In a ceremony, on February 7, 2019, 60 Adult Education Learners, along with friends and family, celebrated successfully completing the HiSET assessments and receiving their HiSET Certificate. A total of 115 students graduated. Of this number, 43 of them were students who attended the Full Employment Council site located at 6025 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, MO 64130 and 16 of them are involved in the FEC Young Adults program in Independence. The Prospect Ave. location is the newest site for HSE preparation classes. The first graduation on April 4, 2018 was the largest AEL graduation the Independence School District has had in recent years. These students stories do not end with graduation. Most of them are now enrolled in training programs, have attained better jobs, and/or have entered post-secondary institutions. This is a true success story about what people of all ages can do when they have training services that address three of the major barriers facing workforce development for low-income populations: accessibility, availability and affordability. The popularity of the location has been a strong indicator of the disparity of services in the area. The South Kansas City location is an ideal venue for services that target low-income populations who face many barriers to employment, including transportation issues. FEC’s South Kansas City office sits in front of two bus stops, both North and South bound on Prospect Avenue, offering easy access to an area that has a large population of people dealing with transportation issues. Through the high school equivalency program, young adults are exposed to a learning experience that broadens their understanding of opportunities available and encourages them to pursue more training through available short-term training - training that is affordable, thanks to grant-funded financial aid through the workforce development system. AEL graduates transition seamlessly into short-term training and even have the chance to concurrently work toward a credential while in the process of attaining a general education diploma or take advantage of work-experience opportunities that allow them to earn while they learn.
Cass County FEC/Missouri Job Center Ribbon Cutting
On January 30, 2019, The Full Employment Council (FEC) and West Central Missouri Community Action Agency (West Central) celebrated the opening of the new Missouri Job Center branch location in Cass County. Collaborative efforts between FEC and West Central have resulted in this new Missouri Job Center/Cass County branch which expands services to include comprehensive employment, training and workforce development services to Cass County employers and both youth and adults seeking employment. This expansion is also made possible through the Cass County Corporation for Economic Development and its leader, Mr. Bill Brown, who has worked tirelessly for the region in these efforts.
For more information, watch the video of the Ribbon Cutting below.
In the slideshow: 1st slide- Clyde McQueen of FEC; Gayle Hobbs, Executive Director & CEO of Local Investment Commission (LINC), and Bill Brown, President Cass County Corporation for Economic Development
2nd slide- Clyde McQueen of FEC, Gayle Hobbs Executive Director & CEO of Local Investment Commission (LINC), and Chris Thompson of West Central Missouri Community Action Agency accept a certificate of recognition from the Belton Chamber of Commerce.