Tompkins Weekly

Briefs: Job fair, Clint Halftown, Hero of the Month


World of Skills Job Fair returns to county this month

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The Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC) recently announced that the 26th annual Tompkins County World of Skills Job Fair is coming Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at Hotel Ithaca on South Cayuga Street. Everyone is invited.

Attendees of the job fair can come meet over 30 local employers eager for new workers, and just for coming, you can register to win a laptop computer generously donated and refurbished by Finger Lakes ReUse. Plus, there will be gift cards for the first 20 job seekers.

“This is the 26th Annual WOS Job Fair,” said Jorge Cuevas, employment advocate at FLIC, in an email. “It was originally created for just job seekers with disabilities, but it eventually evolved to include job seekers of all abilities.”

Cuevas said that last year’s World of Skills Job Fair received far less attendance than past years, but he’s hopeful this year will see some bounceback.

“Given that COVID isn’t as deadly as it used to be, maybe more job seekers are ready and able to work again,” he said. “So, this job fair is providing the opportunity for community members to meet a great variety of employers that are offering many different types of employment. Plus, given the high prices due to inflation, it may give some job seekers an opportunity to find even higher paying jobs than they may already have. Employers are very eager attend this job fair to fill the many positions available. The job fair is assisting community members and employers to find the right match for each other.

As Cuevas explained, job seekers can prepare as much or as little as they’d like prior to attending the job fair.

“Job seekers can come to just casually see what type of employment is available, or they can show up with resumes and be ready to schedule an interview,” he said. “We will also have a table in the lobby with helpers and a laptop that can [help] job seekers apply online.”

Cuevas encourages anyone who’s interested to visit the job fair for themselves.

“This job fair is a great opportunity for job seekers to shop around for the best job they can find for themselves,” he said. “Plus, it gives them a first-hand opportunity to get a feel of the company/business they’d be working for.”

The list of attending employers includes Racker Center, Qualtec Wireless, ACCES-VR, Beechtree, Home Depot, Catholic Charities, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, Childhood Development Council, Cleantec Services, Sunbeam Candles, Coddington Road Community Center, Cornell University, New York State Dept of Corrections and Community Supervision, Express Employment Professionals, Finger Lakes Independence Center, Hotel Ithaca and many more.

For more information, call FLIC at (607) 272-2433 or visit tompkinsworkforceny.org.

 

Kelles condemns actions of Clint Halftown against Cayuga Nation

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Assemblymember Anna Kelles, an Ithaca native, recently remarked on a series of actions taken by Clint Halftown against the Cayuga Nation. Below is her full statement:

“On Aug. 3, on orders of Clint Halftown, a bulldozer demolished two buildings including a barn used by Cayuga Nation citizens for ceremonies and community gatherings. An elder Cayuga woman was forcibly removed from the home on the same property and held in handcuffs while the home that only four hours earlier was filled with children, community members and friends of the Cayuga Nation was then also demolished.

“The house still had electricity, and a local code enforcement officer on the scene noted the strange, unsafe circumstances and risk of a fire. Although there was no provocation nor concerns expressed by Nation citizens, Halftown claimed in a public statement that these actions were necessary because the buildings were dangerous and uninhabitable.

“In 2020, by Halftown’s order, a dozen Cayuga Nation buildings were laid to waste in the middle of the night, including a day care center, convenience store, a schoolhouse and several cottages stewarded by Nation citizens who have peacefully opposed his authority.

“These are the actions of someone who is not a legitimate leader of the Nation according to their own law and governance. The U.S. Interior Department’s recognition of Halftown as the federal representative of the Nation despite a unanimous decision from the condoled Chiefs to remove him and a formal revocation of his federal liaison appointment by his late Clan Mother, who has the ultimate authority, is unacceptable.

“This state of affairs has tied the hands of New York’s Supreme Court, as well as hamstrung the ability of local law enforcement in being able to act in protecting citizens and communities of the Cayuga Nation.

“More than two years ago, Sen. [Charles] Schumer demanded an investigation by the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior. In the past year, after consulting the Council of Chiefs, a number of local towns, along with the city of Ithaca and Seneca County, have all called on President [Joe] Biden to honor the Cayuga Nation’s decision to remove Clint Halftown as the liaison.

“Yet here we are, again witnessing another campaign of terror by his edict. This simply cannot continue. As a member of the NYS Assembly, I stand with the Haudenosaunee people and strongly condemn these actions. I urge the federal government to take swift action in recognizing and empowering the collective voices of the Chiefs and Clanmothers of the Cayuga Nation and refrain from recognizing Halftown as the representative of the Cayuga Nation.”

