COVID-19 Resources & Updates

Updates

June 2021 Update from TE.

At Towards Employment, we know from our work in policy and advocacy around criminal justice reform that Black people are 2.7 times as likely to be killed by police as White people, and unarmed Black Americans are roughly 5 times as likely as unarmed White Americans to be shot and killed by a police officer. From policing to sentencing to reentry, people of color are most likely to be arrested, charged, incarcerated, and the least likely to receive parole.

We see from our work connecting people to careers, which includes coaching them through the many barriers that exist on the road to economic self-sufficiency, that this disparity flows through every system of our society from criminal justice to health care, to education, to housing and to employment.  Since COVID-19, fewer than 50% of Black adults have a job.  Black workers make less money than White workers even when comparing those with similar education levels.  As of 2016, you would need to combine the net worth of 11.5 black households to get the net worth of a typical white US households. Click here to read more.

Towards Employment is committed to creating opportunities for our staff, board, and participants to personally examine what we can each do to be a part of the change, and to strategize what we can do as a TE family to strengthen our fight for racial justice.  We know the first step for any individual or organization in this journey for racial justice is education. We have made commitments in the past, and will continue to resource and carve out time for our staff and board to participate in the Third Space Action Lab racial equity trainings and will continue to tap into and take advantage of the resources like those provided by the YWCA 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge; we have conducted a Race Matters organizational assessment followed up by deeper consultation to develop action plans that will enhance our ability to promote an explicit anti-racist culture and agenda.

We are also committed to walking alongside TE participants and graduates on their journey to build careers and access skills so that their dreams can become reality. We will continue to reach out to elected officials and the wider community to raise up the voices and experiences of TE participants and graduates to inform policy and legislative change.  This is our mission and our passion, shaped by past racial injustice.  We are invigorated to move forward empowered by the change happening around us.

Resources

Towards Employment continues to provide essential services to new job seekers, current participants and TE alumni. We are working in coordination with community partners and local governmental offices like Cuyahoga County Jobs and Family Services, United Way of Greater Cleveland and Ohio Means Jobs | Cuyahoga County to make sure that those looking for work can connect to the new workforce needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updates for the state and county can be found on the United Way 211 website - click here.

Financial

HFLA of Northeast Ohio Interest Free Loan program (up to $1,500 for purposes including lost wages due to being unable to go to work, child care costs due to school closures, related medical costs)

Coronavirus Car Payment Relief Programs

Ohio Unemployment  & Ohio Unemployment FAQ/How-To

Food

Greater Cleveland Food Bank, visit online or call the Help Center, Monday – Friday from 7am – 6pm, at 216.738.2067 if you are in need of food assistance

CMSD school lunches program

Healthcare/Medical

Cleveland Clinic, Metro Health, and University Hospital have nurses on call. Cleveland Clinic: (216) 444 2200, Metro Health: (440) 592 6843 University Hospital: (216) 844-1574

Educational

Free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students.

  • For Comcast, click here. Once your application is approved, may also be eligible for a low-cost computer, learn more.
  • For Spectrum, call (844) 488-8395 to sign-up.

Online E-Learning

  • Cuyahoga County Public Library offers free access to practice tests for professional certifications. Also, learn software applications, gain new job skills, and more with free access to Lynda.com and Learning Express Library. Free sign-up here.
  • 100 free online courses on Coursera
  • Free online courses with Kaplan. Enroll online and promo is added at checkout. These courses can lead to credit.
  • CompTIA and industry partner BenchPrep are providingfree 30-day licenses for the CertMaster Learn eLearning course for CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+). This pre-career certification helps determine if you have a competency for IT and whether a career in tech is right for you.

3 Ways You Can Help Towards Employment

Donate

Your donation will help us provide vital services to those struggling to find or maintain employment during the COVID crisis. Click above or call Adaora Schmiedl 216-696-7310.

Share

Don't share germs, but DO share our social media posts to promote awareness of our services and mission. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn!

Volunteer

Interested in conducting mock phone interviews or other volunteer opportunities? Contact Jenn at jangelo@towardsemployment.org.