Category: News

On Wednesday, February 12, in Aurora, CO, the Parents to Work (PTW) team hosted its Coffee with PTW event, designed to equip unemployed participants with essential workforce insights, direct employer connections, and strategies to overcome barriers. This event provided participants with key job search tools to enhance their career prospects.

On October 18, 2024, at the Carriage House at the Governor’s Mansion to recognize outstanding employers and young adults from workforce centers across Colorado! Each year, workforce center staff nominate employers who provide high-quality summer jobs and internships along with young adults who make an impact in their roles.

On July 13, 2024, the Aurora Police Department hosted the Northwest Aurora Neighborhood Resource Fair. It was a day filled with free food, safety giveaways, community resources, and fun activities for youth. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! partnered to showcase the valuable resources offered by the workforce center. “The event was well attended, despite the July heat” said Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman.

Approximately 30 young adults attended Arapahoe/Douglas Works!’ 2024 Young Adult Summer Job Hunt Boot Camp the week of June 3^rd. The boot camp aims to assist young adults who are ready to start working and may benefit from the intensive support provided by workforce center staff.

Feedback from last year’s inaugural boot camp led to updated workshop content, which was very impactful. Young adults attended a morning workshop from 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. and an afternoon session from 12:20 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Throughout the week, various topics were covered, including tough conversations, workplace etiquette, self-advocacy, professional appearance (both in-person and on social media), introduction to labor market information, career exploration tools, finding job openings, avoiding scams, resume building, workplace values, interviewing, job fair preparation, and budgeting.

We would like to express our gratitude to the community partners who contributed their resources, conducted workshops, and helped promote the event. Special thanks go to Stephanie Crookston from UC Health/Project SEARCH, Beth Matuszewich from Bellco Credit Union, and Katie Kothenbeutel from Arapahoe Libraries for their presentations on various topics. We would also like to thank Katie for bringing Chromebooks from the library to utilize for activities, arc Thrift Stores for providing vouchers to enable attendees to purchase interview outfits, and Becky and Ricardo from Aurora Public School’s School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) for providing staff support and collaboration on summer employment programming for SWAP-participating students.

The boot camp concluded on Friday, June 7, 2024, with a Young Adult Summer Job Fair. There is a high demand from 14-18 year-olds for summer employment and volunteer opportunities to start building their experience and resumes. More than 80 young adults, including boot camp participants, attended the fair.

The quarterly Programs Career Fair, hosted by Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, took place on June 4, 2024. The fair was designed for job seekers in search of their next career. With twenty employers offering a range of opportunities, from entry level to experienced positions, the fair attracted over 155 enthusiastic attendees. 

Evans’s journey from Ghana to the United States was marked by determination and resilience.

Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center hosted a Talent Pipeline Makeover Workshop on April 23, 2024. Anthony Cherwinski from the Office of New Americans (ONA) was the keynote speaker. He advised employers on everything from establishing New American hiring initiatives to creating upskilling programs for multicultural teams. If you are interested in working with this talent pool, view ONA’s webinar series “Working with New Americans: From Recruiting to Upskilling.”

There was a panel discussion that focused on innovative strategies to recruit and hire diverse populations to harness new talent pools. The panel featured representatives from the Immigrant & Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, Blue Star Recycling, Latino Coalition, Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce, and CDLE Veteran Services.

Employers stated that the presentation and the panel were very informative and beneficial. Additionally, employers received resources to improve their workforce development opportunities. If you are interested in increasing your talent pipeline, contact a Business Development Representative at 303.636.1359 or fill out a request form.

In an era where traditional print media is facing challenges, one publication in the Denver metro area is defying the odds through collaboration and innovation.  OutFront Magazine (OFM), a free printed publication dedicated to local events, current topics, and issues impacting the Denver metro area and the LGBTQ+ community, found itself in a predicament familiar to many print publications: the need for additional writers, editors, and staff positions without the funding to support it.

April is Financial Literacy Month!  That means it’s a special time to learn more about money.  Financial literacy is all about understanding how to use money wisely.

Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is dedicated to providing comprehensive support to New Americans as they navigate their career paths and integrate into their new communities.

On March 6, 2024, the Office of New Americans, Emily Griffith Technical College, and the Spring Institute held a job fair for New Americans. Sixten companies were present. More than 600 New American job seekers representing more than 26 countries of origin attended the event. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and the City and County of Denver workforce centers supported the event with outreach and support staff. Interpreters and volunteers were onsite to help with the application processes.

More hiring fairs will be held in the coming months to support New Americans with work authorization in securing employment. Employers interested in attending future Office of New Americans’ events should complete the online employer interest form.

Arapahoe/Douglas Works! also participated in Arapahoe Libraries’ New Americans Career and Education Fair on April 9, 2024. English learners, new immigrants, and refugees who attended that event learned about jobs and education opportunities in our area.  

Individuals interested in assistance with their job search can connect with a Career Services Advisor!