Mayor Lee: New Initiative To Help Veterans Reenter Workforce

San Francisco Mayor's Office - New partnership with Swords to Plowshares creates a neighborhood access center for jobs and already has returned 24 veterans to the workplace in San Francisco.Mayor Lee announced a new initiative called the Veterans Access Point for Workforce Development with Swords to Plowshares. This comprehensive employment center for veterans and residents includes career counseling, job search and readiness programs, workshops and trainings, support services, and access to resource rooms with computers, fax and copy machines. The new access point has already enrolled 36 veterans, 24 of whom are now in permanent jobs in San Francisco."Men and women who have served in our country's Armed Forces need and deserve the best training and resources to ensure that they can reenter the workforce after serving and protecting our country,"� said Mayor Lee. "In San Francisco, we recognize the unique skills and experience that veterans possess and we value the contributions that they are bringing to the workforce."�The Veterans Access Point is located at Swords to Plowshares at 1060 Howard Street in San Francisco. Building on Swords to Plowshares great record of success working with veterans, the new access point will provide additional resources and training opportunities for veterans seeking services there."We have been providing veteran employment services since our beginnings in 1974,"� said Swords to Plowshares Executive Director Michael Blecker. "We are looking forward to yet another meaningful partnership with the City and County of San Francisco which is once again demonstrating unprecedented support for veterans and community-based providers like Swords to Plowshares."�The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and neighborhood organizations are supporting and funding 18 neighborhood access points where residents can drop in for various employment resources and services. For more information, go to: www.workforcedevelopmentsf.org.On November 12th and 14th, the Veterans Access Point will have orientations for the TechSF, Hospitality and Health Care Sector Academies training programs designed to help veterans, young adults and other job seekers to get the skills needed for jobs in high growth industries. The OEWD Sector Academy training programs offer residents opportunities to develop skills, gain industry experience and knowledge, secure employment, and provide all other job related services.Source: SF Mayor's Office press release, November 8, 2013Feature image: courtesy of Kevin Krejci