Minnesota WorkForce Center

The Zone Coordinator


Position: CTEP Economic Empowerment Member
Program:  Community Technology Empowerment Project
Partner Agency: Minnesota WorkForce Center
Location (s):  777 East Lake Street Minneapolis MN 55407
Name of Site Supervisor and Title:  Ellie J. Emanuel, Disability Program Navigator, Project Team Leader                

CTEP Program Description

The AmeriCorps Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) bridges the “digital divide” for new Immigrants and low-income communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Join AmeriCorps CTEP and help make the information age accessible to all.  CTEP is a project of Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN).

Site History and Mission

The South Minneapolis WorkForce Center Zone is a physical and virtual space, www.positivelyminnesota.com/Zones, where all youth/young adults,14-24, can gain the skills to conduct a successful job search and select a career path. Established in October 9, 2007 with funding from Pathways to Employment, the Zone, in just over 2 years, has accomplished a lot.  In our accessible space and  at community sites (libraries, high school college and career centers and YouthLink,INC drop-in and housing locations),Zone staff has worked individually and in groups with over 1,170 youth/young adults focusing on increasing and using computers skills to conduct job searches, research potential careers and identify community resources and activities.  Over 50 youth/young adults have been hired for part and full time work and several have been employed through the Summer Youth Employment Program (Self report information).  The Zone has facilitated and partnered on three (3) projects with and for students with special needs:  C3 Resource Mapping, Job Shadowing Day Event and the 10th Anniversary National Celebration of Disability Mentoring Day. Zone staff has continued this work by 1) establishing the Job Shadowing event biannually, 2) providing job search and readiness skills through a work based learning experience and a business site training model (as a partner the Minneapolis Public School District/Special Education in two Minnesota Department of Education grants), 3) providing job search skills/career exploration in a robotics afterschool program and 4) assisting Transition Plus students (2 classes) with their resume development and job search techniques weekly. Zone staff is teaching computer literacy skills as part of the Employment Ready Youth pilot program with Broadway High School , North Mpls, has begun an Employer of the Month program for youth/young adults in which businesses who hire youth talk about entry level positions and application tips and is teaching youth/young adults job search/career development skills in collaboration with the Urban Ventures Youth Mentoring Employment Project.

This year by teaching and guiding the appropriate usage of computers for the job search, the AmeriCorps member has directly assisted young adults with and without disabilities (ages 16-24) from low income and immigrant families  to obtain part and full time employment, acquire school and summer internships, receive Safe Serve certificates (Food Service Industry) and Career Readiness Credentials.  This has been accomplished through the WorkForce Center’s Youth Zone programming which included:  Employment Readiness Youth with young adults, age 16 and older who are emancipating from Foster Care and those experiencing homelessness or transitional living, Transition Plus (16-21 year old program for young adults with disabilities) Food Service Program and individual job search guidance in the Zone.

In 2011-2012, the AmeriCorps member will additionally participate as a team member in the Resource Room Redesign. S/he will assist Resource Room staff to work with Youth Zone and “universal” customers  in 1) the “learning lab” made up of staff directed learning including career assessment and other inventories to build self-awareness, career pathways, basic resume development and learning how to use the WFC technology (faxes, copier and assistive technology) and (2) guidance during “open labs” for job seeking.  This Resource Room redesign will increase the AmeriCorps member’s opportunity to work as team member with a broader range of WorkForce Center staff as well as enabling the member to assist in the development of learning lab materials (capacity building project).  The AmeriCorps member will  continue job readiness classes, workshops and other Mobile Zone activities with Transition Plus students,young adults transitioning from Foster Care, young adults experiencing homelessness or transitional living, young adults who have committed felonies (new County Home School Job Readiness Program this spring) and hold individual meetings with young adults in the Zone.

Preferred Site Schedule for Member

Monday through Thursday- 8 hours, Friday- 6 hours.  Some flexibility on Thursday.

In addition, members attend professional development days with their fellow CTEP members to enhance service-readiness skills, personal attributes at the service site, and citizenship skills.  These Corps days take place twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 9 AM to 4 PM, and these trainings are mandatory.  Members also attend statewide AmeriCorps events, such as the Martin Luther King Day celebration, and/or serve on the statewide InterCorps Council.

Site Specific Responsibilities

The AmeriCorps Member will be working with all WFC customers, with a specific focus on young adults (16-24) including those with disabilities.  The member will assist Resource Room staff in the “learning lab” (computer self assessment, developing career pathways and learning WFC technology) and the “open lab”  for guiding the job search.  The  AmeriCorps member will team teach Employment Ready Youth (ages 16-24),  provide classes, workshops, presentations, a community presence at job fairs and individual assistance on  job search skills in the Zone and at various community sites like Hennepin County Libraries, educational institutions).

Unique Qualifications Sought

  • Experience in public speaking
  • Experience working with people who have a disability

Site Environment

The WorkForce Centers are very busy with many people looking for employment.  This does create hecticness and some tension. Members’ type of activities, schedules and working at different community sites lessens most of this.  The intellectual demands are moderate.  All members participate in Employment Ready U and other training experiences designed for their position so that they are prepared to work with all customers.  Members have continuous supervisory and staff support and work in a team with the student worker. No additional equipment is needed.

How to Apply

Apply online at my.americorps.gov and click on “Apply to Serve” (be sure to enter 06ACHMN0010008-0 as the “Program Listing ID,” or search for the Community Technology Empowerment Project).  Contact: Joel Krogstad, joel@technologypower.org, 651.556.1384

We are committed to recruiting and engaging individuals without regard to disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.  Reasonable accommodations will be made upon request.  Alternative formats of this document are also available.