Transportation & Triumph: NCWorks Centralina Partnerships Help Career Seeker Secure Employment and Transportation

According to Business Insider, there is a major hurdle to employment in America and that is lack of transportation. "America's highly segregated and car-dependent cities and counties make it difficult for many workers to reach the facilities where the jobs are."

This major hurdle was true for formerly unemployed Maurice Gallon. Maurice Gallon was referred to the NCWorks Career Center-Rowan in Salisbury through the Community Action Program Initiative (CAP Initiative), a partnership effort created between NCWorks-Rowan and S&H Youth and Adult Services, which focuses on Justice Involved reemployment success. This program includes developing a full-cycle workforce Reemployment Plan-of-Action (RPA) for the Justice Involved community of citizens which is a group that is often underserved and overlooked.

Maurice took advantage of everything he possibly could to ensure that he was ready to work. He participated in opportunities such as the Resume Rescue Workshop at the center and the NCWorks Centralina automated mock interview and feedback system called Talk Hiring. As a result of utilizing these resources, Maurice was able to secure employment. However, his efforts and accomplishments seem to have been in vain, as he had no means of transportation to his new place of employment.

NCWorks-Rowan Second Chance services, S&H Youth and Adult Services, and the CAP Initiative worked together to enroll Maurice Gallon in the new Lyft Up Ride-to-Work initiative through Goodwill Industries of Northwest Piedmont. This initiative helps to provide free transportation vouchers to work for those in need. Lyft first launched its Jobs Access Program in 2019 and in the program's first year, Lyft provided over 20,000 rides through its partners. Partners like Goodwill and United Way have a long history of offering job seekers support that sets them up for success, including preparing, interviewing, and getting to work. Through the partnership collaboration, Maurice received three weeks of ride vouchers to assist with transportation to his new position as a Machine Operator at Walk-On-Products in Salisbury. He began his first day of work on Saturday, September 17, 2022. While utilizing the Goodwill Lyft program, he was able to save enough money to purchase his own vehicle. Gallon was promoted to a management position at Walk-on-Products, but later became sick and had to be out for an extended amount of time. This caused him to realize that he wanted more flexibility with his employment options. So, he completed the Pilot Car/Escort Vehicle Operator certification program where he is the initial lead car that helps oversized loads travel on the highway.

Maurice reported that he now owns his own business as a pilot car company and is using the same vehicle that he purchased while saving during the Lyft program to operate his current business. He expressed his gratitude for the assistance received through NCWorks-Rowan Second Chance service, the CAP Initiative, and all partnering agencies. To learn more about Maurice's journey through the NCWorks CAP Initiative and other NCWorks partnership resources, view his story here.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud of the NCWorks Career Center-Rowan under the leadership of Joseph Dismuke and the efforts of his team to connect employers with other talent pools such as the formerly incarcerated as well as the connection NCWorks-Rowan has with great partners in the community. For more information on our NCWorks Career Centers and other talent resources and opportunities, visit https://centralinaworkforce.com/. And be sure to download the FREE Centralina WDB Mobile App – available at the Google Play Store and the App Store for iPhone to keep up with all the local workforce services and events happening around the region.

Tags: Centralina WDB News Career Driver Training Education Educational Services Employment Events Government Transportation Unemployed