ec connection december 2010

8/3/2019 EC Connection December 2010

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BRENDA MAHR, CEO

Agency Annual Appeal Underway:

This is the time of year when we open our hearts and wallets to so many worthy causes. We respon

to the appeals of the St. Louis non-profit community to help those in need. With so very many cho

es, it is sometimes difficult to decide where your charitable dollar will make the most impact.

Many of you have just received our annual appeal and it is incumbent upon me to

share with you why I believe your charitable dollars will be best spent with Employment Connectio

For over thirty-three years we have consistently provided services in keeping with our mission: to

assist persons with limited opportunities to self-sufficiency through employment. Our vision is to

the premier placement, retention and career development program for persons with barriers to emplo

ment, empowering them to take charge of their lives and to fulfill the needs of the St. Louis region

business community. Each year, we have met or exceeded our job placements goals and served weover 30,000 people.

This is a place for people who need a second chance, to redeem themselves, and b

come law-abiding citizens; tax-payers as opposed to tax users. Every dollar you give helps to fight

crime with employment, making our community safer for our families and helping the families of

those we serve become healthy, vibrant contributors to society. For these reasons, we hope you wil

consider responding favorably to our annual appeal request.

The Employment Connection family extends to you and your families best wishes for a happy and

bright holiday season.

E M P L O Y M E N TC O N N E C T I O N

EC CONNECTIOND E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

B O A R D O F

D I R E C T O R S

P r e s i d e n t

J D L u h n i n g

V i c e P r e s i d e n t

P r e v o s t F o u s h e e

T r e a s u r e r

A r t h u r E W e i s s

S e c r e t a r y

R o y A n d e r s o n J R

D i r e c t o r s

K a r e n A D a v i s

V a n e s s a H o w a r d E l l i s

M a r t i B l o o d s a w - F o g g i e

B i l l D o r o t h y I I

R o d n e y G e e

S t e v e n G r a h a m

L e o M i n g J R

M i c h a e l N o v a c k

A l S e a r s

W a l t e r R o b i n s o n

S a n d r a S n e e d

K a y T o m l i n s o n

W i l l i a m W a t k i n s
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P A G E 2

Coming together

is a beginning,

keeping together

is progress, and

working together

is success

IN SERVICE 2010Step Up To Leader-

ship was the theme of Employ-

ment Connection 2010 In Ser-

vice November 22 through No-

vember 24, 2010. During this

three day period several speak-

ers discussed with the staff

ways that each of them could be

leaders in their own way, and

assist clients and the communi-

ty. Step Up To Leadership was

kicked off with a presentation

by Gloria McQueen of GIA

Community Development Cor-

poration. Ms. McQueen facili-

tated topics on planning for

your passion, working on a

team and collaborations. Frank

Alaniz from Missouri Career

Center showed the staff ways toimprove clients job search

skills. Throughout the first day

Employment Connection staff

also heard from Rodney Gee,

Chair of the agencys Develop-

ment Committee, and Stephen

Zegel, Employment Connec-

tion staff licensed clinical so-

cial worker who discussed

Reality Therapy.

The second day ofStep Up To Leadership began

with Workplace Harassment

training from Leo Ming, an

Employment Connection

board member. Staff then

heard from Brenda Mahr,

CEO, David Kessel, COO and

Dave Dietrich, Development

Director. They discussed the

future plans and direction of

Employment Connection. Af-

ter lunch three Human Re-

sources professionals served

on a panel to address staff

about the hiring process. The

three HR professionals includ-

ed Kathy Joslin, Bethesda Dil-

worth, Jonathan Barth, Lumi-

ere Place Casino and River

City Casino and Melanie

Linhoff, Drury Plaza Hotel.

The day was ended with a

presentation from Alan Erd-

man, CEO from Lutheran

Family and Children Serviceson effective marketing and

increasing donors. Personality

Assessments were facilitated

by Katee Thorton, an intern

from St. Louis University.

The final day of In-

Service 2010 staff formed

committees to step up to lead-

ership and gave brief summar-

ies of the tasks. Nathaniel

Dempsey led a discussion of

the revised staff Personnel

Handbook. Step Up To Lead-

ership was concluded with an

address from Brenda Mahr.

E C C O N N E C T I O N


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Employment Connection Shines Brightly Despite Challenges

P A G E 3V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

Flexibility and restructuring have enabled Employment Connection to have a significant impact on the St. Louis landscape in

2010. By the end of the year, nearly 500 residents will have achieved stable housing and employment through the efforts of

dedicated staff. Success was also achieved internally. We received a major technology upgrade in all staff and client work-

stations, agency servers, and classroom equipment thanks to the St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zones approval of Project

e3. Our partnerships with both the Saint Louis Mental Health Board and the Department of Labor were renewed to help resi-

dents with behavioral health disorders and homeless veterans. In conjunction with these cornerstone partnerships, staff mem-

bers have formed five special internal committees to revamp agency structure to fit the needs of an ever-changing landscape

in our community. As Saint Louis faces major problems with rising crime and unemployment, Employment Connection is

laying the groundwork to become a major force for change in 2011.

