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Workforce Development
Empowering the Hispanic Community to achieve equity, self-sufficiency, and personalized prosperity.
In partnership with local universities, businesses, and other organizations, the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan acts as a bridge to provide language accessibility & professional development through a variety of programs.
Workforce Development Team
Workforce Development
Services
- Unemployment
As the Hispanic community has been the most negatively impacted during the COVID-19 Pandemic and has been unemployed at a higher rate than the white community in West Michigan, we began offering assistance with these services. We are able to support our clients through the entire process, including the initial claim, follow-ups, protests, and more.
- Job Searches
- Our primary long-term objective in our Workforce Development Department is financial sustainability and prosperity, and that is defined individually.
- To achieve this, our Workforce Development Navigator works one on one with our clients to provide career development support which includes resume building, job search assistance, interview practice, and help getting connected with the right trainings and certifications.
- BRES Program
- The BRES program was created to break down barriers to unemployment.
- Requirements:
- Authorized to work
- Have experienced one of the following:
- Experienced Unemployment
- Experience housing or food insecurity
- Are a low-income household
- If you would like to register for the program, please click HERE.
- Worker’s Compensation/ Labor Issues
- Filling Out Forms/ DHS Applications
New Team Member Coming Soon!
Workforce Development Navigator
Looking for a job? Need help with filling out general forms or a DHS application? Contact our new team member to learn all about the next steps you can take towards your career!
new email coming soon!
Camila Salcedo
One Workforce Coordinator
Looking for a job or additional training in the various manufacturing fields? Do you want to send your employees to train in emerging technologies?
csalcedo@hispanic-center.org
One Workforce
Services
- One Workforce
One Workforce offers manufacturing training, which is vital for individual career growth, economic prosperity, and the continued success of the manufacturing industry. One Workforce’s commitment to providing these training opportunities demonstrates its dedication to both individuals and the broader community.
Arisbet Cardoza-Requena
Career and Financial Navigator
Need support in building up your financial knowledge? Or maybe you need support in getting your dream career? Arisbet is here to help!
Financial and Career Coaching
Services
- Credit
- Pull/review credit report; dispute incorrect/outdated information
- Debt
- Create a debt management plan; manage creditors/debt collectors
- Savings
- Identify a savings vehicle, build a savings plan
- Cash Flow
- Calculate & organize income/expenses; prioritize expenses
- Financial Products
- Financial product check up; access affordable financial products
- Career Coaching
- Support with BRES, unemployment, and labor disputes
Training Facilitators
Adriana Sanchez-Parada
Training Specialist
Want to become a qualified interpreter? Adriana leads all the interpreter classes and prepares her students to become qualified interpreters.
Services
- Interpretation Training
- We offer interpretation courses for you to become a qualified interpreter. Classes are offered in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.
- If you are interested in taking one of our interpretations training classes, please click HERE.
asanchez-parada@hispanic-center.org
Luis Querales
Training Facilitator
Want to advance your computer skills? Or would to take a CNC Prep Course? Luis can help you with that!
Services
- Digital Literacy
- We offer FREE computer classes where you will learn how to navigate the internet, email, Microsoft 365, etc
- If you would like to register for our computer class, please click HERE.
(616) 951-4826
lquerales@hispanic-center.org
Youth Employment
Alexis Jimenez
Workforce Coordinator
Are you looking for an internship? Or need help earning your G.E.D? Alexis can help you with that.
Services
- Internships
- We offer a 6 to 8 week program that prepares students for the workforce for students between the ages of 14-24. Students gain valuable work experiences and skills by having the opportunity to explore various occupations and connect with local businesses and communities.
- If you are interested in applying to our Internship Program, please click HERE.
- G.E.D Classes in Spanish
- We offer G.E.D classes in Spanish to prepare you on earning your G.E.D
- If you would like to enroll in our GED classes, please click HERE.
(616) 432-3891
ajimenez@hispanic-center.org
Programming
One Workforce
Want to grow your skill set? GRCC offers free 18 week courses for Welding and CNC in Spanish. GRCC also offers a variety of trade classes and we can find one that best fits you!
Requirements:
- Authorized to work in the U.S.
- 17.5 years or older
- Not be enrolled in secondary education
Classes Offered:
- CNC Machining Job Training Program *
- Welding Technician Job Training Program *
- Basic Industrial Electricity Certificate
- Electrical Controls/ Mechatronics Certificate
- Industrial Maintenance Certificate
* Offered in Spanish
For more information, contact Camila at 616.246.0567
Computer Classes
Want to improve your computer skills? The Hispanic Center is offering an 8-week course to learn basic computer skills including:
- Learning Google Email
- Google Calendar
- Google Documents
- Creating Resumes
- Typing
For more information, contact Luis at 616.246.0567 or lquerales@hispanic-center.org
GED Classes
Want to get your GED or know someone who does? This is your chance to get your GED and the classes will be in SPANISH!
- $155 for new students
- $35 for returning students
Questions? Want to enroll? (616) 432-3891
Interested in Hosting a Job Fair at the Center?
Our Cesar E. Chavez room is open for non-profit and for profit organizations to host events. We cannot host fundraising, political, or commercial use events, or private parties.
Filling out this form does not guarantee that the room will be reserved, all reservations will be pending until they are approved by the Community Outreach Specialist.
Once you have completed this form please submit it to Francisco Martinez-Roman at: fmartinez-roman@hispanic-center.org
For questions about the job fair please contact Holly Rea Clarkson at: hreaclarkson@hispanic-center.org
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