West Adams WorkSouce Unique Employment Training Program
The West Adams WorkSource Center helped participant Marisha receive training to pursue a career in the construction industry. Now she has a permanent job as a field engineer on the HUB on Campus LA-Figueroa project.
After finding a quiet enough place on the construction site, she donned a headset, logged onto the zoom meeting, and prepared for her turn to present. The call was a monthly HomeAid Los Angeles WORKS Committee meeting with invited partners Milender White (MW), their various subcontractors on the HUB LA project, and the West Adams WorkSource Center (WAWSC). Marisha is a Field Engineer with the general contractor Milender White and on Sep 21, 2022, she was tasked with reporting on subcontractor participation pertaining to the major building project HUB Los Angeles of Figueroa Street.
Familiar faces donned the screen as she gave her report. Former mentors and instructors from her days as a job seeker asked questions and took notes. Now, she is a partner and ally advocating economic equality for Los Angeles. Marisha recently finished a three-month internship as a Field Engineer and is now a full-time permanent employee. Part of her assignment has been to establish a positive rapport with the subcontractors, assess their hiring needs, and see if they would be interested in becoming employment partners with the WORKS program. WORKS is a two-week Fundamentals of Construction training program unique to the WAWSC - an employment program under the leadership of the Economic Workforce and Development Department (EWDD). It is also a program she graduated from a few months prior.
Marisha approached the WorkSource Center in May 2022. Her goal has always been to work in the construction industry, but finding access to companies willing to hire locally proved an almost insurmountable task. Knowing construction is an area of focus for the WAWSC, she asked to participate in their 2-week WORKS class. Upon completing the course at the top of her class, she interviewed with multiple companies and ultimately chose MW as her preferred employer. After a few weeks of work, she contacted the WAWSC with her progress, saying, “Everything is going great. I’m learning a great deal. I've been able to learn and provide new tasks and be trusted with new pieces of projects and/or reports that the team needs for different project milestones.”
Her own accomplishments were not at the forefront of her mind. Instead, her thoughts lingered on the success of her classmates. Not knowing if they were picked up, she said, “I’ve been thinking about my classmates and wanted to follow up with you all; to remind them not to lose hope and don’t stray from the goal. They have the business cards from the interviewers: MW, BMI and Trademark.”
Marisha lives by a certain mantra that perfectly encapsulates her spirit of encouragement and purpose. For those who are reading this article, please read aloud her saying, “Onward. Forward. Upward. MOMENTUM. Fight On”.
EWDD’s WorkSource Centers offer free job training, resume assistance, and skill training and placement services to local job seekers. Centers also offer a variety of employment, training and support services to LA businesses. Learn about the many programs and benefits offered through our Employment Services and WorkSource Centers.
After finding a quiet enough place on the construction site, she donned a headset, logged onto the zoom meeting, and prepared for her turn to present. The call was a monthly HomeAid Los Angeles WORKS Committee meeting with invited partners Milender White (MW), their various subcontractors on the HUB LA project, and the West Adams WorkSource Center (WAWSC). Marisha is a Field Engineer with the general contractor Milender White and on Sep 21, 2022, she was tasked with reporting on subcontractor participation pertaining to the major building project HUB Los Angeles of Figueroa Street.
Familiar faces donned the screen as she gave her report. Former mentors and instructors from her days as a job seeker asked questions and took notes. Now, she is a partner and ally advocating economic equality for Los Angeles. Marisha recently finished a three-month internship as a Field Engineer and is now a full-time permanent employee. Part of her assignment has been to establish a positive rapport with the subcontractors, assess their hiring needs, and see if they would be interested in becoming employment partners with the WORKS program. WORKS is a two-week Fundamentals of Construction training program unique to the WAWSC - an employment program under the leadership of the Economic Workforce and Development Department (EWDD). It is also a program she graduated from a few months prior.
Marisha approached the WorkSource Center in May 2022. Her goal has always been to work in the construction industry, but finding access to companies willing to hire locally proved an almost insurmountable task. Knowing construction is an area of focus for the WAWSC, she asked to participate in their 2-week WORKS class. Upon completing the course at the top of her class, she interviewed with multiple companies and ultimately chose MW as her preferred employer. After a few weeks of work, she contacted the WAWSC with her progress, saying, “Everything is going great. I’m learning a great deal. I've been able to learn and provide new tasks and be trusted with new pieces of projects and/or reports that the team needs for different project milestones.”
Her own accomplishments were not at the forefront of her mind. Instead, her thoughts lingered on the success of her classmates. Not knowing if they were picked up, she said, “I’ve been thinking about my classmates and wanted to follow up with you all; to remind them not to lose hope and don’t stray from the goal. They have the business cards from the interviewers: MW, BMI and Trademark.”
Marisha lives by a certain mantra that perfectly encapsulates her spirit of encouragement and purpose. For those who are reading this article, please read aloud her saying, “Onward. Forward. Upward. MOMENTUM. Fight On”.
EWDD’s WorkSource Centers offer free job training, resume assistance, and skill training and placement services to local job seekers. Centers also offer a variety of employment, training and support services to LA businesses. Learn about the many programs and benefits offered through our Employment Services and WorkSource Centers.
This story is part of the EWDD UPDATES from the week of December 26, 2022. Read this issue and more.
