Westport Community Partnerships is working with the Living Classrooms Foundation to open a Workforce Development Center in Westport.

Established in 1999, the Living Classrooms’ Workforce Development program assists disadvantaged youths and adults in overcoming obstacles to employment, including lack of education, lack of skills, poor work history, history of substance abuse or criminal behavior, and childcare and transportation barriers.

The program helps participants address these issues and become successful by developing a network of support and resources, teaching marketable job skills such as professionalism, communication, and problem-solving, and providing opportunities for academic remediation and continuing education.

Living Classrooms’ staff have developed solid working relationships with local employers and have created a nationally acclaimed, employer-driven model for workforce development. Living Classrooms, employers, and a framework of partnering agencies and individuals become part of each participant’s network of support to continue their employment, engage in lifelong learning, and experience personal growth.

In Westport, the Workforce Development Center will provide a wide range of services including job readiness training, job skills training, life skills training, financial literacy, academic remediation, long term retention and follow-up support.  The Workforce Development Center will link participants with local resources to assist in eliminating barriers that could lead to separation from employment, (such as drivers education, literacy programs, continuing education, daycare, substance abuse counseling, residential assistance, credit counseling, transportation assistance and healthcare information), and will work with local employers to establish partnerships that cross several sectors.

The Workforce Development Center will also offer retention services to individuals during their employment period.  Retention services include job site visits, consistent communication with the client and employer, and any assistance that the client may need to maintain employment and to achieve their vocational, educational and personal goals.

Westport Community Partnerships is working to provide office facilities for the Workforce Development Center in Westport, which should be ready shortly.  Once the Center is open, Westport residents will be able to apply for a place in the program, which may include working on the Westport Clean Team or Façade Improvement work crew.  Stay tuned to this website for updates on the Workforce Development Center or join the email list and have updates delivered directly to your Inbox.