Page 192 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2015

KATRINA ANNIVERSARY inspiring self-reliance
photo courtesy of Connor Tarter
The First Step on the Ladder to Success
onfident, tactical, jocular, dedicated, extraordinary, determined, important, trustworthy, these are
just some of the words
that CLIMB Community Development Corporation’s
Workforce Training Institute students use to describe themselves as they complete their Professional Objectives Portfolio. Over 20 students are gathered in a room to take part Mental Toughness II, a program designed to transition students to colleges and careers. For many low-income young people, and especially for students who are the first in their family to attempt college, the transition into post-secondary education and career pathways often proves difficult. This is where CLIMB CDC transforms adversity to success.
The leadership and many staff members of CLIMB CDC initiated work through an international relief and development organization. Playing a major role in restoring
the community, they completed 150 home rebuild projects, 800 home rehabilitations and, as MEMA’s public liaison, facilitated purchase of over 1,000 MEMA Cottages. A need was identified after Hurricane Katrina when families that lacked resources would marginalize youth who lacked the skills to take care of themselves. YouthBuild is a program that trains
young adults in the construction trade. The program was an obvious fit to serve multiple unmet needs. There was an abundance of construction jobs available post-Katrina. The at-risk, out of school, young adults received job skills and were employed rebuilding their community. As the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts were realized and the economy declined into
or high school diplomas while
they receive on-the-job training
and employment placement. When students come to the Workforce Training Institute, many of them are at a crossroads between the social welfare and judicial systems. CLIMB CDC works with students to assist them in building their livelihoods.
The organization utilizes current labor market data and consults with Gulf Coast business leaders in key regional industries to develop career tracks that lead to jobs which are locally in demand. Students may
select from several earn industry- and nationally-recognized certifications
in several career tracks. Construction certifications include NCCER and OSHA. Students who select Culinary and Hospitality earn certifications from the Starbuck’s Customer
Service in Excellence Training
program as well as the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe and ManageFirst. CLIMB Tech prepares students for jobs in STEM fields while they earn their C-TECH certification. The CLIMB CDC Conservation Corps has completed two pilot field programs and will become a career track
this November. Students will earn certifications in HAZWOPER, Invasive Species Removal and the National Incident Management Systems.
In 2015, Brandon McLaurin, a CLIMB CDC Conservation Corps Crew
192 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • August 2015
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CLIMB CDC’s Workforce Training Institute graduates complete the program and can now seek employment opportunities.
recession, housing became less of
an unmet need in the community. Livable wage employment and the skills necessary to sustain employment became a critical focus as the newly redirected organization concentrated its efforts on workforce development, now known as CLIMB CDC.
Since 2012, CLIMB CDC has been addressing Mississippi’s workforce deficit and generational poverty issues through its Workforce Training Institute. Students earn their GED