Employment Connections Building Blocks Program will host a Youth Employment Summit spon-

sored by GIA Corporation. The Youth Employment Summit "Empowering Our Youth will be held onMarch 16, 2011 from 9am to 2pm. The purpose of this summit is to provide a presentation to Employ-ers on the benefits of hiring youth through our program, to provide information to our Service Provid-

ers such as Division of Youth Services and Family Court Juvenile Division on how to incorporate ourprogram into the lives of the youth that they serve and to show the youth that there are options for

them to succeed.

If you are an Employer and would like to participate in the job fair and information session or a Moti-vational Speaker who would like to reach out and talk to our youth, please contact Veronica Travis at

(314) 333-5614.

Youth Employment Summit - Empowering Our Youth

Jesse Payton Memorial Fund 2010 (Toys for Tots)The annual JPMF campaign was a success this year. The

fund was able to accommodate our families entire toy

request. Special thanks to Toys for Tots coordinators, Sgt.

Gavin Lewis, SSgt. Scott Hogie, Sgt. Edward Merz and

Cpl. Nicole Tannehill. They were a tremendous help with

the selec- tion and distribu-

tion of the toys Employ-

ment Con- nection received.

The families were very

apprecia- tive of the toys

and ex- pressed their

feeling with tears of joy.

Jesse Pay- ton, a deceased

employee of Employment Connection initiated Employ-

ment Connection being a recipient in 2004. Jesse Lanecontinues as the Employment Connection coordinator.

Employment Connection looks forward to Toys for Tots

in 2011.

Computer Winners

Employment Connection was able to donate eight

Employment Connection rebuilt computers to

clients due to St. Louis Regional Empowerment

Zone gift of computers to the agency. The clients

that received computers are: Gregory Bryant,

Harold Fields, Bernard Johnson, Salia Kamara,

Victor Little, Bertha Russell, David Stubblefield

and Steve Wilkins.


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Client Of the YearEmployment Connection 2010 Client of the Year was

Bertha Russell. She was recognized at the EC Boardof Directors annual meeting Friday, September 24,

2010. Bertha Russell completed the housekeeping

training through Managed Work Services, a social en-terprise of Employment Connection. She worked as a

housekeeper for 90 days through Managed Work Ser-

vices. Due to her outstanding performance she washired as a BJH regular housekeeper.

After 10 months of her hire date, she applied for the

vacant housekeeper lead position. She had several in-

terviews and received the promotion to be a lead

housekeeper on the second shift on the BJH southcampus.

Staff was required to read the book Who moved My

Cheese for In Service. 2011 will bring some changes

in how services are provided.

January 7, 2010 at 12:30 pm will be the first

orientation. New clients should call (314) 333-5627 to

schedule orientation.


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Melanie Linhoff, HR Drury Plaza Hotel and Devette Sproaps, HR Allied Barton were selected as em-

ployers of the year. They were honored at the Employment Connection Board of Directors Annual

Meeting Friday, September 24, 2010. Melanie and Devette have interviewed Employment Connec-

tion clients for several years. They are commended for being friends of Employment Connection.

They have attended job fairs at the agency. Employment Connection appreciates their assistance and

support.

Employers of the Year

During inclement weather, please call (314)333-5627.

The message will state if the agency is closed or on a

snow schedule.

Employment Connection will close December 24, 2010

and will reopen on January 03, 2011

Holidays

Monday, January 17, 2010 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday January 21, Presidents Day


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2838 Market St.

St. Louis, MO 63103

Phone: 314-333-JOBS

Fax: 314-652-0310

E-mail: www.employmentstl.org

Mission Statement

To assist individuals with limited opportunities to

self-sufficiency

through employment

Vision StatementTo be the premier placement, retention, career

development and advancement program for per-

sons with barriers to employment, empowering

them to take charge of their lives and fulfill the

needs of the

St. Louis region business community

Employment Connection

Assisting individuals with limited

opportunities since 1977

UP COMING EVENTS:

Youth Employment Summit Empowering Our Youth

Wednesday March 16, 2011 9 am2 pm

Employment Connection Advisory Council MeetingThursday, March 24, 2011 8:30 am

Employment Connection would like to thank all of our Staff, Friends, Family and Community

Partners for helping make this day successful. Your are greatly appreciated!

ec connection december 2010

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