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The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA) is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. NCBA will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment, including discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

NCBA will investigate all complaints promptly and thoroughly. If NCBA finds that discrimination or harassment has occurred, NCBA will take appropriate action to correct the situation. NCBA is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels safe and respected.

WEBSITE BY Steve Halverson

Karen B. Gray

On March 29, Karen Gray entered the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), seeking guidance and a new career change.

Before entering the SCSEP training program, Ms. Gray cared for her grandchildren. Before Ms. Gray entered the SCSEP senior training program, she asked, during her interview, where do you see yourself in 5 years? As stated by my new job, I enjoy baking and children. While we continued talking, Ms. Gray mentioned that she was raising her two grandchildren and loved baking sweets and cooking. Ms. Gray started training as a receptionist and became a job counselor.

Where she was able to enhance her computer, customer service, and Word skills, Ms. Gray became frustrated while looking for employment as a receptionist. Her confidence was rapidly diminishing and the only thing on her mind was finding a job for herself and caring for her grandchildren.

While she continued talking about how much she loved to bake and cook, she was advised to get her food handlers certification to change her IEP from being a receptionist to being a baker or becoming self-employed. Interview after interview, Ms. Gray got a call from Reading Partners, an elementary school, as a site coordinator. Ms. Gray was so excited that she would be working with elementary students. Ms. Gray said the one and most important thing the SCSEP training program did for her was to allow her to enhance her skills and feel more confident about herself. She knew she had only basic skills but felt no one would give her a chance and finally her hard work and persistence paid off.

Mrs. Mary McGhee

Mrs. Mary McGhee, I would like to share with the staff of NCBA my story of success. I came into the pr program with little or no ho hope of being accepted, but Once I made up my mind to investigate the program, I was amazed at all the information and help that I received from the job developer (Saeed Khan) and the Job counselor (Beverly Thomas). They assured me that I could do the requirements outlined in the program and that I would be supported in this (NEW) adventure. Believe me when I say a new experience because that is what it is.

The most important thing for me was that I was willing to try; if they were willing to work with me. I am grateful they believed in me and allowed me to believe in myself. I enrolled in the program in January of 2023, where I was placed at Granville County Library in Oxford, NC, as my host agency under the supervision of Andrew Maloney. As I continued to perform in my training, I thought the staff was great to work with, so I approached Andrew about a permanent position. As I continued to train with the NCBA program, I continued to talk with Andrew about becoming a team member of the company. It wasn’t long after he called me aside concerning a position with the company. At that time, my first thought was that I had done something wrong; but I had done everything right because he wanted to offer me a position.

I was thrilled and thankful all at the same time. Not too long after that conversation, Andrew Maloney made an appointment with me to go over some paperwork concerning a position that was available, and he wanted to know if I was willing to accept the job: all at once, my face lit up with teary eyes nodding my head saying yes, yes! So once again, I would like to thank Mr. Saeed Khan, Miss Beverly Thomas, and Mr. Andrew Maloney, who was my host agency supervisor but now is my employer supervisor.

To the other participants I met and spoke with on several occasions at the Program Job Meetings, I just wanted to say don’t give up on finding work but let your work show others that you can work and, most of all, be willing to work. I count my new adventure as a blessing. I was hired by the Host agency Thornton Library three months after my training began.

JOANN CARRAWAY-EVANS

JoAnn Carraway-Evans (Ms. Carraway) joined the NCBA SCSEP program on 07/19/2021. At intake, she signed two attestations: (1). Low Employment Prospects as she lacked a substantial employment history; and (2). She was at Risk of Homelessness as she was residing in subsidized housing. Her initial IEP stated that Ms. Carraway was seeking part-time employment in a clerical, customer service, or patient advocate position. Ms. Carraway did not have a high school diploma on her enrollment date. Ms. Carraway’s prior work experience included a position as a Medical Assistant and a file clerk position with a state agency.

She got assigned to a host agency, South Central Community Services, Inc., where her training assignment title was Receptionist Trainee.

Ms. Carraway was immediately scheduled to attend WIOA orientation at the Midsouth American Job Center. She also completed Job Readiness Training which included resume writing and interview skills. She was also assigned to a Job Counselor who assisted with the proper method to conduct the required job searches and developing a thirty (30) day action plan. Ms. Carraway was receptive to the knowledge gained through her Job Readiness Training and was eager to utilize this information to help start her employment mission.
Ms. Carraway continued progressing in her training assignment as Receptionist Trainee, where her primary duties were to type correspondence; operate office machines; order supplies; and answer phone calls. On 08/15/22, Ms. Carraway was promoted to Clerical Assistant Trainee in her training assignment, where she took on additional responsibilities, including filing and more computer tasks.

Throughout her tenure in the program, Ms. Carraway consistently completed her job searches in the required format. She sometimes had difficulty completing the task but did not let that hinder her. She always reached out to her Job Counselor when assistance was needed and often came to the office outside her training hours for help. Through the program’s supportive services, she completed training and received two (2) certificates in MS Word and Excel.

While enrolled in the SCSEP program, Ms. Carraway consistently diligently found unsubsidized employment, including networking with friends and colleagues. Although her efforts were somewhat hampered due to the state of the local economy, she never became discouraged and remained focused on her mission to find unsubsidized employment.

Ms. Carraway has an outstanding personality and always speaks highly of the NCBA program. She has always shown much appreciation for the services and training she has received. Ms. Carraway attended all special events held by the NCBA-Illinois Office and always showed enthusiasm when participating.
She represented NCBA at the Black Women’s Expo held in August 2022 and played an instrumental role in recruiting additional participants for the SCSEP program.

