Alayya Arrison

Dear Friends,

Although I have a Bachelors Degree and have been a working professional for 6+ years, I experienced
lull where I was only working part time. I was unsatisfied with my lack of progression in my career and felt
like I had hit a plateau and was not sure where to go next. I met Alicia through her outreach efforts, and
she encouraged me to join NextUp. I often referred many people to StepUp but did not know that they
were also able to help me.

The NextUp program helped restore some of my confidence that had been dwindling over the past few
years. I was reminded how to advocate for myself. The program content taught me important networking
and communication skills, and how to frame difficult conversations. Most importantly, the program
reminded me that I am a valuable person of great worth. I did not realize how lack of confidence played
such a big role in my ability to move forward.

With Alicia’s encouragement, for the first time in my career, I asked for a raise. I am now working full-time temporarily while the organization I work for looks to budget me into a full-time position in the next fiscal year, with more training opportunities to expand on my skill set. I encourage other working professionals to join NextUp if you need support in moving forward in your career. The program leaders are caring, compassionate, and truly invested in the participants, and I am so grateful for my experience.

Thank you, StepUp Wilmington!

Stacy

Are you ready for a change? Contact us today to learn how NextUp assists employed individuals in securing better employment with increased income.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a halt and has left no individual or family untouched. To meet the need, the government has updated the qualifications for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Family First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA).

The following regulations are valid until December 31, 2020.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The FMLA entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. To qualify, you must:

• Be out of work as a result of COVID-19 (includes childcare providers and caregivers)
• Be employed by a business with a minimum of 50 employees
• Have worked at this business for at least 12 months with over 1,250 hours of service

For information on what eligible individuals receive, click here.

Family First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA)

The FFCRA requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. To qualify, you must:

• Be out of work as a result of COVID-19
• Be employed by a business with 500 employees or less

For more information on what eligible individuals receive, click here.

African American’s make up only 22% of North Carolina’s population yet hold 39% of the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases and 38% of the deaths.

 

Additional Information:

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/covid19/covid-19-nc-case-count#by-race/ethnicity

https://nypost.com/2020/04/07/nyc-state-vow-to-release-coronavirus-data-along-raciallines/

https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-04-07/black-people-are-disproportionately-dying-from-coronavirus

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/07/coronavirus-is-infecting-killing-black-americans-an-alarmingly-high-rate-post-analysis-shows/?arc404=true

Will Rikard, Executive Director of StepUp Wilmington, shares the organization’s response to COVID-19’s impact on jobs.

Did you know  that 70% of jobs are found through networking?

Lauren found this to be true during her experience at StepUp Wilmington.

A single mother of three, Lauren was working as a substitute teacher and doing food delivery on the side to make ends meet. After enrolling into NextUp in July 2019, she had one goal in mind: start a career in healthcare that would pay her bills and still allow her to spend time with her children. During the 5-week career training, she absorbed everything, but particularly took interest in how to properly market herself and network. Her dedication paid off.

“Through StepUp Wilmington, I was able to do some great networking and actually landed a job that was a ‘goal job’ for me with their help,” Lauren said. “Getting that position really boosted my confidence and showed me that I was able to reach and obtain anything that I want.”

After starting her new position, Lauren enrolled into Step2, StepUp Wilmington’s nine-month life skills initiative where she is learning personal, career and financial development.

“I come to Step2 because I get a lot of good energy from everyone that is in the program. They really help me to push myself,” Lauren mentioned.

Are you looking for work or a job with better pay? Contact StepUp Wilmington to learn how our career training can help you land your “goal job”.

StepUp Wilmington’s Executive Director, Will Rikard, sits down with Kevin Mauer to talk jobs on the Collective Voice podcast.

Listen to their conversation here.

You’ve probably heard the terms “Diversity and Inclusion” in the workplace, as many companies in Corporate America have begun implementing task forces that focus on creating a more inclusive culture. A culture that is needed now more than ever.

These terms do not only include race and gender. Being inclusive means hiring those from different economic backgrounds, various education levels and other factors that may set an individual apart. This type of differentiation strengthens the production of new ideas and outlooks, increases problem-solving and influences organizational growth. By focusing solely on education or work experience, you may miss out on a hidden talent pool of top employees.

It’s no secret that we all aren’t given the same opportunities for success. Many individuals in our community face multiple barriers to entering the workforce, whether it be a lack of access to affordable education, transportation or a background. By not having qualifying credentials or relevant training, it is very unlikely that individuals with these barriers will acquire sustainable employment.

In 2017, Tyton Partners measured that over 103 million adults in the United States could benefit from education-to-employment ramps to put them on the same level of those who have had access to these opportunities by default.

