At the end of February, MassHire Holyoke celebrated a special milestone when their 100th cohort of ATR participants graduated from the Paths to Empowerment (P2E) Job Readiness Program. The P2E Program is a 3-week course that addresses the unique barriers that people in early recovery face when seeking employment. In partnership with Massachusetts Career Centers (MassHire) and Advocates for Human Potential (AHP), ATR developed the P2E Program to help participants become job ready.
MassHire Holyoke Staff
MassHire Holyoke Senior Program Specialist, Melinda Fitzsimmons responded to the news, “I’m incredibly grateful for the continued partnership between ATR and MassHire. It has been a sincere honor to work with our Paths to Empowerment participants over the past 3 1/2 years. To see not only their job readiness skills, but their self-awareness and self-esteem grow so much in 3 short weeks is inspirational to say the least.”
After the graduation celebration, one participant sent a message to Melinda saying, “It was a privilege to be a part of the 100th class. Outside of my son and his mother, in that room with you and Kevin (P2E Facilitator) and everyone, is the closest I’ve felt to having a family. I’m just a street kid that could’ve been another statistic. Thanks to your class, I feel like I know my purpose.” P2E is designed to support ATR participants as they build confidence, identify their strengths, and feel empowered to enter the workforce with the skills to succeed. “It is because of [the ATR participants]; their accountability, strength, vulnerability and determination, that I look forward to going to work every day. They are warriors who have unique value to offer our communities and future employers,” Melinda shared.
Congratulations to the MassHire Holyoke team on this accomplishment and thank you for supporting ATR participants on their journeys!