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Making Connections News

DMACC Introduces Work Readiness Class
DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) is introducing “Preparing for America’s Workplace,” a 40-hour class to help newly arriving refugees and immigrants learn skills critical to success in the workplace. The course will be offered in seven languages at various times and locations in the Des Moines area starting in late January.

Topics covered will include: the culture of people and work in America, different ways to find and apply for a better job, practical job skills, language skills, understanding paychecks and insurance, and networking and resources.

Those who complete the class will receive a Work Readiness Certificate. Funding provided through the WTA will make it possible for most refugees and immigrants to attend at no cost.

The course was design by DMACC’s Continuing Education unit and Workforce Training Academy (WTA) in collaboration with New Iowans Center-Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Bureau of Refugee Resettlement, Refugee Cooperative Services, and the Neighborhood Health Initiative.

For more information, contact Kay Maher-Sharp, 697-7710. Promotional fliers are available here in these languages:

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Making Connections to Focus on Workforce, School Readiness in 2009
Changes occurring within the Making Connections Des Moines initiative will result into the consolidation of investments and efforts in two primary areas going forward in 2009. The areas of strategic investment are:

Workforce and
School readiness (Children Healthy and Prepared to Succeed in School-CHAPSS).

In keeping with Making Connections’ goals, future efforts will continue to focus on:

Closing gaps in results for people living in Making Connections neighborhoods with the rest of the area,
Including residents at decision-making tables, and
Creating greater connectivity between those who provide services and those who need them.

For the past two months, teams comprised of community organizations and neighborhood residents have been meeting to chart future plans, which have been submitted to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for approval. While the details have yet to be finalized, the more targeted investment approach means some programs and services provided through Making Connections funding will not be available in the future or will be supported or offered directly by other community partners.

The Making Connections office will remain open until the end of March.

More information will be released soon. For more information, contact Julie Fugenschuh, Making Connections Site Coordinator, 280-1502.

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Experience the Neighborhood Health Initiative Story
“Tapping the Power Within to Change a Community” is a new video produced by Making Connections resident Mahogany Palmer. In nine segments, it captures the stories of ordinary people living in Des Moines’ most-challenged neighborhoods who have discovered not only can they create a better life for themselves and their children, they have the innate power and capacity to do so. Persons affiliated with the Neighborhood Health Initiative (NHI) and its partners tell their personal stories of profound transformation and new hope and how sharing what they’ve learned with others is changing an entire community.

Palmer received support for her project from the Neighborhood Grants for Growth program and technical assistance from the Making Connections communications team.

NHI is Making Connections’ key partner in resident engagement and mobilization.

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Audio Story Focuses on Ex-offenders Dealing with Mental Illness
How can the community help ex-offenders get treatment for their mental illness? Listen to this interview with Otis Henderson, Employment Pathways Facilitator, and learn how the unease caused by the death of a client led him to ask that question. Also read the September 19, 2008, ebulletin.

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Community Photos

Share pictures of your community making connections. Email your pictures (Format: .JPG) to jloygray@makingconnectionsdm.org. Please provide the name of the event, date, and location.

Strong Families Gather at River Hills, March 13, 2007
Strong Famillies at Royal View Oaks, May 26, 2007
Rosevelt's America Event at Mercy College & Health Sciences, June 28, 2007
St. Paul AME Transformation Center - Grand Opening Block Party, August 25, 2007
AMOS Issues Forum, October 27, 2007

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