The Workforce Development Program is ready to help locals as well as refugees coming from New Orleans learn new job skills, said Al Sigala, head of Mt. Hood Community College’s office of college advancement.

Staff and administrators met shortly after the Hurricane Katrina disaster to organize a plan to help Gulf Coast refugees who will be staying in the area, but the MHCC gym – which would have been used to house the refugees – was passed up in favor of other sites.

However, the small number of refugees who have made it here are already in the program.
“We’ve been working with the Red Cross to get 14 refugees we have here now to get work,” said Kelly Walker, assistant director of workforce development.

Workforce development is part of a larger program.

“We’re the Economic and Workforce Development Division and we have about five distinct, separate programs,” said Walker. “We develop training for working adults, refer participants to training programs at the college, and also do a lot of work with the business community.”

Workforce development is made up of the Community Skills Center, the Steps to Success program, and Workforce Connections.

The Community Skills Center teaches how to effectively operate a computer, create a document, or design a database, among other computer skills. The Community Skills Center also teaches medical terminology, vocabulary, and a wide variety of training to upgrade skills.

“The Steps to Success program is available to folks involved with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,” said Walker. Currently in its 13th year, Steps to Success provides educational and social workforce development services to families to help them gain qualifications that lead to economic self-sufficiency. “Workforce Connections works primarily with adults who are either trying to transition their career or go back to work,” said Walker.

“The program has been very successful,” said Kay Lopez, a workforce development coordinator.

Workforce development headquarters are located at the Maywood Park Center.
Those interested in participating may attend an information session. For English speakers, meetings are Thursdays at 2 p.m. Non-English speakers meet Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.

More information is available by calling 503-252-0758.