BC Hosts Project HireUp Fall 2023 Graduation
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Images of hope, pride and celebration were seen this past Friday, October 6th, 2023, at The Summit Sanctuary, as community members, agencies, and partners gathered for the Fall 2023 Bakersfield College – Project HireUp Graduation, celebrating the 10th cohort graduation since Spring 2020.
Project HireUp students undergo an intense 8-week program hosted at the CityServe Educational Collaborative Center, a center developed in July 2021 on the partnership between Bakersfield College and CityServe Network. Various community and employer partners, Bakersfield College, and CityServe Network collaborate to provide in-depth Basic Office Skills, Basic Life Skills, Financial Literacy, and Health & Wellness courses, along with resume building, mock interviews, and academic skills workshops. Upon completion of the program, graduates obtain a Basic Office Skills certificate from Bakersfield College, a Person Development Certificate from CityServe Network, a Financial Literacy Certificate from Bank of America, and endless employment opportunities. The Fall 2023 graduating class has exited the program with some successfully obtaining employment and others continuing their education with Bakersfield College and other institutions of higher education.
Project HireUp and the CityServe Educational Collaborative Center continue to host 3 cohorts a year, Spring, Summer and Fall, with a seat capacity of 30 students per cohort. The continued support of Bakersfield College, CityServe Network, and community and employer partners has allowed Project HireUp to continue to combat the homeless crisis in the community and support the vision of A Community Collaborative to End Homelessness. Project HireUp has helped over 140 individuals by assisting with the Life, Career and Educational Development of each student to ensure success and self-sufficiency. As Spring 2024 is vastly approaching, the Bakersfield College Adult Education and CityServe Educational Collaborative teams have already begun recruitment for Cohort 11 to start January 2024. Through continued support and collaboration, we can help end homelessness one cohort at a time!
