Centralina Workforce Development Board Sets New Goals

The Centralina WDB's annual retreat held in Flat Rock, NC on May 16-17 was a tremendous success! Working with retreat facilitator Mary Ann Lawrence (Center for Workforce Learning), the Board identified 5 key goals for the upcoming year:

• Foster improved community relations: Communicate our story
• Know the needs of the customers and deliver on those needs
• Measure successes, acknowledge failures, and move on
• Provide Foundation Skills opportunities/training for all youth
• Establish Board program that creates interest, energy, dedication, and performance

Specific action steps related to each goal were also developed. The Board and its Strategic Planning committee will work on the implementation of these goals as part of the Board's 5-Year Strategic Plan.

Mary Ann Lawrence leads the Centralina
WDB through identifying goals for the next year.

News You Can Use

Upcoming Events:

• Centralina Youth Council Meeting
  Thursday June 6, 2002 - 9:30 AM
  Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (South campus) - Concord
  
  
• Centralina WDB Meeting
  Tuesday June 11, 2002 - 4:30 PM
  Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (South campus) - Concord
  
  
• Iredell County JobLink Career Center
  Mooresville Center - Grand Opening
  Thursday June 20, 2002 - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  470-A North Broad St. Mooresville, NC 28115
  RSVP - (704) 664-4225
  
  
• Anson County JobLink Career Center
  Grand Opening
  Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  116 West Wade St. Wadesboro, NC 28170
  RSVP - (704) 694-6551

Employment Statistics
(Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter)

For more information on employment, click here.

A Fresh Start, A New Life

Annie is a 55-year-old single mom, who along with her teenaged daughter were staying at the CVAN (Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network) shelter. This shelter houses battered females from our area. She and her daughter were both abused and were looking forward to a fresh start. Annie came to the local JobLink Career Center looking for a job, but what she really wanted was to go back to school and take medical office administration, but felt that she was too old to go back to school.

Since we were the same age, I told her that I was taking some courses at our local community collage at night, and that you are never too old for learning. She was a bit hesitant but she agreed. She found herself a part time job to support the two of them. She also talked to a representative of the Community Service Block Grant Program located in our local office. He arranged for some affordable housing for Annie and her daughter.

They are now making it on their own. Annie has been on the honor roll at RCCC (Rowan Cabarrus Community College) for the past two semesters and is now doing volunteer work with CVAN. Her daughter is doing well in school also, because "if momma can do it, she can do it." I see her at least once a month either at the office or while I'm on campus. I get a hug and a hearty thank you for the help our agency gave her. This makes it all worth while.

Reported by Mike Husnick
Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center

Seven-County Centralina WDB Works Together for Regional Solutions

(L-R )June Hamilton (Mooresville Area Personnel Association), Patricia White (Centralina WDB staff), Jan Comer (Polar Plastics - Mooresville) and James Polk (Cabarrus County Department of Social Services) participate in team-building exercises at the retreat.

Visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com to learn more about the Centralina WDB
To send a comment about our E-Newsletter, click here.