Learning Today The Skills of Tomorrow

Disadvantaged young blacks in America, it is evident that what is needed is a workforce development program specifically designed for young adults who are vulnerable to the dangers of street violence. The components of the program include vocational training, life skills & socialization training, job placement, and psychological support for these at-risk young adults in poor neighborhoods.

One church in Suitland Maryland, has developed a successful model of such vocational training. Capitalizing on the knowledge of the pastor, Ida Moss, who is an accountant, Greater Works Christian Church has trained over 50 young adults, all of them foster kids entering the adult world without much in the way of social support, with marketable skills that have translated into stable jobs paying $50,000 a year in many instances.

The program students are introduced to business professionals who offer guidance and encouragement. They include persons from a variety of backgrounds and expose participants to the kinds of individuals they will meet in the business environment. Discussion topics are aimed at developing character and interpersonal skills. These sessions offer participants the opportunity to become acquainted with persons who might later become employers, mentors, or advisors.

In addition to vocational training, the program includes an intensive curriculum in life skills and work retention skills. Sessions include: Understanding Workplace dynamics, Manager Employee Relationships, Interviewing Skills, Being Work Ready, Taking Initiative and Being Responsible, Becoming A Valued Employee, Workplace Communication, Active Listening, Speaking Clearly, Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Customer Service, Writing Business memos and Emails, Using Business Machines, and Following Instructions.

The program utilizes the services of a job developer to place our graduates into entry-level positions. In addition to job placement assistance, The church program provides jobsite follow-up, and serves as a liaison between the employer and its graduates. This helps to improve employee performance and employee retention.

The program is called the Vocational Training Institute.

The goal of the program is to prepare these young adults for entry-level jobs in viable vocations and prevent these young adults from turning to crime, drug dealing, and other undesirable alternatives. When combined with loving support, the church program, called the Vocational Training Institute helps participants to escape the streets, overcome past mistakes and redeem lost opportunities. We have received numerous awards for our work over the years, and the story of our ministry has been featured in books and newspaper articles.

Sadly, this project lapsed for a lack of resources. The American Reparative Justice Initiative proposes to re-start the vocational training project of the church, called Rising Hops as a model of what can be done in other localities.

In the field of accounting leading to the church trainer Works Church classes are structured to simulate the actual work environment. We utilize the proven formula of “learning by doing”. Instead of simply talking about a subject, trainees complete real-world work assignments with documents that simulate the actual work environment. Real-world exercises and visual aids help participants to understand job expectations. They learn how to work faster, and smarter, and how to produce higher quality results. Competency examinations are completed after each level of instruction. Students must score 80% or higher on all competency examinations. They may continue to take examinations until such scores are attained.