Students and staff from the Questar III Columbia-Greene Educational Center hosted the monthly meeting of the Employment Network on December 8.
The Introduction to Food Services Class, supervised by Chef James Rhoads, Jr. and Eleanor Eckholm, prepared and set up a holiday lunch for the guests. Questar III staff at the meeting included Mari Warfel, JoAdele Foster and Sue Strong, as well as Lynn Seftner and Lakia Walker, who are also members of the Network. Principal Heather Lansing welcomed the guests.
According to Lakia Walker, who coordinates the portfolio program for students at the Questar III educational centers in Hudson and Troy, “The monthly meetings offer a great opportunity to keep up-to-date on the latest information and employment opportunities available in our area, so we can better serve our students as they prepare for their future careers.”
The Employment Network is a group of representatives from local human service, community and educational agencies. Some of the agencies represented include VESID, Department of Labor, Mental Health Association, Questar III, DSS, COARC, Friends of the New Leaf, Inc., Glenmont Job Corps, Occupations, Inc., Experience Works, Workforce NY and the Independent Living Center.
The group meets monthly with the site location rotating among the members. The goal of the Employment Network is to facilitate job placements according to individual potential for people with barriers to employment, and to offer career training and/or education as needed. The participants share job leads, trainings, and hear from speakers in the community regarding various employment issues.
For more information about the Employment Network, please contact Lori Fisch at the Friends of the New Leaf, Inc. 518-671-6023 or Lorifisch@friendsofthenewleaf.org.
For more information about programs and services offered by Questar III, please call 828-4157 or visit the Questar website at old.questar.org.
Photo caption: Students from the Introduction to Food Services class, including Doug Stover, Iesha Randell and Karyn O’Connell, assisted with preparation of lunch at the Employment Network meeting held on December 8.
