Colorful exterior of the Williamson Street Art Center

Madison Area Art Business Continues Expansion with Support from Transitional Jobs Program

Local artist and muralist Sharon Kilfoy operates the Williamson Street Art Center—where she offers art instruction courses, artist-in-residency programs, and community arts projects. She began efforts to expand her Madison-based business with a recent remodel and renovation of her business’ interior. As part of her expansion plan, Sharon recognized a need to hire additional staff support to organize the new space and help her prepare for several upcoming artist-in-residency and mural projects.

She had recently heard about the Transitional Jobs Program—a short-term employment program administered by the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. After learning about the program, she quickly signed on as a Transitional Jobs worksite in February 2011 and a participant was placed at her business shortly thereafter. Currently, Sharon has her new staff helping with mural preparation—including basic wall taping, placing drop cloths, organizing art supplies, and other painting preparation duties.

Sharon adds that the participant is not only learning technical skills, but job readiness skills, as well. “She’s learning the importance of good communication skills and taking initiative—and it shows in her eagerness to learn new skills.”

As an employer and community leader, Sharon recognizes the mutual benefits of this program. “I’m getting the help I need to build and organize my business and she [the Transitional Jobs participant] is building on the skills she needs to help prepare for future employment and to contribute to her community. It’s been a positive learning experience for both of us and I would definitely recommend this program to other employers.”

Ethel Randle and her supervisor Gina Hill at the Dane County Executive Office

Ethel Randle is grateful for the opportunity to get back into the workforce

Transitional Jobs Employee Finds New Start at Dane County Executive Office

To Ethel Randle, Transitional Jobs means more than a temporary work position—she sees it as a fresh start in the workforce where she can learn new skills that will open up great employment opportunities for her future.  She takes her Transitional Jobs position very seriously, because she knows that it means the start to a whole new life for her.

Before she became a participant in the Transitional Jobs program, Ethel had been interested in finding an entry-level office position but was having a difficult time as most employers were looking to hire only people with previous clerical experience.

Ethel began taking classes at Madison College to improve her typing and secretarial skills in hopes that it would land her a stable office position.

Through her involvement with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) or “WorkSmart” program, she heard about Transitional Jobs, and knew that it was just the breakthrough into the workforce that she needed.

After completing the workshops and training that she needed to enter the program, she was offered a temporary position at the Dane County Executive Office working at the front desk.

From day one, Ethel diligently applied herself to learning the new job skills that she had never needed before, such as serving customers in person and on the phone, as well as a variety of office clerical tasks.

The new position has greatly improved Ethel’s confidence as well as boosting her résumé with quality job experience that will help her secure a permanent position in the future.

“Most jobs won’t take you without experience,” Ethel said.  “But this was a chance for me to prove what I can do.”

Because Ethel wants to use her Transitional Jobs opportunity as a stepping stone into a permanent career, she is highly motivated in her work and willing to take on any task in order to learn as many new skills as possible.

"This opportunity has been a blessing,” she said.  “This is what I needed—a chance to get back into the workforce and gain experience.  This isn’t just a temporary thing for me, it’s a chance to actually go further and advance in life, so I’m very grateful.”

 

Lisa Jacob and Tanya Martinez-Knauer of the Goodman Community Center

Transitional Jobs Participants and Goodman Community Center: A Win-Win

Four Transitional Jobs employees in Dane County have found an opportunity to get back into the workforce at the Goodman Community Center of Madison.

“We’ve found it very easy to work with the staff from Transitional Jobs,” said Lisa Jacob, Assistant Director and Human Resources Manager of the Goodman Community Center. “And we’ve met good candidates with good backgrounds and good attitudes who are eager to get back to work.”

The Goodman Community Center has a long history of involvement in employment programs such as the Age Advantage program for senior citizens and Youth Initiative programs.  Transitional Jobs participants have flourished at the Center thanks to its positive environment and belief in a second chance.

The Transitional Jobs participants that have been placed at the Goodman Community Center are working in a variety of roles such as custodial, food pantry, and administrative office duties.  These positions are helping to improve the participants’ work skills such as customer service, clerical and administrative duties, attention to detail, and reliable attendance.

Office manager and volunteer coordinator Tanya Martinez-Knauer says she has seen great personal growth in the participants since they began working at the community center.  The employees are learning to work with others on a variety of tasks, and Tanya has watched them grow into responsible and self-motivated employees.

Tanya says that the program has also been beneficial for her as an employer.  Thanks to the Transitional Jobs employees, she’s learning to work with a variety of people from diverse employment backgrounds.  She is encouraged by the growth she has seen in the employees and is eager to work with more employees from the Transitional Jobs program in the future.

“I see it as a win-win situation,” said Lisa.  “It’s good for the workers and it’s good for us.  We’d like to continue [working with Transitional Jobs] as long as we can."