Lancaster: On Thursday, January 8, forty-eight LancasterCounty residents graduated from Ready2Work, a workforce readiness program that is sponsored by the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County at a ceremony held at Liberty Place. Community partners include the Spanish-American Civic Association, Brightside Baptist Church, the Urban League, and Neighborhood Services.

Those graduating included Richard Allison, Paul Arteta, Kevin Augustus, Nehomar Aviles-Torres, Pam Boynes, Lisavette Colon-Sanchez, Misty Cooke, Albert Dixon, Penny Dotson, James Earhart, Arelys Esmurdoc-Mart, Felix Figueroa, Celines Flores, Jason Geiger, Jodie Golicher, Ruth Gonzalez, Keith Harden, Anthony Harris, Jay Hearn, Robert Heisley, Michael Heller, Todd High, Anthony Key, Samuel Kilts, Andrew Kusuplos, Billy Lawler, Nicole Love, Jesse McCuistion, Aaron Miller, Gilberto Moll-Vega, Ricardo Montalvo, Hector Nieves, Troy Robinson, Gloribel Roman, Carmen Roman-Rubio, Donte Rosario, Monica Sanchez, Tim Shortlidge, Christopher Styan, Samuel Sutton, Wilson Ulloa, Luenny Ulloa-Esmurdoc, Rodney Upsher, Randy Webb, William Whitfield, Jonathon Woodard, Adrian Woodman, and Kieran Wright.

Participants completed a program that usually takes from one-six weeks which includes career counseling; assessement foundational skills; remediation in reading, mathematics, and using charts and graphs; and a review of work skills around attendance, managing conflict, working with others, being prepared for transportation and child care emergencies, managing time and money, and other important issues. Participants receive a Career Readiness Credential from the Workforce Investment Board and the Lancaster Chamber upon completion of the WorkKeys standardized test of workforce skills.

Some of the graduates have gone on to other skill training programs in construction, welding, machine operation, printing, and food safety.

Counselors with the PA CareerLink help graduates make connections with Ready2Work employers who guarantee people with the Career Readiness Certificate a job interview if their skills match jobs that might be available. The list of 35+ employers which includes manufacturers, insurance agencies, long-term care facilities, and others is diverse and grows by dozens each month.