Work Ready Durant celebrated its grand opening last week that included a ribbon cutting from the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce.
Earlier this year, Youth Services of Bryan County announced a groundbreaking workforce development system with an investment of $6.1 million over five years.
The contract was awarded by Oklahoma Human Services and is being led by YSBC Executive Director Courtney Dukes and Program Director Shawn DeNell Young.
Work Ready recently renovated and moved into a vacant building at 1001 W. Main St.
The Work Ready Oklahoma contract will provide essential workforce development resources locally. Program participants will attend comprehensive workshops tailored for various populations, including low-income individuals and families, historically unemployed or underemployed individuals, low-skilled workers, individuals with a criminal background or those reentering society after incarceration.
During the grand opening Nov. 1, Dukes thanked everyone for attending and she said YSBC values its mission to the community and the families the agency serves.
“The team works tirelessly to ensure quality services are delivered and that barriers to family success are met,” Dukes said. “It is truly humbling to see all of our community partners that support and believe in us and the amazing work that we do. YSBC would not be the community pillar that it is without you all, so on behalf of myself and the YSBC team, we thank you for your ongoing support to our agency. It is an honor to work with each of you in various capacities.”
Dukes said that upon seeing the funding opportunity for Work Ready, YSBC believed it to be a wonderful opportunity for the community and it was a great fit for the agency’s mission.
Dukes and Young began writing the proposal which was a first for Young and the first one of its capacity that Dukes had written.
“We really had no idea what we were doing, but we had a vision for Bryan County,” Dukes said. “We talked about the lives that would be changed now and for generations to come. We saw the opportunities this program would provide for our community and its economy.”
Writing the grant took a lot of work, according to Dukes, and it was a relief when it was finally submitted.
“Then, I looked at Shawn and said, ‘Now what are we going to do if we actually get this thing,’” Dukes asked. “She said, ‘We’re going to change the trajectory of the lives in Bryan County.’” Dukes said that Young has put her heart, sweat and many tears into giving this community her very best.
“I am very honored to work alongside of such an inspiring, passionate and fierce leader,” Dukes said.
Young said that when Public Strategies approached YSBC to write the Work Ready grant, the agency knew immediately this was a missing piece not only in their organization, but also the county.
“The passion and conviction to help others has been evident in the leadership and staff of YSBC and adding a program like Work Ready Oklahoma would allow for us to reach even more individuals and families,” Young said.
Young spoke of the renovated building that houses the Work Ready offices and she said many hours were spent to make it a safe place for their participants.
“Who remembers this building six months ago,” Young asked. “Looking at it now, you wouldn’t believe the work that has been put into it. A special thank you to Alan Mann with Dunhill Properties for seeing the potential in this program and working with us. Joseph Al-Khateib and his team has helped turn this seemingly empty building into a beacon of light and hope for career seekers across Bryan County.
“We will forever be grateful to Oklahoma Department of Human Resources for seeing our potential and allowing us this incredible opportunity. Work Ready doesn’t just place people in jobs, but we get the opportunity to help them invest in their futures. They may currently be working in a job to survive, but we help them step into futures where they thrive. Work Ready Oklahoma is a culture changer and we are grateful to be a part of a program that will bring change to citizens all across Bryan County.”
Work Ready Durant’s priorities include: - Equipping vulnerable Oklahomans with information, coaching and connections for selfsufficiency.
- Assisting low-income Oklahomans in finding and maintaining consistent, gainful employment within the community.
- Establishing connections between Oklahomans and a network of livable-wage job opportunities, both virtually and through local partnerships.
- Providing access to training programs and employment initiatives to enhance selfsufficiency and promote stable, healthy families.
- Collaborating to ensure resources from SNAP Employment & Training programs, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs and other funded employment programs are available to low-income families.
Work Ready Durant staff members are, Sonny Essert, program manager; Valarie Robison, job coach; Melissa Weather, administrative support, and Caleb Gentry, job coach.
