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 Valhalla, NY - Westchester Community College’s “Project Transition,” a Center for Retraining, is reaching a milestone this year, celebrating 20 years of helping women to develop the skills needed for today’s workforce.
A special first-ever reunion is scheduled for May 7 , beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Westchester Community College in the Faculty Dining Room.
Since 1987, Project Transition has provided services to displaced homemakers who are divorced, widowed, separated, single parents, or whose spouses have become disabled or unemployed. Over the past 20 years, Project Transition has helped more than 8,000 displaced homemakers from Westchester and Putnam counties gain marketable skills to enter, or re-enter the local workforce.
“We’ve never brought all of these graduates together before, and it will be very exciting to see how their lives have been enriched, “ said Mia Fienemann, Director of Project Transition. Ms. Fienemann, who has directed the project for the past six years, brings more than 25 years of experience in non-profit management, program development and training to the program.
Funded by the New York State Department of Labor Office of Workforce Development, Project Transition provides free six-week programs to those who meet eligibility requirements as well as prerequisites for training programs. Some of the services Project Transition provides include computer software training, career decision counseling, skills assessment, work readiness coaching, confidence building, and job search and placement.
Classes meet five days a week, and include the most up-to-date computer software as well as the latest career and marketing strategies. There are two instructors, a computer trainer and a career counselor, and students receive 80 hours of computer training, and 18 hours of career strategy planning. “The group dynamics are extraordinary,” added Fienemann. “Before enrolling in our training, these women have been coping with their loss alone, but once they’re in these classes, they realize that they’re all in this together and the group interaction creates a lasting bonding experience for them.” After graduation, students meet with a job developer/coach on an individualized job search strategy, and the job developer helps them to find suitable employment.
Project Transition students range in age from 21 to 68. “We’re starting to see more of an older population, as a result of mergers and layoffs,” said Fienemann. “Sometimes, it’s difficult for these women to find positions, but all of our instructors are very caring, and our goal is to get everyone back on their feet.” The program also includes mock job interviews with people from the business community, as well as contacts with local employment agencies to help with job placement.
Graduates of the program have found positions in information technology, media, communications, higher education, health care, law practices, retail and many other areas.
With approximately 24,000 credit and non-credit students, Westchester Community College is the largest college in Westchester County and is consistently the number one college choice of high school graduates in the County. Westchester Community College is dedicated to the belief that growth and adaptation through educational experience are possible for individuals at all stages of development. The goal of the college is to be accessible, adaptable, and dedicated to lifelong learning while sensitive to the individual needs of our diverse population. Westchester Community College Foundation, a 501-C3 not-for-profit corporation, is the fund-raising arm of the college.
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