(NEWARK, NJ) -- On November 29, 2021, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr., Commissioner of the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development Robert Asaro-Angelo, Essex County Board of Commissioners President Wayne L. Richardson, Deputy Mayor for Employment & Training Rahaman Muhammad, Newark Municipal Council Members, and other dignitaries deployed the Newark Workforce on Wheels (NewarkWOW) mobile unit to connect residents with employment opportunities. The event took place at Pennington Court, located at 214 South Street.
"We are meeting Newarkers right where they are, in their neighborhoods," said Mayor Baraka. "NewarkWOW will help job seekers with the hiring process and provide them with the training they need, which will build their confidence to land the job. An equitable city is built on the foundation of access to employment. I encourage residents to take advantage of these services."
Under the Mayor's Office of Employment & Training, the NewarkWOW mobile-unit is bringing jobs, education and training services to residents in their neighborhoods. NewarkWOW will transport workforce professionals from NewarkWORKS throughout the City of Newark to provide information and resources on various programs.
"The Workforce on Wheels program will help thousands of Newark residents receive job training in their own neighborhoods," said Rep. Payne. "It is the perfect time for such a program. I helped pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act recently. The new law will create millions of good-paying jobs in New Jersey and nationwide. The job-training unit will help prepare residents to get those jobs. I applaud Mayor Baraka's leadership to create this program and I know it will be a great benefit to Newark."
The mobile unit is fully equipped with state of the art technology, complete with internet access and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Having a high quality, efficient workforce mobile unit will foster local job growth and encourage economic development, while also promoting self-sufficiency and creating livable wages for a healthier community.
The Newark Workforce Development Board donated the NewarkWOW mobile unit to the City of Newark and is pleased to advance Mayor Baraka's vision, which guides the Board's strategic focus on priority industries including health professions, IT, supply chain, green energy/infrastructure, and the construction trades. Additionally, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development provided funding for the onboard technology for the new mobile unit in order to help bridge the digital divide and support Newark's equitable development goals.
The following services will be provided:
* Job Placement
* Vocational & Occupational Training for Adults and Youth Aged 16 and older
* Work Readiness & Life Skills Training
* Adult Basic Education Training & High School Equivalency
* Career Counseling
* Summer Youth Employment Opportunities
* Supportive Services and Resource Information
"Mayor Baraka is putting teeth to the idea that Newarkers deserve to earn a living wage working in priority industries in their own communities, and that the time is now. The right training, support, and career opportunities will change the trajectory for many Newark residents. I am happy to see Mayor Baraka and the Workforce Development Board partner on the NewarkWOW initiative to prioritize the recruitment and preparation of Newark residents for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow," said President Richardson.
NewarkWOW is part of Mayor Baraka's larger plan to boost employment within the community. It will provide job seekers the ability to obtain both virtual and in person access to workforce professionals and employers, especially in "hot spot" areas known to be disproportionately affected by poverty, crime, and violence. Training and employment events will take place onboard NewarkWOW.
NewarkWOW will travel throughout the city's five wards Monday to Friday, and will occasionally be available for special events on weekends, weather permitting. A weekly schedule will be posted on the City's social media platforms and two workforce websites: www.newarknjworks.org and www.nlwdb.org
"As New Jersey in general and Newark in particular emerges from the economic downturn created by COVID-19, the NewarkWOW initiative will provide energy and solutions for the city's job-seekers. I commend Mayor Baraka on launching this program," said Assemblywoman Pintor Marin.
