Kairos Services, Inc. is expanding its programs to prepare young Memphians for the workforce, and by this fall the nonprofit plans to increase its own staff with the addition of after-school programs.
Kairos specializes in job prep, job readiness training and retention services, helping adults move from welfare to full-time work.
"Right now, nationally, people get 60 months of welfare benefits in their lifetime. The idea is to help people not use that up, and to help them use it wisely to prepare them to become economically self-sufficient," says Kairos Executive Director Herbert Lester, who estimates that Kairos has worked with more than 10,000 families since its inception in 2007. "Our aim is to prepare people to be globally competent."
Last summer Kairos started
Kamp KSI, an intensive summer learning camp for children, and Lester expects to more than double the number of Kamp attendees this year (from 27 children last year to 60 this year). Pre-registration is happening now, and Kamp KSI begins on May 27.
Children ages 6 to 12 will learn videography, chess, golf, yoga and Spanish to increase their critical thinking and analytical skills as early as possible.
"We think that workforce development starts with three-year-olds, so our Kamp KSI is part of the process. We hope to facilitate, along with the school systems, kids learning the skills that they need," says Lester.
Kairos then follows the students' progress throughout the school year to gauge the effectiveness of its programs.
"In the workforce, employers are looking for people who can think critically, solve problems, and work well with others," says Lester, who cites stats from the
Greater Memphis Chamber showing 14,000 to 16,000 unfilled positions each month in the Memphis metro area, due at least in part to an unqualified workforce. "We want to help people with basic skills so they can be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities."
By Michael Waddell
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