Ms. Carraway consistently practiced her typing drills at home to improve her typing speed. Ms. Carraway was eager to receive as much training as possible to improve her office skills. She continued participating in training hosted by the NCBA-Illinois Office, including Resume Writing and Interview Skills workshops held by Walmart Academy in October 2022.

Regarding meeting personal goals, Ms. Carraway completed her GED classes and received her GED Certificate in January 2023. She also enrolled in a Phlebotomy class which she recently completed.

In May 2023, a recently developed hiring contact at a local janitorial service, Dust Em Clean, mentioned to a Job Counselor that she was seeking clerical assistance in her office to help schedule the janitors, payroll, and other administrative duties.
Ms. Carraway immediately came to mind as an excellent candidate for the position due to her outgoing personality and customer service; filing; organizational; and computer skills, which she developed while in the program. Ms. Carraway was scheduled and attended an interview with the hiring contact on 06/10/23, and a couple of days later, on 06/12/23, she was selected for the position of Clerical Assistant.

Ms. Carraway started her new position on 06/27/23 and is completing the company training program. Ms. Carraway is pleased with her new job and realizes the potential for growth and advancement within the company, which is experiencing substantial growth. We are confident that Ms. Carraway will do well in her new position due to the determination and development that she has shown while enrolled in the SCSEP program.

Due to her acquired skill set and outgoing personality, she will work well with the staff and customers in her new position.

We Congratulate Ms. Carraway and Wish her all the Best!

Ms. Linda Carson
from the DeLand Office

Ms. Linda F. Carson was referred to NCBA from the CareerSource Center in Flagler. When I reviewed her resume, I decided to interview her for the Office Assistant position; she had the perfect skill set. When I first met Ms. Linda, she was coming from a year off from working because of a car accident that left her disabled. After speaking with her, I know she who be an excellent fit for my office because she has a great personality. She was cheerful, willing to learn new things, and had a heart for helping people.

Ms. Linda believed in NCBA’s goal and wanted to be a part of it. She learned her job quickly and started to learn more about the Organization. Using her skills, she organized the office by ensuring everything was current, organized, and done on time. Ms.

Linda is a true team player. When we were short-staffed, she took on extra responsibilities by helping with Job Consular dues. She ensured all files were updated and started building a better relationship with the Host Agencies and the Participants.

Once she started to learn the responsibilities of the Job Consular, I knew it was time for her to learn some new skills. Since she had already learned most of the skills needed to be a Job Consular and seeing that she had learned those dues very well, she already knew all the forms required for a Participants Intake, Transfer, and Exit. She stepped in and helped the Participants complete their Assessments and Recertification. Ms. Carson has helped beyond the call of duty. That made it easy to transfer and allowed her to learn new skills. She knew it would be more work but was ready for the challenge. Ms. Linda is now a Job Counselor at the NCBA Deland Office.

Ms. Linda is training the new Office Assistant while learning new skills as a Job Counselor. She has been a great addition to this office and has proven loyal, dependable, and hard-working. We cheer for her success in the Deland Office and her pursuit of employment. She is truly a blessing in the office.

Albert Larry

Albert Larry is very appreciative as he starts a new chapter in his life. He had given up on doing anything outside of his home because of the many barriers in his life. His health was not the best, and he lived in an area of low economic opportunities for senior citizens. 

Mr. Larry had accepted the possibility of his not ever obtaining employment. But, after being introduced to National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc (NCBA)/Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the impossible became a reality.

Being a participant in the program and job training as a Maintenance Trainee with his host agency, he was allowed to perform many repairs to the building. His skills improved, and many Mission patrons began asking him for advice on remodeling their homes. Because of his health and the fact that he had appointments and could not change his training schedule every month, he decided after speaking with the NCBA representative to go into business for himself. His skills, dedication, and experience became an asset to him after he realized how he had repaired things at the Mission.

“Programs such as NCBA/SCSEP are truly an asset to many senior citizens by helping them learn training skills from their host agencies which helps prepare them for job readiness. Mr. Larry says, “Because of NCBA, I am motivated to become self-employed. My host agency provided the training I needed. I appreciate NCBA/SCSEP and what it has done for me. Instead of sitting in the house, my life has a purpose as I now get up and use my skills when I want to.”

Alice Westcott

Alice joined NCBA in January 2022 and was placed at CareerSource in Escambia. Under the supervision of Carol Bono in the Accounting Office, Alice learned many skills, such as accounting procedures, checking requests, maintaining databases for clients, etc.

Alice has improved her skill set and has gained confidence in her ability to join the workforce.

Alice has a pleasant outlook, and it shows in all she does. She has made friends with the NCBA and Career Source staff. She brings a positive perspective and a joyful sense of humor to every situation.

Ms. Bono has enjoyed Alice and has great confidence in Alice. Alice was offered a permanent job in the Accounting Office. She will do a great job as she continues with CareerSource.

We wish Alice well and look forward to the great things ahead for her.

Eris Baines

Eris started with NCBA on January 24th, 2022. Eris has excelled in every aspect of her job as a Job Counselor.

Beginning with knowing her participants, Eris has developed an ongoing relationship with all of her participants in helping them find unsubsidized employment by allowing them to train and take courses at CareerSource.

Eris has been a valuable Job Counselor for NCBA. She has met with the community leaders and developed partnerships with them. Some partners are WBQP-TV, Black Care and Book Store, Al Henderson with EPHRC, Escambia County Early Learning Coalition, Bruce Watson, KuKua Institute, and many more.

Eris has put together events such as Celebrating Black History Month at Chappie James Museum and is looking forward to bringing on a new Host Agency, Ella Jordan House, for the following Black History Month.

Eris has even taken on the CareerSource Bowling Team, where she shows her talents in social skills. We wish her well!

NCBA has enjoyed having Eris on our team; she is an excellent asset in helping us build the community and bringing the elderly back to work. THANK YOU, ERIS!