Junta’s Economic Development department empowers clients to take control of their financial health and their career pathways. We empower our clients by helping them access skill building opportunities, employment counseling and placement, financial counseling and access to increasing their income and financial stability.

Photo:  Youth Financial Literacy Workshop with Elsie Encarnacion, Junta Board Member.

WHAT WE DO

Employment 

Our Employment services are crucial to assisting clients in preparing for the workforce. Staff meets with clients individually to do intake and assessment of skills and challenges, job search, resume preparation, interview preparation and referrals. Some referrals are to GED classes, ESL classes, computer classes or other technical school training, when necessary.

     Job preparation - focuses on interviewing skills, basic skills levels.

     Resume preparation - Assistance with drafting a resume, and review and revision of current resumes.

     Employment counseling and search assistance - We offer counseling to determine skills, strengths and career goals, and help match clients with employers, employment agencies and One Stop Work Centers.

Computer Literacy 

Classes are held  for clients in Spanish. With basic and advance levels, students learn the basic computer skills needed to succeed in today’s job market. All students receive a certificate of completion at each level.

Financial Literacy

Financial literacy focuses on the basic understanding of credit, saving, budgeting, and saving for children’s education. Through a three-week workshop, “How to Manage Your Finances” clients learn about personal budgeting with an option to participate in one-on-one coaching sessions after the three weeks. We also have workshops for teenagers on the importance of savings and money management skills.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Preparation)

Junta has been participating in the VITA program for the past eight years in collaboration with the Spanish American Merchants Association. The program prepares tax returns for low-income clients at no cost. We also assist clients, who don’t have a social security number, in obtaining ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Numbers) so they can file their taxes.

Bank on CT Initiative

This collaboration with Start Community Bank will educate clients who are currently unbanked or under banked to become frequent users of banking products. Junta, along with Start Community Bank, will educate clients on the importance of banking through our financial education workshops.

For more information, contact Monica Vargas Huertas, Program Director for Economic Development and Employment at 203.787.0191, x. 12, or   JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING