Workforce Programs Offered at EMERGE Include:
The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) provides support for families to help them move from family welfare to self-sufficiency through employment. Services are provided at Emerge Headquarters and the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis. Eligibility: All participants must be directly referred by Hennepin County or another MFIP-providing agency and reside in Hennepin County. For more information, please contact Amy Knaus at 612-876-9301/ brenkea@emerge-mn.org
Our Refugee Employment Services (RES) program coordinates services to assist refugees and asylees in making the transition to life in the United States. Services include work readiness and career-specific training, career counseling and placement, and job retention/support services assistance. Services are provided at the Brian Coyle Center (Minneapolis) and International Institiute of Minnesota (St. Paul) locations. Eligibility: this program is open to any refugee or asylee that has been in the US for less than one year. For more information, please contact Amy Knaus at 612-876-9301/ brenkea@emerge-mn.org
This program serves un-/under-employed Minneapolis residents and local employers to help participants develop job search, interview, and job retention skills by providing training, job placement and retention support, and career advancement counseling. Services are provided at Emerge Headquarters and the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis. Eligibility: This program is available for low-income Minneapolis residents not receiving MFIP Employment Services. For more information, please contact Mohamed Ali at 612.236.0465/ alim@emerge-mn.org.
Recognizing that sector-based initiatives operate on both the supply and demand side of the economy, EMERGE continues to partner with a number of businesses in various industries to develop, coordinate, and facilitate short-term, customized trainings that are designed to deliver new solutions to employers while providing new or enhancing existing skills of jobseekers.
With a focus on workforce reentry, EMERGE has focused services for individuals who have criminal backgrounds, limited work histories, and face multiple barriers to employment. Our reentry program provides an array of services to individuals that have been recently released from correctional institutions in Minnesota (within the past 2 years). Program staff assist participants to successfully reintegrate by offering employment and housing assistance, placement, and retention support; work readiness and career-specific training opportunities, and referrals to health and basic needs providers. Services are provided at the Emerge Headquarters location. Eligibility: Open to any person that has been released from a Minnesota correctional facility (county, state, federal) within the past two years.
As a Financial Opportunity Center, EMERGE bundles Workforce Coaching with Financial Coaching and Income Support Screenings. The goals of this integrated service model include increasing net income, net worth and credit score. Using a relationship based financial coaching model that considers clients creative, resourceful and whole, clients and coaches work together on goal setting and asset building strategies that move clients beyond the barriers they face. Financial education steers clients away from predatory services and practices while providing a base knowledge of budgeting, reducing debt, building credit, consumer protection and banking. EMERGE takes a more holistic approach that moves clients closer to financial stability in their lives. For more information contact Shawna Faith Thompson Thompsons@emerge-mn.org 612-787-3773.
By offering neighborhood-based beautification projects as summer employment experiences for youth ages 14 – 21, EMERGE emphasizes real labor market expectations, increases awareness of services offered, and provides youth with financial literacy, academic improvement, career, entrepreneurial, and personal growth instruction. For more information on StreetWerks Summer Youth Employment, please contact Linda Bryant at (612) 787-3786 or bryantl@emerge-mn.org
Through our work with youth ages 14-21, EMERGE offers individualized job placement and job retention services to teens and young adults. In addition, EMERGE facilitates the connection of youth to additional activities such as enrolling in school, links to post-secondary education, financial literacy training, and offers employment support services such as resume writing, mock interviews, and bus cards. For more information on Youth Employment, please contact Linda Bryant at (612) 787-3786 or bryantl@emerge-mn.org
