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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: greenspirit who wrote (364923)	5/18/2010 7:06:57 AM
From: Brumar89	Respond to of 793955

Guess community organizers really know how to work the system.

To: greenspirit who wrote (364923)	5/18/2010 10:44:35 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793955

Maybe this offer from Microsoft will help return vets so that they won't need to apply for low income housing...It is despicable that our own Government gives space to ILLEGAL aliens and doesn't give space to our returning vets... Microsoft offers job skills program for returning vets May 11, 2010 By Randy Woods The ads for the U.S. military always show young, energetic, motivated people learning technical skills, discipline and the value of taking on new challenges. While at least some of this may be true, the ads don't tend to dwell on what happens to these soldiers after their tours are over. Many of them leave their desert war zones only to find another wasteland right here in the United States when they try to find a civilian job. According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is about 15 percent, compared to the 9.9 percent rate for the whole U.S. For those veterans coming home with severe disabilities, the unemployment rate stands at about 85 percent, according to statistics from the nonprofit group Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). To help reduce these terrible numbers, Microsoft has unveiled its Elevate America Veterans Initiative, which will pass along technology skills to returning military veterans and their spouses and provide their families with support and resources during their job searches. The initiative is an extension of Microsoft's overall Elevate America workforce readiness program, which has provided more than 600,000 vouchers for free technology training in 17 states. The Microsoft program will award cash, software and IT skills training to eligible veterans service organizations, work-force agencies and other nonprofit groups that work with veterans. Support provided by these organizations may include training, job placement, career counseling and other support services such as childcare, transportation and housing. "This initiative could not be coming at a more critical time," said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of IAVA. "Our servicemen and women who are separating from the military and reintegrating into their civilian communities and the work force face a tough job market," said Pamela Passman, corporate vice president of Microsoft Global Corporate Affairs. "We know that access to technology skills training, combined with critical support services, can help them succeed." For those who may be leery of what might be considered a "handout," the grants are decided through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process that must be completed by each veterans group. The initial RFP is the first phase of the initiative, which will provide $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software and other resources to veterans groups over the next two years. Next year, Microsoft will launch a second round of this competitive RFP process to provide more opportunities for those grantees from the first phase who have shown positive results Microsoft has gathered a coalition of veterans groups -- including the PVA, IAVA, The American Legion, the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project -- to serve on an advisory committee and provide guidance. Participating organizations have until June 30, 2010, to apply to this initiative. Successful applicants will be announced in August. "Hiring more veterans represents a great deal for our country," said Gene Crayton, president of PVA. "Those who have served secure good careers. Employers get great employees. And, in turn, our economy becomes stronger." Writer and editor Randy Woods has filled out more job applications than he can count -- so you don't have to. Email him at hireground@nwjobs.com. blog.nwjobs.com