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When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Milwaukee and the rest of the world, health departments and community health organizations were hit especially hard, lacking personnel and other resources to help families and vulnerable populations navigate the pandemic’s impact in their communities. The Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health (MCHH) was one of those organizations that provided vital information, education and screening for Milwaukee’s Hmong and Southeast Asian community. MCHH was in dire need of Community Health Workers who were fluent in a number of languages such as Burmese and Rohingya. MHCC’s Executive Director, reached out to Employ Milwaukee for assistance and found out how the Skillful Transitions (Worker Advancement Initiative) grant could help through its funding of Paid Work Experiences.
While spending time at the MCHH, J. discovered the Bilingual Community Health Worker job opening that was funded through the WAI grant. J. is fluent in Burmese, and along with her warm personality, she was a perfect fit for the job. She started in December of 2021 and was recently hired full-time as Community Health Worker at MCHH. Programs Manager for MHCC stated, "Our Community Health Workers literally save lives in our community. Without them, we would not have been able to get information and resources out during the pandemic, and later, when vaccines became available. Now that vaccines are available for children, our Community Health Workers are still out educating and working with the Hmong community with great success because the help is coming from someone they know and trust."
J. shared, "During COVID, I was laid off from my job as a cook and was not sure what else I could do. I decided to apply for the community outreach job because it is such important work. My short-term job [through Paid Work Experiences] turned into a stable full-time job. I have a new career and I can help my community at the same time!"
Three years ago, L. moved to Milwaukee from California to be closer to her parents and brother. Her father’s health was deteriorating from being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and diabetes, and Lesly wanted to help her mother and brother with his increasing health care needs. She found a job at Best Buy’s Geek Squad as a Customer Service Representative making $13/hr.
L. soon found out that her lack of IT technical skills was holding her back from moving ahead in her chosen career. Her brother saw a posting on Facebook for Employ Milwaukee’s Fresh Coast Tech Up bootcamp and shared it with L., who immediately applied to the program. She was accepted into the 16-week accelerated training that started in January 2022, funded through EMI’s Skillful Transitions (Worker Advancement Initiative) grant. Within a month of successfully graduating from the Tech Up training, Lesly was promoted to Geek Squad Department Manager with a pay raise to $20/hr.
Employ Milwaukee partners with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to provide the IT training. Graduates receive 12 credits, an IT Service Center Technician certificate, and preparation to take the CompTIA A+ exam. Lesly remarked, "The training was three hours a day online in our virtual classroom, but there was a good amount of studying and homework in order for me to keep up. And I was still working part-time at Best Buy and helping to take care of my dad. It was a lot for those four months!"
MATC’s Tech Up Instructor said, "L. was a great student who, like a lot of our students, had a lot of things on her plate when she started -- like a job and family. So, adding a 16-week IT bootcamp on top of that really showed her determination to succeed." L. shared that her family was extremely proud of her graduation and her quick promotion. She remarked, "It was hard, but Joe kept me motivated and encouraged me to continue and graduate. I plan to continue studying at MATC to get my Associates Degree. The funding for this training changed my life and my family’s life. I am so grateful!"
WAI & WDA4 were able to help a self-employed carpenter that lost an incredible amount of business during COVID. This affected him financially. WAI was able to assist with purchasing work tools to expand his business. He reported that his business is doing extraordinarily well and contributes to the funding we were able to apply towards tools.
WAI & WDA4 was able to help a homeless, unemployed mother of 5 children and guide her on a path to a career where she will be able to financially support her family. Together we worked with a leasing agent to get her an apartment within 2 weeks. WAI was able to assist with security deposit and rent to make that happen. The participant did not have a High School diploma, she is now scheduled for GED orientation. her classes begin this fall. Her long-term goal is to be a Spanish translator, discussed with her what I researched for education opportunities that also tie in with remote work; she will be pursing that career after GED tests. She has now obtained FT employment in which she starts in July. This employment is a steppingstone to what comes next for her career! Because WAI was able to step in , provide career counseling, assist with arranging for GED and researching translator certificates; this mom has a fantastic outlook. WAI was able to assist her with housing, transportation, education to date.
Prior to coming to the Wisconsin Rapids Job Center in January, the client was not sure what they were going to do. He was referred to WIOA DW after his employer laid him off, where he performing property maintenance work. He considered construction employment but concerned about his age and health that may prevent him long term work in the industry. He had interest in heavy equipment but had no education and credentials for those skills that would make him a valuable asset. After discussion with staff and research, he decided to pursue heavy equipment training that would include obtaining his Class A CDL. He was able to complete Heavy Equipment and CDL Class A training in June. After obtainment, he gained employment as a Heavy Equipment Operator with OHG Construction. He is currently making $26/hr. with opportunities for overtime. He is excited about the new position and the stability of his future that is has provide him.
