JHA Workforce Employment and Training Program participants receive certificates

Dave Sutor, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

Still wearing their ceremonial caps and gowns, Robin Wright and her daughter, Sha’Nya Henry, wrapped their arms around each other and beamed big smiles Thursday morning inside the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College’s Black Bear Cafe.

A short while earlier, they became part of the inaugural Johnstown Housing Authority Workforce Employment and Training Program graduating class honored at the school’s Richland campus. Henry and Wright were among the 17 graduates from JHA’s Oakhurst Homes housing units who completed the coursework over the past few months.

“She keeps me going,” Wright said. “I keep her going. It feels good to accomplish things together.”

Henry referred to her mother as a “safe place” after she went through the challenge of caring for her father who recently died.

“Mom, she really just wanted me to get out of the house,” Henry said. “She didn’t want me to become depressed. So she took me to class.”

The program was a collaboration among JHA, Penn Highlands, Johnstown Area Regional Industries and PA CareerLink of Cambria County.

“You look at all the partners that were involved in this to make this outcome, it was just amazing,” said Jeff Dick, site administrator for the local CareerLink.

Dick and Debra Balog, the college’s workforce development community liaison, were instrumental in developing the initiative.

“It was our vision,” said Balog, JARI’s former workforce development director. “But us working together, it was an idea that became a reality and now it’s a success.”

A variety of courses were offered, including conflict management, computer basics focused on learning Word and Excel, interpersonal skills, navigating difficult personalities and business office etiquette.

The mission was to provide participants classroom instruction, hands-on experience and mentorship that will enable them to be better prepared for workforce readiness.

JHA Executive Director Michael Alberts credited the students for taking the initiative to participate and showing the “courage (that) will absolutely be necessary to continue your journey toward larger gains and brighter futures.”

Other classes are expected to be held in the future. The overall program is being supported by $250,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Project Funding Grants money obtained by JARI with the backing of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.