Rose Greaves helps low-income older workers obtain the training they need to find good jobs.
Greaves, the Experience Works the employment and training coordinator in Minot, was honored by Experience Works for her outstanding service to local older workers. She received the organization's Changing Lives award, which recognizes her efforts to help low-income older workers obtain the training they need to find good jobs in their communities.
"We're very proud to recognize Rose Greaves' outstanding efforts to assist older individuals who desperately need to find jobs," said Billy Wooten, executive director of program operations for Experience Works, which has its headquarters in Arlington, Va.
Article Photos
Rose Greaves, left, and Carol Ness study the schedule calendar in the Experience Works office
in Minot.
Loretta Johnson/MDN
"The current economic situation has forced many older people to look for employment and Rose is dedicated to helping them re-tool and re-enter the workforce.
"Unfortunately, recent federal budget cuts have slashed funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program 45 percent over last year so there are long waiting lists for services. That makes Rose's achievements even more vital to both seniors and employers," Wooten said.
Funding cuts
In April, Experience Works suffered a 45 percent budget cut from funding for worker wages which was received in 2010. "That was pretty huge," Greaves said. "We had to put a freeze on all enrollment. We couldn't bring in any new participants and we had to get people off the program and into jobs before we could start enrolling again."
In November, Experience Works, formerly Green Thumb, the nation's largest non-profit training and employment organization for older workers, was able to start enrolling individuals again.
Greaves said from April to November was a long time. "We had to turn people away and that really hurt."
Experience Works, a non-profit organization, offers community service and employment services in North Dakota, 29 other states and Puerto Rico through Senior Community Service Employment Program. The community-based program helps low-income older individuals serve their communities, upgrade their employment skills and get a job.
"We can provide many types of training," Greaves said.
Classroom and computer training, within budget limitations, is available. In the program the individuals work part time, a kind of on-the-job training, with a non-profit or tax exempt host agency," Greaves said.
The hours that individuals are allowed to work were cut also Greaves said. "We went 20 hours a week to 18 hours a week."
Greaves said help is also available, on a limited basis, for transportation to job interviews or for their work time at the host agencies.
"We do what the program is intended to do and that is to give people a helping hand to help themselves, and that does change lives," Greaves said, when referring to Experience Works.
For more information
For more information about Experience Works visit (www.experienceworks.org). It can also be found on Facebook.
The Minot Experience Works office is located at 308-2nd Ave. SW, lower level and the phone number there is 838-9675.
Eloise Ogden, regional editor at The Minot Daily News, contributed to this story.