Phoenix Job Corps Students lead the Arizona Mult-ihousing Association (AMA) employers on a tour of the Center and the Construction / Building Program training areas.

Phoenix Job Corps Center and the Grads of Life organization have signed an agreement and partnership that will have students enrolled in the Construction programs, complete a paid work-based learning (WBL) apprenticeship, followed by hired employment as Apartment Maintenance Technicians with one of the many companies of the Arizona Multi-housing Association (AMA). The AMA is composed of apartment complex operators from Alliance, Greystar, Mark-Taylor, Pinnacle, Weidner Apartment Homes, and Winn Companies.

“Grads of Life is a national initiative focused on changing perceptions and practices to build employment pathways for young adults, ages 16-24, who are out of work or out of school but are motivated and driven to succeed.”

Mr. Connor Wakayama and Raphael Rosenblatt, Associates for the Grads of Life program, have been working with Phoenix Job Corps to establish a partnership that will have selected students complete their career technical training program in the Construction programs, obtain the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT), complete a career labs program focusing on employability skills, and be hired for employment as Apartment Maintenance Technicians with one of the employers in the Arizona Multi-housing Association (AMA).

The Career Labs program, facilitated by Grads of Life, follows maintenance tasks required by apartment maintenance technicians and the National Apartment Association (NAA) Education Institute. Ms. Vanessa Hernandez and Ms. Julian Moskovitz, Professional Skills Facilitators from Grads of Life, provided the Train-the-Trainers program to Center Staff members included in the partnership. Mr. Carter Ellis, Career Transition Readiness; Mr. Richard Wood, Facilities Maintenance Instructor; Ms. Pamela Smith, Career Transition Specialist; Ms. Lucrese Garrett, Counselor for the Construction Programs and Mr. Randy Crane, Director of Career Development Services System (CDSS) completed this two-day customer service skills program with Grads of Life and will facilitate the Career Labs program to students in the Grads of Life partnership.

Special thanks is given to Ms. Roxanne Chin, Acting Director for the Career Transition Services, who initiated the early discussions and guidance that lead to this partnership. Commencement of the partnership will begin in late April with wages of $16.00 per hour and benefits including employer-paid health insurance, discounted rent at an apartment community and bonus and career advancement opportunities.

By CDSS Director Randy Crane