The EMC Insurance Foundation awarded Oakridge Neighborhood a $35,000 grant to support 21st-century workforce training administered by Oakridge Neighborhood’s Family and Workforce Programs. Almardi Abdalla, Oakridge Neighborhood vice president for Family and Workforce Programs, said in a prepared statement that the EMC grant will be used for a variety of programs and services, including career coaching; assistance in creating personalized career development plans; classroom and work-based learning opportunities; connections with educational opportunities, apprenticeships and on-the-job training; digital workforce training; re-credentialing and credential recognition; and vocational English-language training. In 2022, Oakridge Neighborhood’s Family and Workforce Programs served 1,065 unique clients from throughout the Des Moines metro, placing 141 people in jobs with an average hourly rate of $18. The program serves speakers of multiple languages with programming designed to help individuals and families.