It's Time to Celebrate ~ Next Step Program: Class of Spring 2008

"Patience and Perserverence"

The Essex County College ~ Next Step Program
By Anna D. Banks

Today, the EOF's Next Step Program (NSP) celebrated Six (6) semesters of making a difference. NSP is a program targeting individuals who have a history of incarceration and/or substance abuse issues. The primary goal of NSP is to assist individuals with their transition from the New Jersey Department of Corrections and/or recovery back to a productive role in their communities. Successful completion of their academic coursework and/or job placement for the participants is a primary goal for the first year of this program. NSP officially began operations September 13, 2005 when all prospective participants from various community correctional facilities were invited to ECC's EOF Department for a planning session.

In addition to a full academic course load, the Next Step Program offers life skills workshops, seminars, academic support and counseling on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The support of the EOF Program and the resources of the Learning Center, Cooperative Education Department, Career Resource Center, Counseling Center, Training, Inc and WISE Women's Center are integrated into NSP to address reentry issues in a holistic fashion.

The halfway houses that are participating in the Next Step Program include Logan Hall, Tully House and Kintock Group, Integrity House, CURA and Harbor House in Hoboken.

The Next Step program received funding this year from the Nicholson Foundation.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Fall 2007 Celebration

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Next Step Class of Fall 2007

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

The One-Stop Career Center at Essex County College has Help for Ex-Offenders

By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

If you are an ex-offender in need of services, your One-Stop Career Center at Essex County College can help.

The One-Stop Career Center at Essex County College has trained staff available to assist you. They focus on a particular list of employers who have hired ex-offenders before, or have indicated that they are interested in doing so.

To find out more click the following link:
One-Stop Career Center at Essex County College Provides Help for Ex-Offenders

Looking for a job? Click the following link to view information found in The Job Connection.

Planning to Work Assignment - Due 9/25/2007

Find the Right Amount of Challenge.

Every job presents challenges. Some challenges are physical. You may need to move, bend, lift, and carry. You may be on your feet for hours at a time. To overcome these challenges, you need strength and stamina.

Some challenges are mental. You may be asked to make decisions about the best way to do a job or the next step to take to get the work done.

Some challenges are social. You will need to be polite and fair as you greet the public and work with supervisors and fellow workers.

Finding a job with the right amount and right kinds of challenges will help you find satisfaction in your work.

What are your challenges?


Materials Needed:

* Handout labeled: "After you Watch. Program 1: Planning to Work"

Your Assignment:

1. In your notebook or on a separate piece of paper, list the kinds of challenges you look forward to facing on the job.

2. Post one challenge to this blog.

3. Submit your entire list to me by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18, 2007.


On The Road Less Traveled.

Anna D. Banks, GCDF
Anna@AnnaBanks.com

Information on Jobs and Hiring Events

Hi Guys,

At least once a week, I will post information of local jobs listings and other resources available in Essex and Union counties. You can click the following link to view information found in
The Job Connection.

Until the next time,

Ms. Banks

Welcome to ECC and Next Step Program

Welcome to Job Search and Employability Skills Training. My name is Anna D. Banks, GCDF and I will be your Job Search and Employability Skills Trainer this during Fall 2007 semester.

I want to congratulate each of you for taking this outstanding first step toward living a life of which you can be proud.

We are going to use this blog for several things this semester. To name a few:

1. Ongoing dialogue between you (students) and I
2. Homework assignments
3. Introduction to 'instant' online publishing to create and increase your "personal brand"
4. Increasing our computer literacy skills.

By the way, did you notice that I wrote "our" computer literacy skills? Yes, I'm learning to use the new technology in education, training and career development. So we'll be learning together.

Just a couple of rules for using this blog:

1. You must check the blog at least once a week. However, I will post job openings and other valuable information regularly, so if you don't want to miss something, check daily.
2. Zero tolerance for profanity (i.e. No profanity will be used on this blog)
3. Always be respectful of what you say and write to others
4. To comment on a post, look for the comment link at the end of the post. A pop-up window will be displayed for your comment.
5. You must use your name when commenting. Comments without a name will be deleted!

I look forward to working with each of you as you travel on your journey to achieve academic and career success.

On the Road Less Travelled,

Ms. Banks

Anna@AnnaBanks.com

3rd level, Green Area, Room 3190

Next Step Program - Fall 2007