Catholic Charities Revs up Careers of West Baltimore with Automotive Training

Graduation for 7 Program Participants – Celebrates Training and Job Placement

17 Aug 17 12:00 AM CDT

WHAT: Catholic Charities of Baltimore and its St. Edward’s Workforce Development Center (SEWDC) automotive training program will graduate 7 participants from its 12 week program. All participants faced many barriers to employment, including homelessness, incarceration, lack education and work experience.

The program was started to elevate Catholic Charities its involvement in West Baltimore. The program and services at St. Edwards offer tangible ways to address the needs of the community including food, employment, violence reduction, and programming for children and families. The automotive training program has proven to be a great success.

WHEN: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: St. Edward Workforce Development Center, 2848 W. Lafayette Ave., Baltimore.

Graduation takes place in gymnasium of former St. Edward’s School.

WHO:

·         Anita Donaldson, program manager for St. Edward’s Workforce Development Center

·         Father Honest Munishi, C.S.Sp., pastor of St. Edward’s Church

·         Seven graduates from the SEWDC – four individuals have already been offered jobs.

Background

In December 2015, Catholic Charities of Baltimore started SEWDC to provide greater opportunities in West Baltimore. This program provides classroom and hands-on training for city-wide resident with who have struggled with barriers to employment and who are interested in pursuing an automotive technician career. Once completed, the program assists in securing employment for graduates.

To date, 57 people have graduated from the program with 81% employed in the automotive industry. SEWDC is operated in partnership with the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) and the One Baltimore for Jobs (1B4J) initiative.

About Catholic Charities of Baltimore

Catholic Charities of Baltimore is Maryland’s largest private provider of human services, offering assistance to children and families, people living in poverty, individuals with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and seniors without regard to religion, race or other circumstances. Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, the more than 80 programs of Catholic Charities improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Marylanders each year. Catholic Charities continues a legacy of charity and compassion that began with the establishment of the Catholic Church in Baltimore in 1789. For more information, please visit www.cc-md.org.

Catholic Charities has experts available to discuss a wide variety of topics, including poverty, homelessness, mental health, intellectual disabilities, immigration and issues related to aging.

More information about Our Daily Bread Employment Center