New First Step Partner - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Today we met with staff members of the New York Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Through an introduction by First Step Advisory Board member Susan Lerner, we are excited that JDRF will now be an internship partner of First Step. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership with JDRF.

Graduates - Summer Session is here!

Graduates! As I've written to you in letters and emails, I am also writing on this blog to invite you to participate in the third annual First Step Summer Session - two weeks of workshops and activities just for First Step graduates. All First Step graduates are welcome to attend – free of charge. Summer Session is a great opportunity to reconnect with your classmates and network with alumni from other classes.

Summer Session will run from August 17th – August 28th, Monday – Friday. Programming will include Computer Classes, Job Search Workshops, One-on-One Career Coaching, Goal Setting, Seated Meditation, and Literacy Workshops.

We will provide MetroCards and a light continental breakfast each day. If you are currently not working or if you have some time off, Summer Session is the ideal way to jumpstart or reenergize your job search and career. Here is the list of classes:

• Welcome to Summer Session (required) - Monday, 8/17/09, 9:30-10:00
• Computer instruction MS Word -Labels, Mail merge, Editing Large documents, Styles & Formatting - Monday, 8/17/09, 10:00-12:00
• Computer instruction MS Word- Updating Resumes and Cover Letters - Monday, 8/17/09, 1:30-3:30
• Intro to Graduate Job Search - Participation Guidelines - Tuesday, 8/18/09, 9:30-10:30
• Intro to 60 Second Pitch with Elizabeth McGowan - Tuesday, 8/18/09, 10:30-11:00
• Resume Repair Workshop - Tuesday, 8/18/09, 11:30-12:30
• Literacy for Work and Life with Ellen Bogart - Tuesday, 8/18/09, 1:30-4:00
• Computer instruction Internet- Cookies, Pop up Blockers, Spam, Customizing the browsers, History - Wednesday, 8/19/09, 9:30-11:30
• Computer instruction Internet- How to post your resume, Job searches - Wednesday, 8/19/09, 1:30-3:30
• 60 Sec Pitch Practice / Meet the Volunteers - Thursday, 8/20/09, 10:00-11:00
• One-on-One Career Coaching / Computer Practice Time - Thursday, 8/20/09, 11:00-12:30
• Goal Setting - Thursday, 8/20/09, 1:30-2:30
• Cover Letter Workshop - Thursday, 8/20/09, 3:00-4:00
• Cover Letter Drafting - Thursday, 8/20/09, 4:00-5:00
• Computer instruction MS PowerPoint- Creating an album, developing a template, downloading/uploading graphics, adding music and narration - Friday, 8/21/09, 9:30-11:30
• Interviewing Strategies - Friday, 8/21/09, 2:00-3:00
• Interviewing Skills Practice - Friday, 8/21/09, 3:00-4:00
• Computer instruction MS Excel- Creating an inventory database, basic formulas - Monday, 8/24/09, 9:30-11:30
• Computer instruction MS Excel- Statistical formulas, if statements - Monday, 8/24/09, 1:30-3:30
• Professional References Workshop - Tuesday, 8/25/09, 9:30-10:30
• Preparing a Professional Reference Sheet - Tuesday, 8/25/09, 11:00-12:00
• Literacy for Work and Life with Ellen Bogart - Tuesday, 8/25/09, 1:30-4:00
• Computer instruction MS Access- Creating tables, forms and reports, Importing data - Wednesday, 8/26/09, 9:30-11:30
• Computer instruction MS PowerPoint- putting presentations on websites - Wednesday, 8/26/09, 1:30-3:30
• One-on-One Career Coaching / Computer Practice Time - Thursday, 8/27/09, 10:00-12:00
• Body Language Workshop - Thursday, 8/27/09, 1:30-2:30
• Seated Meditation w/ Sri Lalitambika - Thursday, 8/27/09, 3:00-4:00
• Computer instruction MS Outlook Creating user groups, email groups, meeting requests and schedules - Friday, 8/28/09, 9:30-11:30
• Thank You Notes / Follow Up Workshop - Friday, 8/28/09, 2:00-3:00
• End of Summer Session - Come back Tues for Job Search - Friday, 8/28/09, 3:00-4:00

Please call us at 212-776-2074 or e-mail firststepadmin@cfthomeless.org to register. Looking forward to seeing you.

We Welcome New First Step Staff Member Takiyah Weekes!

We are very happy to welcome our new Assistant Director/Manager of Job Development - Takiyah Weekes. She started in First Step this week. Takiyah has over 6 years of experience working in workforce development programs, most recently working at The HOPE Program in Brooklyn. She brings an energy and passion to assisting others achieve their dreams. She will be graduating in December with her Masters in Public Affairs.

Takiyah will be working with the students during Phases 2 and 3 of the Program and then continue working with them as graduates to find the long-term career opportunities they need. If you'd like to reach her, you can call her at (212) 776-2072 or email her at tweekes@cfthomeless.org.

We welcome Takiyah to our team.

First Step Video from 1998 Posted - Inspiring and Amazing Graduate Diana Olaizola

You can view the video here.