profit organization that specializes in breaking the cycle of chronic
unemployment through job readiness and related services - has
announced that Jacob's Ladder West has expanded to a new facility
located at 2201 Caronia Street in West Charlotte.
Jacob's Ladder West is now the anchor tenant of the new Center for
Employment Services (the Center) located in the Charlotte Housing
Authority's Arbor Glen community. The fully renovated facility
includes classrooms, a clothing closet, administrative offices,
meeting space and a state-of-the-art computer lab.
"Expanding our agency has been an exciting opportunity," says Susan
Pierson, project manager at Jacob's Ladder West. "The word is out that
we can help you get a job, and we need more space to accommodate the
growing numbers of clients we serve. I look forward to better serving
West Boulevard-area residents with the Center for Employment Services."
The new facility enables Jacob's Ladder West to expand its services
after being launched in December 2009 at the invitation of the City of
Charlotte/Vision Charlotte and Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina
Foundation. Supported by a partnership between Jacob's Ladder, the
City of Charlotte, Charlotte Housing Authority, Charlotte Mecklenburg
Workforce Development Board, and City Dive, Inc./New Birth Charlotte
Church, the Center hopes to address chronic unemployment with
"wraparound" services for residents of the West Boulevard corridor.
The project is part of the Charlotte Housing Authority's "Moving
Forward" initiative that seeks to build self reliance among public
housing residents. In addition to Jacob's Ladder's job readiness
curriculum, clients will benefit from Charlotte's first-ever SHARE
Network Access Point (SNAP) – a computer resource supplied by the
Charlotte Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board, that connects
directly to JobLink Center databases. Once a participant secures
employment, Jacob's Ladder and other partners will offer personal
mentoring for at least six months to support job retention.
Jacob's Ladder Executive Director Steffi Travis estimates a minimum of
300 residents will receive services from Jacob's Ladder West and at
least 120 of those will graduate from the core job readiness program.
To learn more about Jacob's Ladder West, become a volunteer or sign up
for classes, visit www.jacobsladdercharlotte.org/west, or contact
Susan directly at susan@jacobsladdercharlotte.org or 980-428-1822.
About The Center for Employment Services
The Center for Employment Services (CES) provides space to local
service providers to bring career development opportunities to the
West Corridor of Charlotte. Through these partnerships, CES will be
able to empower citizens to become employable and secure employment.
CES is a Moving Forward initiative of the Charlotte Housing Authority
to promote employment and self-reliance. For more information, please
contact Chris Campbell, CHA Employment Services Coordinator at chriscampbell@cha-nc.org
or 704-336-8555.
About Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder Job Center, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit,
which helps unemployed and underemployed people find and keep living
wage jobs. A member of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, Jacob's Ladder
was founded in 1998 as a compassionate response to the Welfare-to-Work
movement and to chronic unemployment Charlotte's urban communities.
For more information, visitwww.jacobsladdercharlotte.org or call
704-332-5822.
