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BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 8, 2011 – The process of enrolling in college and preparing to enter the working world can be confusing, intimidating and daunting, and an internet research can often lead to information overload.
Catholic Charities Department of Workforce and Education hopes to take the guesswork out of preparing for a job or college by offering a series of free monthly seminars Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Seneca Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., Buffalo, beginning Sept. 21 through February 15.
“Our goal is to help students become more prepared with not only applying for college, but also with their job search and job readiness,” explained Darrell Slisz, Catholic Charities education coordinator. “We will cover everything from filling out the financial aid form to overcoming fears about finding employment.”
The six seminars are: Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail: Planning Your Job Search, Sept. 21; Everything You Wanted to Know About College But were too Afraid to Ask, Oct. 19; You Lost it at Hello: How to Make a Good First Impression, Nov. 16; Applications and Resumes: The First Signs of Your Work, Dec. 14; Making a Sales Pitch: The Art of Interviewing, Jan. 18; and Rules of Workplace Success, Feb. 15.
The seminars are designed to help individuals residing in Erie County who are 16 years and older, although Slisz indicated that there is no age limit to participate.
Catholic Charities Department of Workforce and Education assists youth 16 years and older to obtain a high school diploma, known as a GED, and gain employable skills at no cost through the Tomorrow’s Youth Today program. Small group classes and one-on-one GED tutoring are available.
Classes are offered in Buffalo at the Workforce office, 170 Kerns Ave.; Greater Buffalo Works, 237 Main St. - Suite 900; the Abley Center, 24 Ludington St.; Seneca Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca St., and Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo, 370 Massachusetts Ave. Instruction is also given at the Lackawanna Library on Ridge Road in Lackawanna. Other locations may be available.
In total in 2010, the department helped 80 students ages 16-24 obtain GED diplomas, 150 students increase reading or math levels a minimum of one grade level, and 58 students receive part- or full-time employment. All of these statistics represent increases over 2009 totals.
Catholic Charities has been providing GED preparation and job readiness skills to Erie County residents since 1975. Funding is provided by the Workforce Investment Board and Dollar General.
For more information or to register, call 893-3500 or visit our website, www.ccwny.org.
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive human service provider serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.
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