Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles (CCSCLA) will hold an orientation session on Saturday, Feb. 11, for the next session in its new CD9 Jobs Initiative, a job training program for South LA residents sponsored by The Reef Project.
The intensive five-week boot camp led by the CCSCLA’s Noreen McClendon instructs participants on a variety of topics, including life skills, resume writing, interview tips, financial management and how to cope with office polities, so as to get them prepared to enter the workplace and begin careers.
“The CD9 Jobs Initiative is all about helping our community lift ourselves up,” McClendon explained. “Employment is the biggest need in South LA, which has the highest unemployment rate in the entire city. This program will help people get prepared to enter the workplace with the skills, confidence and contacts necessary to move forward and begin careers.”
Under the conditions of approval adopted by the Los Angeles City Council for The Reef Project, a mixed-use residential-retail development planned for the surface parking lots surrounding The Reef at Broadway and Washington Boulevard, a percentage of the jobs during both the project’s construction and operational phases will go to local residents living in the 9th District.
It is estimated that The Reef Project will create more than 2,700 jobs during construction and 592 permanent jobs when open. As a portion of its community benefits package, the developer has agreed to ensure that at least 30 percent of the construction and hotel jobs will be filled by residents of Council District 9.
In addition to The Reef, there are a number of major construction projects and other employment opportunities coming to South LA in the next 12 to 24 months with requirements to hire local residents. The CD9 Jobs Initiative will both help people get ready in advance for union construction careers, union hotel careers, and retail careers, and steer them toward other employment opportunities that are currently available.
Upon completion of the job training program, participants will gain access to opportunities through the Coalition for Responsible Development’s Workforce Development and Employment Placement programs.
The orientation session begins at 11 a.m. and will be held at 5857 S. Central Ave., Suite 180.
For more information and to sign up for the CD9 Jobs Initiative, please contact the Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles at (323) 325-7750 or go to www.ccscla.org.
