Arbor Education and Training’s IMPACT Program

Program Seeks to Identify Employment Needs and Supply a Quality Workforce

Lisa Smith, Job Developer at Arbor Education and Training stated, “The goal of our program is to move people who are receiving public assistance into full time employment with an end goal of self sufficiency. In working toward our goal we provide each participant with the tools to expand their knowledge, skills, and opportunities. We also provide the community with a pool of job ready candidates. Our community benefits by moving people from public assistance to self sufficiency.” The program offers many forms of assistance to those involved including instructive courses, volunteer opportunities in the community and job readiness activities.

“Our goal is to connect job seekers who are participating in our program with the employment needs of the community. Employers in the Fort Wayne area are encouraged to come into our office and present to our job readiness classes or share job seeking/interviewing tips as well as share the community programs that are available,” said Smith.

“The IMPACT Program for the Burmese has been active since August 31 of this year,” said Smith. “Our first group of 60 participants graduated from our job readiness program on September 25. From there they will go into a Community Work Experience site or employment. Overall we are working with approximately 500 Burmese refugees.”

Despite all the wonderful progress they have made within the Burmese community, Smith admits they couldn’t do it all on their own.

“We are partnering with a number of organizations in the Fort Wayne community and continue to meet with people to help engage participants in job readiness and life skills activities in the community. We are excited to have our Burmese participants out in the community doing work experience and are pleased with the organizations that are working with us in this endeavor.”

Arbor recently added Burmese speaking employees to their staff to assist in working with the group. By opening the language barrier, they are able to help them more efficiently and quickly than before, connecting many of them with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

While the IMPACT program is thriving, Smith was adamant that they are always willing to work with more organizations.

“IMPACT is an ongoing program,” she said. “Companies can help and get involved by posting job openings in our offices, speaking to our workshop participants, participating in job fairs, accepting volunteers from our community work experience program, or providing projects for our community service project participants to complete in the work simulation area of our office. Arbor is always looking for new ways to partner with companies and organizations in an effort to benefit our participants in their employment goals.”

Arbor Education and Training is currently looking for projects such as mailings, packet assembly, small sewing tasks, goodie bag assembly or any other small project that can be carried out in their office as a simulated work environment. For more information contact Lisa Smith at lisaasmith@arboret.com or call (260) 494-8720.

Story courtesy of The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.