THE REVERE ADVOCATE - Friday, June 21, 2019 Page 11 Hospitality hopefuls get a helping hand By Tara Vocino F ourteen people recently graduated from CONNECT, an economic prosperity program, and the International Institute of New England (IINE), a hospitality training program. Skills Training Manager Sarah Fitah said it was a pleasure working with the trainees. (Advocate Photos by Tara Vocino) Shown in the bottom row are Andrea Long, Ariz Chiodi, Karen Hein, Almond Pierre, Thanh Bui, Betsy Martinez and Viviana Mancela Gomez. Shown in the top row are Break Gebremeskol Achraf Gassi, Skills Training Instructor Alex Kubana, CONNECT Director Stephanie Shull, Aide to Mayor Brian Arrigo Nicholas Romano, CONNECT Workforce Associate Evie Heff erman, Maureen Torres, Alejandrina Perez, Jeidy Ryan, Ruth Bartolo and Saraugh Fitah. Beraki Gebremeskal received a helping hand in job placement from CONNECT and the International Institute of New England. According to CONNECT Director Stephanie Shull, the intensive two-week training at Youth in Motion was made available to Revere residents under the leadership of Mayor Brian Arrigo. The majority of the students were English Language Learners. The free training for Revere residents is made possible through a $100,000 commitment from the City of Revere and a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. “With an infl ux of local hosSkills Training Instructor Alex Kubana congratulates the graduates on Friday morning. pitality employment opportunities, our priority is making sure Revere residents have every opportunity to compete,” Arrigo said. “We’re proud to collaborate with The Neighborhood Developers and IINE to off er this training to our residents free of charge.” With the program’s help, graduates are now turning their attention to securing jobs at one of the many hotels in the area, such as Encore Boston Harbor, which is scheduled to open on Sunday in Everett. “Trainees learned about career opportunities in the hospitality industry, what it’s like to work in hotels, how to deliver excellent customer service, and how to communicate their knowledge and experience to potential employers in the industry,” Shull said. “They also learned about personal financial management, and are encouraged to continue working with CONNECT’s experienced coaches, as they begin their new, better-paying careers.” The next two-week class beAchraf Gassi completed an economic prosperity program on Friday morning at Youth in Motion. gins in early August and will also be held in Revere. Shull said there are 25 spaces reserved for Revere residents and space is still available. Interested parties can contact CONNECT at 857-334-3406 or visit CONNECT at 4 Gerrish Ave. in Chelsea (along the 111c and 116 bus lines). No Viviana Mancela Gomez receives her certificate at Youth in Motion on Friday morning. appointment is necessary, and walk-ins are accepted, MonAndrea Long hopes to work in the hospitality industry after the two-week intensive training program. day to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays until 7 p.m. Almond Pierre graduated from the two-week job training program on Friday morning. Tara Vocino may be reached at printjournalist1@gmail.com. www.reverealuminumwindow.com
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