For Information Contact:

David Mathis
798-5908

Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace Jr. today announced that the Oneida County Office of Workforce Development and St. Paul’s Baptist Church will be hosting a Friday event to help the local faith community better serve the job-seeking needs of local young people.

"It is critical that the workforce of the future understand all the activities that exist for them to improve their career potential and also find part-time or summer jobs that will bring them valuable experience with the world of work," Eannace said. "We know that the faith community plays a vital role in the lives of young people and their families. As part of our participation in President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative, we want to bring together clergy from across our county to see how this effort can help meet the needs they see every day."

The meeting, which is open to all clergy, will be held at noon at the Radisson Hotel in Utica. Reservations may be made by calling Dosrine Jenkins of Oneida County Workforce Development at 793-5309 on or before Thursday, March 6.

"Ladder to the Future" seeks to connect disadvantaged young people with resources available through the Working Solutions System. It is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant.

"St. Paul’s, working in close cooperation with the office of Congressman Boehlert and Oneida County Workforce Development received funding to help young people and their families learn about the benefits of the Working Solutions System, which has more than 30 partners delivering a broad range of employment and training services through four centers in the tri-county region of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties," Eannace said.

"St. Paul’s has reached out to community organizations in Utica to work with young people, but we know that young people and families across Oneida County could benefit from our efforts," said the Rev. Johnny M. Wilson Jr., pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Utica. "By bringing our faith community together, we hope to lay the foundation for deeper and broader cooperation. Congressman Boehlert has urged faith-based organizations to take advantage of President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative. This meeting is a excellent way for all of us to get involved as a team."