Farmworkers can find help at WorkSource
Happy Workforce Wednesday! Today is the two-year anniversary and episode 91 of Power of a Job. Thank you for following these inspiring stories of job seekers finding hope, training, support and careers. The Employment Security Department enjoys telling their stories.
This week, we visit WorkSource Columbia Gorge in White Salmon, where agriculture is a top industry. The center has Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) staff who specialize in connecting farmworkers to growers. But as you will see, they also help farmworkers make the transition to jobs outside of agriculture.
Here’s Josefina’s story:
Hi, my name is Josefina Cortez and I am a supervisor at a non-profit in Hood River. Ten years ago, I was a sorter and packer at a packing house in White Salmon.
It wasn’t really what I wanted to do. So I reached out to WorkSource and met Silvia Huszar who referred me to an employment and training program in Hood River specifically for farmworkers. I was able to get into the program and took part in many different trainings like customer service, computer skills, ESL [English as a Second Language] classes, team-building and more. I took so many trainings — it was a lot for me, but I was hungry to learn.
After a year, I was hired as an outreach worker [at the non-profit] and was able to work with Silvia who is the MSFW in White Salmon. She had referred me to the job and it was such a great experience working with her again. The position is full time with benefits. After a year, I was promoted to an employment specialist. And within another year, I became a coordinator. I am so grateful because I’m a workforce supervisor at a non-profit where we do employment trainings.
So 10 years ago I was a client and now I am helping my clients do the same. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for WorkSource. The referral they gave me led not only to a full-time job but also built my career.
Thank you so much to WorkSource and to Silvia Huszar.
As a partner in Washington’s WorkSource system and the American Job Center Network, the Employment Security Department helps people — unemployed or not — find new jobs and learn new skills. We help them experience the life-changing Power of a Job. We also work with businesses, which are Powered by Jobs, to help them find employees.
