President-elect Christopher Hempfling presented Ms. Quasandria Curry, Director of Westside Works a bout workforce development programs in Atlanta. It was founded in 2014 in the historic Vine City neighborhood; Westside Works is a key initiative of CareerRise. Quasandria explained that Westside Works was established as part of Arthur Blank's vision in response to community needs during the Mercedes-Benz Stadium development. When Blank presented his stadium plans to the Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) of English Avenue and Vine City, community residents asked what he would do for their neighborhoods, which had experienced significant disinvestment with no grocery stores, banks, or job resources. Westside works prioritizes these two neighborhoods.

  CareerRise acts as the manager and strategic operator of Westside Works creating a neighborhood-based workforce collaborative in Atlanta that   trains local residents for high-demand jobs . Together, they provide free career training, job placement services, and support in sectors like healthcare, IT, construction, and culinary arts, directly addressing community economic mobility. which connects Atlanta residents to high-demand career opportunities. A hallmark of the program’s success has been its involvement in the build-out of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where residents received specialized training and credentialing in construction trades, leading to full-time employment. Since then, over 700 individuals have graduated from the program, securing stable, living-wage jobs and collectively earning more than $20 million in wages for themselves and their families.

   Quasandria explained that Westside Works as a trusted resource and gateway to jobs paying livable wages. Its success lies in connecting Atlanta residents to high-demand opportunities one person, one household, one community at a time. She said Westside Works, specializes in linking residents with immediate job openings using weekly Job Clubs to access personalized assistance such as in refining participants’ resumes, enhancing interview techniques, finding the “perfect job match” with an employer.

   Also, residents and job seekers attend our monthly Opportunity Fairs, where people can engage with employers, explore community resources, and connect with training providers. Whatever support you require, we’re here to lend a helping hand! One person who has experienced the effectiveness of WestsideWorks is Latavious Moore. With his keen interest in the cooking and food preparation he says it was the Westside Works Culinary Academy  that helped him break free from constantly chasing labor-intensive jobs and discover a true career. He says he’s “incredibly grateful’ for the opportunity. He credits the program and his work in it as enabling him to transform his life and “given me a future I’m proud of.” Not surprising because Westside work’s approach includes career advisement, which helps participants understand potential career pathways and advancement opportunities beyond entry-level positions. Further, the organization emphasizes hospitality and creating a supportive family environment, which contributes to high retention rates.

   Career advising is typically the first service provided, focusing on career exploration, skills assessment, and understanding previous employment challenges to develop an effective path forward. The organization has developed partnerships with Atlanta Technical College and Morris Brown College, among others, to support educational advancement. Westside Works also maintains an active advisory council equivalent to a board of directors, with members engaged in fundraising and community outreach. The organization conducts community canvassing to understand residents' needs and preferences, partnering with schools, faith-based organizations, and service providers like MARTA. Some residents are paid to serve as outreach team members, helping to connect the organization with the community.

   Quasandria also referred to a national study that urges business, education and nonprofit organization leaders to find new ways to unify to overcome personal economic mobility challenges: According to Harvard’s Opportunity Insights director, Professor Raj Chetti, Atlantans in poverty have only a 4% chance of not being in poverty during their lifetimes. This ranks Metro Atlanta 50^th out of the 50th largest metropolitan areas in enabling people in poverty to escape it.