking forward to becoming part of the support system of Imperial Courts.
The NDWG project is 100% federally-funded in the amount of $1.8 million.
EWDD operates 16 WorkSource Centers and 3 portal offices in Los Angeles. The centers act as a personal employment agency for Angelenos and our services are always free. Learn about the various programs and benefits offered through EWDD Employment Services and WorkSource Centers.
Annemarie was laid off from her job at the beginning of the pandemic, and Bacillia, a Watts resident, had been looking for work but was forced to stop after her children’s school closed. Through the Watts WorkSource Center (WSC) they were enrolled in the COVID-19 National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) program, a transitional employment program funded by the federal CARES Act.
Annemarie and Bacillia both completed 300 hours of work at the Watts Empowerment Center in the Imperial Courts Public Housing Development. Their duties included assisting with food distribution to families impacted by the pandemic, back-to-school events, the weekly farmer’s market, and sanitizing common areas to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
After completing their hours, both women were hired permanently to work at the Watts WSC, operated by EWDD contractor, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). Annemarie is now the Director of Programming and Bacillia is now the Community Communications Liaison. They said that they are both grateful to secure permanent employment and are looking forward to becoming part of the support system of Imperial Courts.
The NDWG project is 100% federally-funded in the amount of $1.8 million.
EWDD operates 16 WorkSource Centers and 3 portal offices in Los Angeles. The centers act as a personal employment agency for Angelenos and our services are always free. Learn about the various programs and benefits offered through EWDD Employment Services and WorkSource Centers.
If you have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, EWDD wants to help. Many residents of the City of Los Angeles have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Many are faced with job loss or are struggling to keep their businesses operational. EWDD is diligently working to provide crucial services, grants, and programs. Please visit our Recovery Resources page and learn more. We're here to help.
This story is part of the EWDD UPDATES from the week of August 15, 2022. Read this issue and more.