 

Local boot camp helps veterans succeed in college

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Each year, hundreds of thousands of veterans separate from the military and decide to pursue higher education as a critical next step in landing a fulfilling career after service. While this is an exciting new chapter, transitioning from military life to a college student can be challenging, especially after years spent away from the classroom.

In an effort to help student veterans acclimate to civilian life and successfully earn undergraduate degrees, national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) recently partnered with Cornell University to host a Humanities and STEM Academic Boot Camp from July 23 through Aug. 6. The intensive curriculum was designed to help veterans prepare for an academic environment while learning strategies to become better students.

During the WSP-Cornell Academic Boot Camp, participants had the opportunity to learn from university faculty, receive mentoring from fellow student veterans and begin to adjust to a formal learning environment.

A recent study (tinyurl.com/2ces58ha) by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families found that WSP is the only national program of its kind dedicated to veterans that not only provides targeted support for academic success but also improves social connection and relationships with both faculty and nonveteran students.

“After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to welcome back on campus this year’s Warrior-Scholar Project participants,” said Katherine McComas, Cornell’s vice provost for engagement and land-grant affairs, prior to the 2022 camp. “From our founding as a land grant university, Cornell has remained committed to supporting our military community, and our dedication to ensuring that veterans have access to the best possible opportunities in higher education is part of this commitment.”

This is the eighth year that Cornell University has partnered with WSP, bolstering the school’s reach to veterans. Often, service members face extraordinary challenges acclimating to civilian life, and Warrior-Scholar Project helps them find camaraderie and guidance during a challenging time in their lives.

Support from Cornell University and investments made by foundations, corporations, and private donors cover the entire cost of the program for participants, including an accessibility stipend of up to $500 for travel, child care and other expenses. Since the partnership began, 108 veterans have attended the WSP-Cornell Academic Boot Camp.

“This week exceeded every expectation I had — it was fantastic! I am so thankful for the opportunity to get to know the wonderful people at Cornell, the participants and fellows in the cohort,” said Ken Bingham, a Navy veteran who participated in the virtual WSP-Cornell 2021 summer boot camp.

WSP launched its first boot camp at Yale University in 2012 with nine participants. Since then, the program has expanded to 24 of America’s top schools and has helped nearly 2,000 veterans get a head start in higher education.

Learn more at warrior-scholar.org.

In this photo: Cornell professor Abigail Crites (back) leads camp participants on a lab tour of the Physical Sciences Building on campus.

 

Human Services Coalition staff awarded Hero of the Month

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The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Tompkins Community Bank, has named two Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County (HSCTC) employees as the August Community Heroes of the Month. This award recognizes individuals from Tompkins County who have significantly impacted our community.

HSCTC’s Contact Center Manager of 2-1-1 Tompkins/Cortland Nicole Roulstin (left) and Deputy Director John Mazzello were nominated for their work with the agency’s 2-1-1 line. The Human Services Coalition’s 2-1-1 line is a 24-hour-per-day service that connects those in need of mental health services with providers.

Since 2019, use of the 2-1-1 service has more than doubled and has served more than 28,000 callers. The services offered by the 2-1-1 staff have been critical throughout the pandemic and assisted Tompkins County and the Health Department in sharing important health and safety information.

“As the pandemic and then the changing economic situation affected so many local households, 2-1-1 really saw the number of people reaching out for help increase,” Mazzello said. “At the same time, because we operate our contact center, we had the opportunity to partner with other groups to respond to some of those requests for help and enable them to focus on other important parts of their work. We have also supported food, transportation, housing and other programs over the past few years.”

Roulstin spoke to the dedication of staff at HSCTC.

“We have seen a number of challenges, as many have, with the pandemic, and each of my staff has met these challenges with poise and professionalism,” Roulstin said. “I am inspired by their hard work and enormous empathy for the people we serve.”

Tompkins Chamber President Jennifer Tavares commended the two for their efforts.

“It is really remarkable how many people the program reaches and helps each day,” she said. “Thanks to John and Nicole’s leadership, the talented team at 2-1-1 is making a significant difference in the lives of Tompkins County’s residents.”

Tompkins Community Bank President Greg Hartz explained some of the challenges of the work conducted by the 2-1-1 staff.

“Many callers use the service when they don’t know where else to turn, and this service helps them find a friendly ear who can help provide help,” he shared. “Thank you to John, Nicole and the 2-1-1 staff for the difference you make in Tompkins County.”

For more information about the 2-1-1 program, visit hsctc.org/211tompkins.

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