L.C. was working hard in the learning lab at MSTC and explained to the instructor that he always wanted to be a truck driver. She, instructor, referred him to the Job Center. During his appointment the staff realized he was highly motivated and driven. He was found to be eligible for WAI. He was able to earn his learners permit and followed through with speaking to the school he wished to attend. He was able to enroll in the school and began his Class A CDL training at the end of June. He is excited for the opportunity and wants to make himself proud and the staff that worked with him. He is thankful that this program was available to him.
NS is a 20‐year‐old unemployed individual when he came to CEP looking for assistance for his Wisconsin Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class: ABCD. He had lost his job as a local well driller to seasonal slowdown but reported his employer would not be hiring him back unless he had his CDL, so he was planning to do whatever it took to get it. NS started WAI-funded CDL Classroom Training in the middle of Feb and by the end of March had completed the course and was back to work by mid‐April making $25 per hour.
MB is a 24-year-old female who didn’t believe there was any hope to improve her employment and education status. She was unemployed, expelled from school in 9th grade, referred to our office by her PO and the NTC Learning Center. During her appointments she repeatedly expressed her belief that we couldn’t do anything to help her, but fast forward two months and she has successfully passed all her GED testing requirements on the first try with great scores, secured work at a fast-food restaurant, and will be submitting final paperwork for her GED this week. WAI assisted with a computer to work on GED studies and towing/car repairs for her vehicle to ensure she could get to work. MB is now looking into post high school options with the local technical college this fall. She said she finally found some hope with CEP and WAI and is really grateful to have found an outside source of stability and support when she needed it the most.
JB was recently single and soon to be homeless as her partner had unexpectedly passed away in January. After giving her some different options for applications, I mentioned our WAI program to her. She was a little leery at first as she wasn’t sure she would be eligible and didn’t want to take any resources from anyone else but was grateful for any assistance we could provide. It was determined she was eligible for WAI and things got rolling right away. She found employment within the first month and the WAI program was able to provide her with new shoes for her factory job, gas cards to get back and forth during her first few weeks working, and minor car repairs. The next hurdle JB faced was finding a place to live. The housing market in her rural area is very difficult to navigate. Persistence paid off and we were able to find her a place. There were a few challenges getting the lease, but in the end, she was approved, and WAI was able to assist her with first month’s rent and the security deposit.
EG was enrolled in school at Northwood Technical College taking classes for Early Childhood Education and we were able to get her into a Work Experience at EverGrow Learning Center in a position directly related to her area of study. She has completed the WEX and has been hired on by the employer in a full time/long term position with many opportunities for advancement within the Learning Center.
JB came to NWWIB with a prior criminal history and substance abuse issues that greatly limited his ability to get hired. He struggled for the past several years to find an employer who would hire him despite his criminal record. He had some experience in the trades, so he came to NWWIB looking to enroll in the WAI-sponsored Construction Foundations training program held at Lac Courte Oreille Ojibwe College in Hayward. He completed the training program in May and is currently working as a carpenter framer making $22 an hour. He said the days are long and hard, but he is adapting nicely and loving it. He is finally doing something he loves and is extremely appreciative to finally have the opportunity. Plus, after a year at the company his pay will increase to $25 an hour which will allow him to go back to school part time in the evenings to get a certificate in construction management.
The DOC Carpentry CPA Cohort will be graduating on July 26th. This cohort was developed through a partnership with the WDBSCW, DOC, Madison Area Technical College and Bureau of Apprenticeship and successfully supported 9 justice-involved individuals through a 12-week carpentry CPA. The training was funded through the State Apprenticeship Expansion 2020 grant (with DWD-BAS) and participation incentives were provided through WAI. The WDBSCW will continue to partner with the DOC and area employers to match the participants with work-release employment opportunities in the construction industry.
The DOC Welding CPA Cohort will be graduating July 28th. This cohort was developed through a partnership with the WDBSCW, DOC, Moraine Park Technical College and DWD Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards and successfully supported 6 justice-involved individuals through a 12-week welding CPA. The training was funded using the State Apprenticeship Expansion 2020 grant and participation incentives were provided through WAI. The 6 participants are currently housed at the John C. Burke Correctional Center and are eligible to participate in work release opportunities. The WDBSCW will assist in connecting these participants with employers and employment opportunities post-training.
5 participants have Graduated from Early Childhood Education.
This part of the grant has proven to be very popular, and students are grateful for the help.
DWD Contact Information
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707
(608) 266-3131
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