JHA Workforce Employment and Training Program participants receive certificates

Still wearing their ceremonial caps and gowns, Robin Wright and her daughter, Sha’Nya Henry, wrapped their arms around each other and flashed big smiles Thursday morning inside Pennsylvania Highlands Community College’s Black Bear Cafe.

Not long ago, they became part of the inaugural class of the Johnstown Housing Authority’s Employment and Training Program, honored at the school’s Richland campus. Henry and Wright were among 17 graduates from JHA’s Oakhurst Homes housing units who completed the course over the past few months.

“She keeps me going,” Wright said. “I continue it. It feels good to accomplish things together.â€

Henry referred to her mother as “a safe place” as she overcame the challenge of caring for her father who recently died.

“Mom, she really wanted me out of the house,” Henry said. “She didn’t want me to get depressed. So she took me to class.”

The program was a collaboration between JHA, Penn Highlands, Johnstown Area Regional Industries and PA CareerLink of Cambria County.

“You look at all the partners that went into this to get this result, it was just amazing,” said Jeff Dick, site administrator for the local CareerLink.

Dick and Debra Balog, the college’s workforce development community liaison, were instrumental in developing the initiative.

“It was our vision,” said Balog, JARI’s former director of workforce development. “But us working together, it was an idea that became a reality and now it’s a success.”

A variety of courses were offered, including conflict management, computer basics focused on learning Word and Excel, interpersonal skills, navigating difficult personalities, and business office etiquette.

The mission was to provide participants with classroom instruction, hands-on experience and mentoring that would enable them to better prepare for workforce readiness.

JHA Executive Director Michael Alberts praised the students for taking the initiative to participate and showing “the courage (that) will be absolutely necessary to continue your journey to greater earnings and brighter futures.” .

Other classes are expected to be held in the future. The overall program is being supported by $250,000 in US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Project Funding money received from JARI with the support of the US Senate. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.