New Millennium Institute’s Life Skills Job Readiness Bootcamp has caught the eye of Next City.
Next City is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire social, economic, and environmental change in cities through journalism and events across the nation. It provides daily online coverage of the leaders, policies and innovations driving progress in metropolitan regions around the world. New Millennium Institute (NMI) was founded by Agbara Bryson, a Peoria native. He states, “There isn’t a shortage of jobs, there’s a shortage of job ready applicants. Recruitment and retention are big challenges for employers and workforce development.” Bryson believes that many employers are frustrated because they cannot find applicants who are reliable, dependable, punctual, and understand what it takes to be a good employee.
Recently, there was a news announcement indicating that Peoria is the worst city in the United States for Blacks to reside. This alarming news sends a strong message across the country regarding Peoria’s workforce and economic developmental efforts. New Millennium Institute believes it is time to take action to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. They have collaborated and partnered with organizations, interested citizens and parties in Peoria and the region, to provide a series of integrative healthy lifestyle and workforce development events. The program’s focus is on reducing self-handicapping behaviors and promotes diversity, self-sufficiency, employment, and educational training for at-risk youth, veterans, and the unemployed and underemployed.
On January 17, 2017, NMI collaborated with the East Bluff Community Center and launched a unique comprehensive workforce development initiative called the, “Life Skills and Job Readiness Bootcamp.” The Bootcamp is a comprehensive three week, five-day program, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., that helps employers develop talent pipelines of dependable, certified, job- ready applicants prepared for successful employment.
Participants must be able to demonstrate the following to be considered job ready:
GED or higher, valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, be able to pass drug test, valid phone number & home address, proper ID, work history, career decision-making skills, or knowing what type of work suits them, skills enhancement, or having the skills for the work required, job search, or having the skills to find work, ongoing career management, or being able to manage career changes.
All graduates receive a Life Skills and Job Readiness Certificate and are invited to New Millennium Institute’s Health and Wellness, Employment, Expos and Recognition Luncheon. Graduates are assisted with training and employment opportunities. Participants are partnered with an academic and job coach to provide guidance and support as they journey into self-sufficiency and into the workforce. Graduates are also expected to be active players in reaching their employment and training goals.
NMI is inviting motivated people who are ready to make a change in their lives to sign up for the Life Skills Job Readiness Bootcamp, For more information, call (309) 208-8778.
