Allied Drive jobs program struggling
A local Madison jobs training program has been in operation since January. It was intended to help residents of the Allied Drive neighborhood find decent jobs.
The START program prepares people to take entrance tests for trade apprenticeships. It began in January and has been touted as one of the best ways to lift people out of poverty.
Participants enroll in a six-week class of instruction and individualized tutoring in math, English and spatial skills. The training also covers safety standards, blueprint reading and interviewing skills.
After seven months and $75,000, how is the program doing?
Only two Allied Drive residents completed the program in the first five months. The contract goal for the year is 32. Only one of them passed an apprenticeship test, and only one got a job. The goal is 20 jobs for Allied Drive residents in 2007. … A city analysis found 82 percent of the people who gained employment through the program live outside the city, including Prairie du Sac, Fall River, Sun Prairie and Janesville.
Something’s not quite right here. Why aren’t more Allied Drive residents participating in the program? And why is Madison heavily funding a program that is mainly being used by people who live outside of Madison?
Thankfully, I don’t live in Madison so I don’t have to worry about how long my property tax dollars will fund such an unsuccessful program.
One Comment
Speaking as a resident of the city-owned properties on Allied Drive, and an employee of a non-profit organization that coordinates employment services on Allied Drive, I can wholeheartedly say that the concept of a pre-apprenticeship training program offers a perfect solution to bridge necessary skills with better job opportunities. However such programs are complicated in areas such as Allied Drive. Organizations need to take into account life situations of residents - often taking a class is not as simple as an outsider from our community may expect. Childcare becomes an issue and prioritizing crisis situations become difficult (ie. should I go to class, or go to work? I am two months behind on rent, what to do?). I hope that the program comes together, however 6 months is not always an adequate time frame to gauge whether a program is successful or not. My observation is that many of the organizations that come out to Allied to offer services are not really prepared. One solution is to listen to those you intend to benefit. I mean really listen, not be pretentious, but respectfully listen. Undoubtedly, that would offer insight to organizations who really want to come out here and make a difference. My impression of START is that they are doing that, so we’ll see what the rest of the year offers!