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Read about CWEE in the April 15, 2008 edition of The Rocky Mountain News by clicking MASSARO: Drugs lost out to baby girl : Columns & Blogs : The Rocky Mountain News

Read about CWEE and Laurie Harvey in the November 2007 Denver Post by clicking Joanne Davidson article on November 17th.

Read about CWEE in the June 2007 Denver Post by clicking Diane Carman article on June 7th.

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Turning the Tables at CWEE to Find a Way to Work

 

(October 15, 2007) CWEE: The Center for Work Education and Employment has held its third biannual "reverse" job fair on October 11, 2007. Dubbed the ROI (Return on Investment) Job Fair, the hugely successful event attracted many prospective employers, including Exempla Healthcare, the City and County of Denver, The Warranty Group and the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

CWEE is a venerable Denver nonprofit that helps low-income adults prepare for, find and keep sustainable employment. The vast majority of CWEE participants are women. All the participants in the ROI event were women.

The twist on the ROI Job Fair was that the participants seeking employment set up their own booths with resumes and information and prospective employees came to visit and network with them (usually employers set up and prospective employees visit the booths).

Of the 12 women who participated, at least half are following up with interested prospective employers. "Our participants were extremely creative," said CWEE employment services supervisor, Eli Vega. "Most designed and produced their own business cards and informational material.  They made their tables visually appealing and some enterprising women even had a corner-side flower vase or giveaway pens there to make their tables more exciting.”

 
The participants' business skill and education levels vary widely, ranging from entry-level clerical to advanced Excel and PowerPoint expertise.

But according to CWEE executive director, Laurie Harvey, the job hunters all have one trait in common: a tremendous determination to succeed in the workplace and to achieve personal and professional goals.

"Our CWEE participants usually have overcome tremendous personal obstacles and adversity," said Harvey. "Experience has shown that if a company hires someone from CWEE, they get an employee who is extraordinarily hard-working, conscientious and reliable."

To make an online donation and to help ensure that CWEE’s services will always be available to Denver’s low-income community, visit www.cwee.org or contact Laura Gabbay, Development Director, at 303-892-8444 x 312 for more information.

 

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Governor Bill Ritter pictured with (from left to right): 2007 Silver Flames Lucyla Diaz, Wendy Brown and Valerie Binkley,

along with Special Returning Silver Flame Julia Doria

$126,000 RAISED TO AID COLORADO’S LOW-INCOME ADULTS

 

(Denver, CO – May 1, 2007)—The Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE) celebrated 25 years of assisting low income parents reach self sufficiency by raising an additional $126,000 to help disadvantaged Coloradans prepare for, find, and keep sustainable employment.

 

Along with celebrating 25 years of excellence at its “Investing in Success” luncheon on April 26, CWEE, along with a number of Colorado’s political leaders, honored three women who rose above verbal and physical abuse, lack of education or work experience, and teenage pregnancy to become independent.  These women overcame major obstacles with the help of CWEE and achieved significant career success.  Wendy Brown, Valerie Binkley, and Lucyla Diaz were presented with a Silver Flame alumni leadership award to recognize their accomplishments.  Also honored was Julia Doria, a 1986 graduate of who has been with Qwest for 20 years. 

 

“We all succeed, if we focus on those who live on the margin and participate to their potential,” said Governor Ritter who attended the luncheon along with more than 500 guests.  

 

Wayne Murdy, Chairman and CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation, presented a check of $25,000 to a pleasantly surprised Laurie Harvey, Executive Director of CWEE.  This contribution recognized CWEE’s 25th Anniversary and is on top of Newmont’s three-year, $75,000 commitment as Presenting Sponsor for CWEE events.

 

Other key sponsors of the luncheon include MacKenzie House, LLC, Wells Fargo, Community Banks of Colorado, Robin and Todd Snidow, Nancy and Fred Wolfe, Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, and GK Baum & Company. 

Center to Mark 25 Years Helping Single Parents Achieve Self Sufficiency

April 26 luncheon to honor four single mothers who went from desperation to dignity

 

(Denver, Colo. – April 17, 2007)—Since 1982, the Center for Work Education and Employment (CWEE) has been helping single parents break free of public assistance through a combination of job training, life skills and employer relationships.

 

This year, the Center will celebrate 25 years assisting more than 7,000 participants move from a cycle of poverty to gainful employment and self sufficiency.   

 

“This center is not about getting someone a job, it is about helping people lift themselves out of desperation and into dignity,” said Donald MacKenzie, CWEE board chair.  “There are few things more satisfying than seeing our participants go from being unemployable—for reasons such as homelessness—to landing and keeping a job making $10 an hour or more.”

 

One of the Center’s alumni, who will be among four graduates honored at CWEE’s annual luncheon on April 26 at the DCPA’s Seawell Ballroom from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, says she was suicidal, depressed and destitute before entering the CWEE program. 

 

“CWEE helped me find the confidence that was ripped away from me on a daily basis by those who claimed to love me,” said Valerie Binkley, a single mother of six children who is now a customer service representative with The Warranty Group.  “I have not had a suicidal thought nor have I seen myself as useless or worthless in the past two years.” 

 

Beyond job training, CWEE case managers help participants deal with personal issues that can be obstacles to finding and keeping a job including homelessness, unreliable child care and lack of transportation.  The profile of CWEE’s participants reveals a clientele of some of Colorado’s most disadvantaged.

 

 

In addition to Valerie Binkley, this year’s ‘Investing in Success’ luncheon will recognize CWEE graduates Lucyla Diaz and Wendy Brown with Silver Flame awards, as well as Julia Doria who graduated from CWEE in the 1980s and has been with Qwest for the last 20 years.  The luncheon also will feature presentations from Governor Bill Ritter and Newmont Mining Corp. Chairman and CEO, Wayne Murdy. 

 

The luncheon’s presenting sponsor is Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp., with a pledge of $75,000 over three years.  Other key sponsors include Barbara Grogran, MacKenzie House, Wells Fargo, and Community Banks of Colorado.  More than 500 business leaders, elected officials, alumni, and volunteers are expected to attend this year’s luncheon which will be emceed by CBS News 4’s Anna Alejo.

 

For more information please visit www.cwee.org

 

CWEE GED Graduates Celebrate their Achievement on September 15th

 

(Denver, Colo. – September 14, 2007)  On September 15, 2007 Denver-based CWEE: The Center for Work Education and Employment will recognize 18 low-income women from metro Denver for successfully completing their GED (General Equivalency Diploma).  More than 100 invited guests are expected to attend the biannual graduation ceremony at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton Street in Denver.

CWEE is a non-profit organization working to help low-income adults prepare for, find and keep sustainable employment. CWEE successfully encourages participants to mine their potential, move off public assistance, and become role models to their children.

 

 “We place a major emphasis on education – many (over 48%) of the women who come to CWEE do not have a high school diploma or a GED certificate,” said Sharlie Graham, CWEE’s GED instructor “We are thrilled to honor these extraordinary women because many of them have had to overcome significant obstacles to achieve this level of education.”

 

CWEE offers a full range of services including job development and assistance with job search and retention.  CWEE’s case managers, at the same time, help participants to identify and overcome personal obstacles such as homelessness and domestic violence. CWEE provides an individualized program working from the inside-out so participants are fully prepared to achieve stability and economic self-sufficiency. Because education is a key factor in earning potential, CWEE offers on-site GED classes. The GED program has been extremely successful with 39 graduates in the calendar year 2006, up from a total of 17 graduates in the calendar year 2005. Since January 1, 2007, 22 participants have obtained their GED. 

 

For more information please visit www.cwee.org.