Welcome To Our Newsletter
KRA@Work
We're glad you're here!
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KRA Leader Spotlight
A message from Nieal M. Smith-Ross,
Program Director
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The career path that led to my current position, directing the operations of the American Job Center in East Garfield Park and the Chatham Education & Workforce Center, began over 2 decades ago!
Coming from a family of social workers, I have always been driven by a strong passion for helping others. After graduating from college, I landed a job as a Case Manager at The Night Ministry, where I had the privilege of working with unhoused young individuals. This role was both rewarding and challenging, as I was the same age as the young people I served. We worked hard together at job searching, mock interviewing, and resume writing.
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Over the course of 20+ years, I held various leadership positions at The Night Ministry, eventually rising to the role of Manager of Supportive Services. Alongside my professional growth, I pursued a graduate degree in Social Service Administration from The University of Chicago. In 2023, when I decided to make a change, I was very intentional about the direction to take. It was time to pursue a position through which my expertise in community-partnership development, program planning and operation, and training and development that would help diminish pre-conceived notions and prejudices that sometimes come into play when a jobseeker doesn’t “check all the boxes.”
Therefore, when KRA offered me the incredible opportunity to direct its workforce-services programs in Chicago -my hometown - I didn’t think twice before accepting!
I am excited to come to work every day, leading a dynamic team, committed to contributing to the success of our jobseeker-customers, employer-partners, and communities. Together, we strive to develop innovative solutions that address the unique needs of individuals who seek our services, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Part of that excitement is our partnership with The Night Ministry which has come full circle. Through referrals, KRA is able to enroll their eligible jobseekers in our workforce-center programs, allowing me to stay connected to "my kids" and make a lasting impact on their lives.
Nieal M. Smith-Ross
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Workforce Wednesday
An Overview of Second Chance Month and its Economical Benefits
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April is recognized as Second Chance Month by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The promotion of Second Chance Month helps stakeholders across the country recognize the importance of supporting the safe and successful reentry of young ex-offenders into the community. The Chance Business Coalition comprises private-sector firms committed to expanding second-chance hiring. In a study with the Society of Human Resource Management, they noted that: | |
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*85% of individuals with criminal records perform the same as, or better than, employees without criminal records.
*82% of second-chance employees bring value to their organization as high as, or higher than, that of workers without records
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Providing people with a criminal background a second chance at employment can reduce repeated criminal activities, provide stability to local communities, and independently supports the family. These circumstances result in positive ripple effects throughout the U.S. economy that benefit everyone.
Gain Additional Knowledge About Second Chance Month: Visit the OJJDP's Second Chance Virtual Resource Page
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The KRA Way
5-Star Experience. Real Life Impact.
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KRA Louisiana's
Recent Events
Building Partnerships with Their Communities!
The KRA Louisiana team recently hosted their Grand Opening and Spring Resource Fair for their local communities. The team’s partnership with the Highland Center, a non-profit and resource hub in central Shreveport, was the featured and provided an opportunity for career exploration, publicity for local wrap-around resources, along with a welcoming atmosphere for the public to learn more about KRA.
This fosters an ongoing commitment to our partnership with the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) to support Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) participants in achieving sustainable employment that was announced in November 2023.
KRA’s Work Activities and Career Pathways Program supports jobseekers in meeting FITAP-participation requirements, accelerating their progress in acquiring the skills business partners require for successful job placement. Initially, we will operate the program in the State’s northern region in the parishes surrounding Shreveport, Monroe, and Alexandria.
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"Recently, KRA Louisiana hosted its first quarterly Labor Luncheon for 50+ attendees from community-development agencies, local businesses, DCFS, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and other stakeholders invested in the region’s economic growth and development..."
Read More: KRA Labor Luncheon: Empowering Louisiana's Workforce Development
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"KRA is proud to announce that NAWDP has chosen Derrick Colbert, KRA Director, Strategic Partnerships, as the Member Profile for the April Advantage Newsletter. His expertise in the operational aspects of program development for economic- and workforce-development initiatives is extensive, evidenced by prior Associate- and Director-level positions..."
Read More: Derrick Colbert Featured in the NAWDP April Advantage Newsletter
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This month’s KRA's The HUB podcast episodes incorporated a special two-part series that featured key takeaways from attendees at the National Association of Workforce Boards' “The Forum 2024…Forging Tomorrow’s Workforce Today” conference that was recently hosted in Washington, D.C. The first episode's guests included: George Wright, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Development Partnership; Drew Hubbard, Executive Director of the D.C. Workforce Investment Council; and Deb Giordano, NAWB Board Member.
Read More: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: Leadership Perspectives from the 2024 NAWB Forum- Part One
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Check out this month's Latest News Articles in our Newsroom! | | |
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Connect with us!
Visit our LinkedIn Life Page
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Join us on LinkedIn today and stay connected!
We invite you to check out our community events, and visit our Jobs and Life page for a glance at KRA's workforce culture.
#KRAatWork
#WorkforceDevelopment #RealLifeImpact
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Tune into our Podcast!
KRA's The HUB
| Our special guest for this episode is Kyla Guyette, KRA Director of Strategic Partnerships. Kyla shares her journey in the workforce development field, from her early experiences helping Hurricane Katrina victims, to her current role at KRA and on the board of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). She discusses the challenges facing the workforce development sector, the importance of aligning ecosystems, and the need for organizations to adapt to the changing landscape. As a woman in leadership, Kyla reflects on the challenges she has faced throughout her career, and her commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in workforce development. | | | | |
