Economic Alliance welcomes new team member
Jan 22, 2019
Angelica Richards, a native of Greenville, has joined the Washington County Economic Alliance as the new Americorps Workforce training coordinator.
As a former intern at the Go Greenville internship, Richards is familiar working with residents of Greenville. She interned at Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association for two years under the leadership of Daniel Boggs. In the first year, Richards learned about nonprofit and management, interacted with different residents of Greenville and learned about the financial side of the organization. In the following year, she was moved to executive assistant for Boggs, where she learned more about the organization and helped with organizing things for him.
“My experience with my internship helped me gain knowledge and experience needed to fulfill my duties for this job,” she said. “All the skills I learned there, make my job as coordinator a breeze.”
Richards graduated from Greenville Weston High School in 2014. She went on to obtain her associate degree in social work from Hinds Community College in 2016. In fall of 2018, she obtained her bachelor's degree in social work, where she was an honor graduate.
Americorps Workforce Training coordinators focuses on helping residents of Washington County between the ages 16 to 24 with the opportunity to obtain the youth training scholarship. The scholarship helps residents, who may or may not want to go to college, have some experience from a technical program or training under their belt. As coordinator, Richards reaches out to the community about job training and opportunities via social media, meetings and word of mouth.
WCEA partners with CAPPS Center in Indianola, to provide classes such as welding, lineman, medical office assistance, machine technician and various opportunities to be part of the workforce. In order to register for the classes, students must take the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate, which is a workforce assessment. It measures and certifies broadly relevant foundational work skills and is recognized and recommended by thousands of employers.
Cary Karlson, the executive director of WCEA, is appreciative and excited about Richards joining the team.
“We’re excited because she fills a need where Will [Coppage] and I can’t,” Karlson said. “When we can’t make a meeting, she steps in and handles that for us and she also helps us expand our reach when it comes to getting the information out to the community.”
Will Coppage, the deputy director of WCEA, said because Richards is a native of Greenville, she brings not only vast knowledge of the community with her but she is also someone the community trusts.
“There was a need in our organization for outreach particularly with our emerging workforce in our community and in our county, and when we had the opportunity to fill the position through our partnership with Rural Lisc, searched out for the best candidate,” Coppage said. “Luckily, one of Greenville’s own was hired. We are happy to have her - not only for her enthusiasm and her academic experience - but she is able to reach out to people in a way that not only helps the people involved but this organization as well.”
With a few days on the job, Richards has reached numerous people and assisted them in registering in the CRC.
“I want to make sure the residents of Greenville realize there are many ways for them to succeed, and it's my goal to get the information needed out to them,” Richards stated.
For further information about WCEA and the services they provide, you can contact Angelica Richards at 662-378-3141 or arichards@wceams.com.
Originally publshed in the Delta Democrat-Times
Kelly Benford kbenford@ddtonline.com | Posted: Monday, January 21, 2019 9:11 am