Ready to Work is the Bridge to Belief:

• Belief in every person’s ability to contribute;
• Belief in every person’s right to pursue happiness;
• Belief in the value of traditional and non-traditional education; and
• Belief that we all have the power to change the future when we work together.

From the desk of Mike Ramsey, Executive Director of the City of San Antonio's Workforce Development Office

Happy February, everyone! As we welcome 2023, we continue to improve access to training and to quality employment for thousands of San Antonians. We also continue to learn and to innovate. Recently I attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., where Mayor Ron Nirenberg kicked off a national campaign for Compassionate Cities. Many of us often face personal challenges. The stress and pressure can take a toll on our mental, emotional, and physical health. Ready to Work case managers, training providers and employers are striving to deliver compassion, connectedness, and the resources we all need to live healthy, productive lives.

There is power in a collective desire to transform our community and to bring us together to succeed. A strong community can invoke actions; and actions speak louder than words.

With sincere gratitude,

Mike Ramsey

Ready to Work Participant Highlight - Crystal W.

Crystal shows us that we can overcome barriers to succeed. Crystal is training for a career in Occupational Therapy, which is in high demand. Her personal Ready to Work coaches have been alongside her throughout the process, meeting her needs and guiding her. The program has helped her prioritize her education and develop her intellectual strength, actions she didn’t know were possible before Ready to Work.

“I used to be afraid to attend college and would use my kids as an excuse for why I couldn't. I can no longer use that excuse because I figured out it wasn't my kids but my lack of motivation,” says Crystal. “Granted, I had goals, but with working multiple jobs and raising four children, I didn't put myself first. I realized that fear is just an imaginary concept in my thoughts. You can achieve everything you desire to achieve. You are your only limitation not to succeed.”

Crystal discovered Ready to Work’s expectations of student success.  Now she feels nothing is holding her back. Instead, she aims to take this opportunity for free education and to use it as a tool to enhance her growth. After initial successes, Crystal is considering studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

“If the program didn’t exist, I wouldn't be a student today,” Crystal says. “This program works. They designed this program for success. If you can't afford school, this program is what you need. The first task to succeed is just getting started.”

Ready to Change Lives

Thank you to the over 280 local employers that have pledged support for Ready to Work. Employers will help guide the desired training and education of participants to help improve our local economy and to ensure the ultimate success of the program. Being an active and engaged business leader brings benefits to local businesses in the short and long term. These benefits include but are not limited to:

• Access to an expanding talent pipeline 
• City-funded training and educational benefits for eligible employees
• Input on approved training catalog
• Enhanced network of workforce agencies, community resources and local training providers
• Increased contracting and subcontracting opportunities
• Workplace diversity
• Economic development for San Antonio

Employer Highlight: Joeris General Contractors,

Represented by Chris Corso, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships - Business Development

Joeris General Contractors (Joeris) is a Texas-based, employee-owned commercial construction firm. Since 1967, it has achieved more than $4 billion in commercial construction statewide. Joeris aims to hire dedicated individuals with a passion for construction that are also skilled in problem-solving, priority management, and logical sequencing -- underrated values in this industry. As a company that prioritizes excellence, service, and community, Joeris is proud to partner with organizations and programs that share values that are in alignment with their mission to transform people and places.

“We were quick to take the Ready to Work employer pledge because one of the challenges facing the construction industry, and many other industries with an aging workforce, is a skilled trade and worker shortage,” says vice president Chris Corso. “Ready to Work is a unique program designed to create opportunities for members of the San Antonio community and to give employers access to a talent pipeline. Taking the pledge was a no-brainer.”

As an active supporter of Ready to Work, Joeris has been developing training pathways in partnership with training providers. It currently hosts Ready to Work Talent Pipeline Management sessions along with other community and industry partners such as greater:SATX and San Antonio Associated General Contractors (AGC). The working groups provide Ready to Work insight into the exact skills and types of employees that Joeris and the construction industry need. Joeris is always seeking to fill various positions, from carpenters and project engineers.  These positions can start a person down the path toward being a superintendent on a job site to business operations roles such as human resources, marketing, and information technology.

Joeris remains optimistic about the program and hopes that other employers and partners also give key input to receive positive outcomes, an instrumental part of the program’s success. Feedback is imperative, and the more companies provide knowledge on specific skill sets required, the greater the opportunity for success.

"Momentum is continuing to grow around the Ready to Work program in both the business community and in the community at large. For interested employers, this is a prime opportunity to partner with an organization filling workforce needs that many employers have,” he says. “By taking the pledge and participating, you can provide input into the exact training you need for your industry’s future employees. They’re ready on day one by having those potential barriers removed.”

Thanks to pledged employers like Joeris, Ready to Work is fueled to continue reaching new heights.

Take the pledge here.

Ready to Serve

The City has partnered with over 30 local organizations to implement the Ready to Work program.

• Creative Noggin, COPS/Metro, MM Creative, and Black Business San Antonio are assisting with community outreach and marketing.
• SA WORX is assisting with employer engagement.
• Workforce Solutions Alamo, Alamo Colleges District, Project QUEST and Restore Education are the City’s prime contractors for intake, assessment and case management services. Subcontractors include Avance, Barcom, C2 Global Services, Chrysalis Ministries, Dynamic Advancement, Empyra, Family Service Association, Goodwill Industries San Antonio, Graduation Alliance, Our Community, Plumquest, Profile Design Studio, SA Food Bank, SAISD, SeeKing HR, Texas A&M San Antonio, WHY Group, Worldwide Languages and YWCA.

Partner Agency Highlight of the Month: Workforce Solutions Alamo

This month’s partner highlight focuses on a prime partner of Ready to Work, Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA). Ready to Work partners have a joint vision of bridging the employer-talent pipeline and strengthening our community and economy. WSA serves area community members by educating job seekers on high-growth, high-wage jobs and careers, providing connections to training, and helping employers build a higher-skilled workforce. It is privileged to serve adults, youth, people with unique abilities, single parents, transitioning military members and their families, and those who are underemployed or unemployed. No matter where someone is in their career journey, WSA helps them realize their purpose through work. Focusing on each client's needs, WSA counselors passionately develop a career plan tied to personalized goals and employment opportunities.

In line with Ready to Work expectations of keeping the client’s circumstances central, WSA counselors identify personal and/or professional barriers that prevent a client from maintaining employment and connecting each client to supportive resources to meet immediate needs.

With 16 career centers serving as the focal point for bringing job seekers and employers together, both in person and virtually, WSA can serve members within their personal communities. WSA knows that that high-growth occupations allow applicants to establish a career today with opportunities for future advancement.

"Workforce Solutions Alamo and our partners have developed informative Ready to Work enrollment events to provide one-on-one client support to mitigate any obstacles and other barriers to applying,” says CEO Adrian Lopez. “We are here to help every step of the way. The most important action a client can take is to simply reach out. One act of courage can lead to fulfilling a dream, an established career, and a better life for themselves and generations to come.”

WSA serves more than 100,000 people annually through its career centers, works with nearly 1,000 employers, and supports almost 12,000 children daily through childcare services, allowing parents to work while gaining an education.

Together with its partners, WSA is invested in the community and in the success of Ready to Work.

Ready to Engage

Upcoming Events

Ready to Work is reaching into the community throughout San Antonio to ensure the program is a success. Whether you are a community-based organization who wants to leverage Ready to Work to assist your client, or a business owner interested in taking the Employer Pledge, there is a place for you at the table. Below is a partial list of upcoming events. If you are interested in having Ready to Work be a part of one of your events, please contact rtw.help@sanantonio.gov.

Want to learn more about what Ready to Work offers? Click here!

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