News
QCAP Announces State Street Funding for Career Institute
05.02.2012
Weekly job readiness workshops features local experts
Quincy, MA - Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. (QCAP) is pleased to announce that it has received a $20,000 grant from the State Street Foundation, Inc. to support its Create Your Career Institute, a job readiness counseling program designed to strengthen workplace and life skills. The program – which will feature weekly workshops on a rotating series of topics - will run from May through June and again from September through March 2013.
“We are grateful to the State Street Foundation, Inc. for its continued support of our organization and our workforce development initiatives,” said Beth Ann Strollo, QCAP’s executive director. “The Career Institute is an essential program to help residents secure long-term and gainful employment and become financially self-sufficient.”
The Career Institute, now in its second year, helps students take the next steps toward employment, continuing education, and/or job training. Topics include: Career Readiness Skills, Preparing to Enter the World of Work, Soft Skills to Get and Keep a Job, Financial Foundations for Success, and Job Search and Retention. As part of the curriculum, QCAP will invite local experts from the financial, health care, and education sector to provide valuable insight into the current hiring trends in their respective industries, how students can make themselves more competitive in the job market, and what loan programs may be available to them to pursue advanced education or open a small business.
The funding demonstrates a commitment by the State Street Foundation, Inc. to invest in the community, part of which is strengthening workforce skills to meet the needs of area businesses. Although the local economy is showing signs of recovery, employers are requiring higher levels of education and experience. In February of this year, 45% of all job openings in Massachusetts required some college or post-secondary education and 38% of openings required a bachelor’s degree, according to the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. Of the top 30 fastest growing occupations in Quincy and the South Shore, 23 – or 77% - require at least an Associate’s degree, according to the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development. However, the latest U.S. Census data showed that of Quincy residents ages 18 to 24, 15.9% have less than a high school graduate level education.
“The State Street Foundation firmly believes that investing in education and workforce development is the best strategy to promote sustainable economic progress in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Amanda L. Northrop, vice president at the Foundation. “We are pleased to partner with QCAP to support their work to equip residents with the skills they need to achieve success.”
With support from the State Street Foundation, Inc., QCAP can offer its Career Institute free of charge to participants, a critical element for many residents who, with the high cost of housing, food, and other basic needs, are not able prioritize education. All classes will be held at QCAP, 1509 Hancock Street in Quincy. For more information and to register for a workshop, contact Margaret Doherty, QCAP’s Adult Education Counselor at 617-479-8181 x 387 or mdoherty@qcap.org.
