When Juan Gonzalez was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2010, managing his condition made it difficult to continue holding a job.
Gonzalez, 62, of Allentown ended up quitting his job at the Liz Claiborne Distribution Center in Upper Macungie Township and went on to disability benefits. The former lifelong musician sank into a malaise and spent much of his time in his room. But a new program helped give him the confidence to look for employment again.
Gonzalez was one of seven Allentown residents who graduated Wednesday from a new workforce readiness program designed to teach life skills as well as prepare participants for a job. The eight-week program helps people who have experienced homelessness, housing instability, trauma, mental health challenges or other major life obstacles enter or reenter the workforce.
Ripple Community in Allentown celebrated the graduates’ accomplishments with a ceremony Tuesday. Darian Colbert, co-founder of Cohesion Network, one of the organizations behind the program, said the inaugural class was larger but three of the participants didn’t finish because they attained full-time employment partway through the course — a happy circumstance that made it impossible for them to finish the program.
Unlike a traditional workforce development program that prioritizes job placement, this program seeks to address the barriers that make it difficult to maintain long-term employment. Beyond just job readiness training, participants receive education and training on character development, financial literacy, workplace communication, interviewing, financial planning, budgeting, career exploration and professional development. This training and education occur through mentorship, group sessions, hands-on learning and one-on-one support.
Colbert said that skills like taking responsibility, teamwork, communication and knowing how to handle conflict in the workplace are all essential to maintaining employment, and are major areas of focus in the program.
“We always teach our folks, you can either react or respond,” Colbert said. “A lot of people just don’t know how to move beyond their emotions. So if someone calls them a name at work, they want to react right away. We always say that’s just a name. Now, whether it’s a supervisor or an employee, when you react, who loses the job? Who loses the opportunity? Who’s back in that cycle of looking for a job? You are. And so rather than react, respond.”
Participants are paired with a mentor to work with them through the duration of the program and up to a year after graduation as they navigate workplace challenges. And participants leave the program with resumes, cover letters, job search tools and a personalized plan for employment and financial stability.
One participant who asked that she be referred to as London to protect her identity said she struggled with something many immigrants face when they come to the U.S.: Their qualifications, education and certifications aren’t accepted by employers.
“I have a Level 5 diploma in education and training, which is the same as teaching,” she said. “I’m qualified in various aspects of health and social care, workplace mentoring, teaching and assessing business administration, customer service, project management, I have a management and leadership qualification. There’s an abundance. I love to learn. But because there’s no direct correlation between the way our education system works and the American one you couldn’t work out how qualified I was.”
She said she was skeptical about the new program due to a bad experience with a different workplace readiness program. But she said Ripple’s program was totally different. She said it helped her cut through bureaucratic red tape, but most importantly, helped her gain confidence in herself and see her worth. She said she is working part time with a produce seller in the city. She said it’s not glamorous, but is fun and helps her and her partner pay the bills.
“All you need to know about this program is it has the two qualities that women look for in a bra: it lifts and supports you,” said London, who immigrated from England.
Developed and run as a partnership by Ripple Community Inc., Cohesion Network, Valley Wealth Alliance and Ripple Church over the course of a year, this program was created after workforce readiness emerged as a consistent need among Ripple community members. Funding for the program is provided by the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation Trusted Response Fund, First Northern Bank & Trust and the Neighborhood Partnership Program.
Colbert said the foundations of this program grew out of the LEAP program he helped start at Northampton County Jail, which successfully reduced recidivism by a significant amount.
After the success of the inaugural cohort, Ripple Community Inc. and its partners plan to continue the program — due to high community interest, there is already a growing waitlist. Plans are in the works to launch additional sessions and expand the program to serve more residents. Colbert said they are working on securing funding.
“We really would like to start the next one either in August or September. And that’s the goal,” Colbert said.