UPO Partnerships Prove Windfall to City Residents
UPO Helps Entrepreneur in Jobs Recruitment
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UPO’s Chief Operating Of?cer Gladys W. Mack, a left, discusses employment needs with Sheila Clark, head of the Asset Development Division and Jason Harris.
UPO’s Wilbert D. Gibson (standing) takes participants through intensive training processes in UPO’s Transitional Employment Program which occurs in the agency’s Petey Greene Community Service Center.
With an increasing number of city residents in need of specialized skills training, UPO rapidly moved to enhance its services to include a Transitional Employment Program, an activity funded by the Of?ce of Project Employment with the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services. One of several citywide contractors selected to implement and deliver a comprehensive workforce development program, the UPO model works with 50 individuals per year, usually from hard-to-employ groups. Program services last for 180 days per person, running between 20 and 40-hours per week and specia?cally targeting groups often deemed hard to employ such as ex-offenders; inviduals who are de?cient in basic skills; those in need of English language skills; persons who may at the time be homeless; as well as those JUNE 2008
considered chronically unemployed. All UPO activities include persons with disabilities. According to the Asset Development Division, the component operating the activity, services include customer orientation, intake, comprehensive case management, pre-employment counseling and training, various support services, and full-scale job readiness training. Other services are activity/service options, subsidized employment, placement services, and job retention programs. Meanwhile, Asset Development Division’s operations manager Jayneen Jones sums it up, observing “Each day I have seen the participants overcome barriers that in the past have kept them from reaching their employment goals,” adding “This program has given them a ?rst and second chance to reach those goals and live out their dreams.”
employ those quality career minded city residents. By joining forces, we have solidi?ed our chances at success.” Still, the future partnership looks great especially for potential District of Columbia job seekers. Father & Sons plan new DC facilities. “We plan to develop two additional IHOPs inside of DC, one located in southwest the other in northwest” says Harris. “UPO’s insight and resource-base has enabled us to reach the personalities and other valuable resources that assist us and make our jobs easier on a daily basis,” he adds. From her standpoint, Toya Lynch, UPO’s Employment and Career Development Program director couldn’t be more delighted. “I am ecstatic about the employment opportunities that the Jackson Investment Group has brought to the UPO employment program. I am even more thrilled about how many UPO customers have taken advantage of this opportunity becoming gainfully employed.” She adds “with successful implementation, the Jackson Group will also recruit through UPO for the additional two IHOP restaurants, scheduled to open soon.” Meanwhile, Jason Harris, looking beyond the ?ve year mark says “Expect to see many major franchises developed and properly managed in Washington DC.
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