In order to create a community of equal opportunity and inclusion, we have to be innovative. Society’s outlook on employment is changing, and StepUp Wilmington is playing an active role in creating that change by vetting and training individuals that may be your company’s missing piece.

Are you hiring? Reach out to Bennett (Bennett@StepUpWilmington.org) to find out how you can hire diverse, pre-screened and trained individuals from StepUp Wilmington.

“This process is not microwavable. If you come to StepUp Wilmington looking for an instant meal, it’s going to be bland and basic. But, if you’re willing to commit to the process of a home-cooked meal like grandma used to make on Sundays back in the day, you’ll reap the benefits. When you finally get to sit down for the meal, you’ll taste every bit of seasoning and effort put into it. That’s what you’re going to find when you’re patient and commit to StepUp. You’ll realize why it was well worth the wait.”

These words are something that Tameka Nixon, StepUp Wilmington’s new Step2 Case Manager, has used to keep her going not only during her time as a participant with StepUp Wilmington but throughout every obstacle she has endured.

Tameka began her journey with StepUp Wilmington in February 2018 when she joined Step2, the organization’s 9-month life skills initiative.

“I needed a change. I was still in poverty even while working multiple jobs. I’m educated – I have a bachelor’s degree – so I knew there had to be something better,” Tameka shared on her decision to join the evening workshop. “It has impacted my life tremendously because now I can go back into my community and show others that success is possible. I can use what I learned to go back and start right from the beginning with them.”

Aside from her passion for supporting the elimination of poverty in the Cape Fear region, Tameka was also intrigued by StepUp Wilmington’s mission to place 1,000 jobs by 2022, inspiring her to play a part in achieving that goal.

“I remember reading about the job goal in the newspaper and thinking that it was so amazing that I am going to be a part of that. We’re going to turn Wilmington around – the views, the generational curses, the racism,” she said. “We’re going to help the community keep their heads up and not look down anymore.”

Tameka’s first month as a StepUp Wilmington employee has been “overwhelming but so exciting”.
“I’m so eager to help and be someone’s guide on the sidelines. I can’t wait to see the smiles when they hit their goals and break down whatever’s holding them back.”

Welcome, Tameka!

Your surroundings don’t determine your future.

Oliver, a StepUp Wilmington graduate, is proof.

He grew up in an environment that tried to inhibit his success from a young age but he remained a leader and continued to prosper. Watching his mother work multiple jobs with an unwavering work ethic, he knew that when it was time for him to do his part, he wanted to do it right. In 2016, Oliver stepped up to the plate and signed up for Jobs Week.

“Jobs Week helped me a lot, especially when it came to doing the mock interviews. It made a big difference. I didn’t just learn about myself but I learned about the community too,” he said, referencing the connections he made with other participants that he might not have come across on his own.

Following his graduation from Jobs Week, Oliver used his new-found knowledge to score a temporary position at Victaulic, a StepUp Wilmington employer partner.

“After six months at Victaulic, I got hired full time in shipping and receiving,” he said. “After I got it, I joined Step2 because I knew I needed to learn more about savings and building credit. I wanted to be smart with my money and save for a house.”

Since completing Step2, Oliver has accomplished exactly what he set out to do when we first met him four years ago.

“I feel more confident and I have a good job. I even bought my first house last year. Victaulic has been good to me. I really like it there.”

Are you ready to make a change? Whether you’re looking for work, a job with better pay or personal and financial development, give us a call at (910)343-8469 to hear what we have to offer.

What is the Opportunity Gap? 

The Opportunity Gap is the lack of access to resources and quality education needed to set individuals up for success. Without training or credentials, it is nearly impossible to acquire sustainable employment with higher-wages. While this may seem like a small feat, this disparity impacts the trajectory of lives and creates patterns that can leave generations of a family trying to get ahead to no avail.

In New Hanover County alone, about 25% of households have an annual salary of under $25K. This is less than the living salary needed to provide for a single individual according to MIT’s living wage calculator.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce found that 40% of NC employers are having trouble hiring talent. The top reasons for this include a lack of skills training and employability. Inaccessibility to the skills and education needed to attain this level of employability should not equate to having to settle for low-paying positions with little to no opportunity for growth.

Since its start in 2003, StepUp Wilmington has worked to meet the need in our community by providing free job skills training, access to gainful employment and works with community partners to make affordable higher education possible. The organization also works with local employers to provide jobs with a fair wage, and established NextUp to address underemployment in our region, allowing individuals to find better jobs with increased income.

While there is still work to be done, StepUp Wilmington is actively working to create more pathways to success for members of our community.

If you or someone you know is ready to get to work, give us a call at (910)343-8469 to learn more.