SIUE Helps ICCS Prepare East St. Louis Men for Employment
Free professional coaching and grooming were dispensed to a select group of men on Saturday, March 19 in East St. Louis in hopes of advancing their career opportunities. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach collaborated with the Illinois Coalition for Community Services (ICCS) to present the pilot program, Clippers and Careers, for men ages 20-24.
“The Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach is committed to offering personal and professional development opportunities and sharing the University’s resources with the community,” said OSEO Director Mary Ettling. “We appreciate the opportunity to support the Illinois Coalition for Community Services’ Clippers and Careers event by providing information about regional workforce programs and donating personal care items. We look forward to future collaborations in the community.”
“The purpose of the event was to provide resources for young men of various employment opportunities, and give them the tools to be the best candidate for interviewing and getting the job,” said Rhonda Currie, field supervisor of ICCS, who sponsored the program. “We hope to develop it into an ongoing program.
Workforce development was offered that included the following sessions:
- Money Management by Kriss Gamm-Smith of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Behavioral Based Interviewing by Darrell Lewis of Veolia North America
- Job Readiness and Soft Skills by Camille Scott of Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House
- Grooming by Champions Barber College in Belleville
Champions Barber provided the free barbering.
The Office of Online Services and Educational Outreach is aligned with SIUE’s mission to be a community that is dedicated to expanding knowledge to shape a changing world. The office offers a variety of personal and professional development opportunities. It works across credit, certificate and non-credit programs to provide a wide array of opportunities to engage in continuing education for career enhancement or simply for enjoyment.
Photo courtesy by Rhonda Currie:
Two East St. Louis men get a hair trim from staff at Champions Barber College in Belleville.
