Library program to help unemployed
Published 9:59 pm Friday, March 31, 2017
Whether someone has been out of work due to incarceration, a layoff, raising their children or any number of other reasons, everyone deserves a chance to get back into the workforce when he or she wants or needs to after a gap.
The Morgan Memorial Library should be commended for organizing a program next week that will help people do just that.
The program, set for 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, will feature a career resource specialist from Opportunity Inc. of Hampton Roads.
The specialist, Grace Bryant, will present job-hunting tools and resources and use assessments to determine the best work environment and career path for each participant.
Many participants are expected to be ex-offenders looking for employment. Inmates up for release at Western Tidewater Regional Jail have recently attended classes on library resources.
One of the goals of the workshop is to help participants identify transferrable skills, even if they lack work experience.
A workshop of this type is a needed service in Suffolk. Unemployment in Virginia is at a record low — down to 3.9 percent, in fact, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced this week — which is the lowest rate in nine years.
However, many people are still struggling, and if someone needs or wants to work and can’t find a job, that’s a problem that we can all band together to help correct. Everyone deserves the chance to support themselves and their family and to pursue happiness.
The library program promises to help many people, and we encourage anyone who needs help, or can offer help, to attend.
Call 514-7310 for more information on the library program.