| Most of West Contra Costa County's thousands of homeless men, women and children don't want to live on the streets. 
But they face daunting hurdles: lack of
marketable skills, spotty employment history, mental health and substance abuse challenges, PTSD, and more.
They're often under-educated and ill-equipped for a competitive economy. Many lack the support from friends and family that is so important to happiness and financial sufficiency. Saffron Strand's 6th Annual Homeless Workforce Conference
-- "Moving Beyond Barriers and Back to Work" -- is a unique effort right here in West Contra Costa County.
The training hones the skills of professionals who work with homeless people in employment services, health care, housing and other fields, and it draws experts and scholars from across the country. We must all work smarter and more collaboratively if we are to reduce homelessness and build our economy from the bottom up. Efforts like this one, led by an innovative organization like Saffron Strand, work with our regional initiatives like Rise Together to build a stronger, more balanced economy in the Bay Area. The Conference will be held in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium on June 15-16 and include:
- Nationally recognized speakers in social innovation, labor development and public health
- Experts in intervention with homeless, foster-care, and at-risk youth
- Specialized employment services training for high needs populations
The curriculum appeals to professionals in a variety of fields, students, policy makers and community members. For more information, visit www.saffronstrand.org or call (510) 275-9594 To register, visit the Conference Page |
