College of Marin Announces Partnership for Career Education
Entry-level career training for high-demand jobs in Marin County
NOVATO / KENTFIELD, CA—October 9, 2018—College of Marin (COM) has partnered with Canal Alliance, CareerPoint Marin, and the Marin Builders Association to offer entry-level career training for high-demand jobs in Marin County.
The partnership, called Education to Career (E2C), is designed to provide the training to gain skills necessary for employment in high-demand industries across the Bay Area.
In addition to career-specific skills, the program will also provide job placement services, as well as financial and personal support to help ensure long-term career success.
An agreement outlines how the four entities will work together in training and education—from enrollment and instruction, to support and coaching to overcome personal and financial obstacles, to job placement and follow-up.
The pilot program for E2C will focus on the Construction Industry and will rely on the partnerships of the members to ensure program success. The goal is to provide students with hands-on learning experiences to develop the necessary skills to enter the construction field with confidence and competence.
Noting that the College’s expertise is in education, COM’s Dean of Workforce Development and Career Education Dr. Elizabeth Pratt says this program goes beyond that.
“Canal Alliance is the focal point for the county’s immigration population—supporting their personal and professional success,” said Pratt. “The Marin Builders Association is involved to ensure the training meets industry’s requirements and to support job placement of the program’s successful trainees and CareerPoint Marin supports participants of the program by hosting a career readiness workshop which focuses on basic workplace skills, resume building, and interview skills.”
According to Pratt, CareerPoint is also instrumental in coordinating the hiring fair to connect construction employers with this group of newly trained workers.
E2C recently launched its first program in the construction industry, held at Canal Alliance. Additional industries being targeted for collaborative education include hospitality, healthcare professions, dental assisting, and automotive.
“While College of Marin provides the instruction, we provide the case management and individualized support to the participants, financial education, and use of our facilities,” says Canal Alliance Director of Education Gloria Estavillo. “As a nonprofit champion of immigrants, Canal Alliance mobilizes our immigrant workforce, supports them and their families, and empowers them to break the cycle of poverty.”
The program goes beyond career training and includes personal success coaching. Classes and support services include the following:
- Career readiness workshop, including resume development, self-advocacy, and interview skills
- Integrated hiring fair, bringing together regional employers ready to hire qualified candidates
- Financial training and lending circles, covering credit score building, personal budgeting and saving for the future
More information about the program is online at www.marinadulteducation.org/e2c.
About College of Marin
Established in 1926, College of Marin remains committed to educational excellence, providing equitable opportunities, and fostering success in all members of its diverse community. With campuses in Kentfield and Novato, students of all ages have affordable access to an exciting variety of credit and noncredit courses as well as community education classes for lifelong learning. College of Marin is one of 114 public community colleges in California and approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.