Bangor Housing program introduces residents to meaningful careers – and helps them take the next step

A single mother to three sons – ages 7, 2, and 1 – Qudirah Myers works long hours at multiple jobs to provide for her family.

“Everyone around me says, ‘You need to take time for yourself. You need to sleep,’” said the Bangor Housing resident. “I’m like, ‘I need to go to work. I need to provide for my children.’ I don’t want them to want for anything.”

The hours are taking a toll. She feels constantly stressed and wants to spend more time with her children.

“I want something that will allow me to make enough money while not burning myself out,” Myers said. “All my life I’ve been working, but I don’t want to keep doing jobs that never lead to anything. I want to start a career.”

A new program at Bangor Housing is helping Myers and other residents do just that. With support from the John T. Gorman Foundation, the Industry Exploration Academy introduces participants to a range of career options in the community and provides them with the connections and supports they need to pursue them.

Industry Exploration Academy

As part of its successful Moving Families Forward program – a two-generation initiative to help parents and their children build greater well-being – Bangor Housing has long offered career and education supports. But Director of Resident Services Liz Marsh said the organization wanted to deepen that work by helping participants explore local career opportunities, meet potential employers, and create solid plans for moving forward.

In partnership with Eastern Maine Community College and Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Bangor Housing launched the Industry Exploration Academy last year. Several elements make the eight-week program unique.

• Participants learn about locally in-demand careers that could lead to family-sustaining incomes and fulfilling work.
• Every week, participants tour local workplaces – such as the Bangor International Airport, Cross Insurance Center, and area hospitals – and meet employers.
• The cohort model allows participants to support each other while building social capital.
• Childcare, transportation, and stipends remove barriers to participation.
• Once career paths are identified, participants receive assistance connecting to education and training programs.

‘The program definitely created opportunities’

Three cohorts totaling 25 participants have completed the program so far. The participants have come from many different circumstances. While some, like Myers, are looking for more sustainable, better-paying careers, others are entering or reentering the workforce after having children.
Briana Kemp joined the program to explore her options after years at home with her two children. With her kids now ages 6 and 7, she said she felt ready to pursue a career, but wasn’t sure where to start.

Kemp said the program was just what she needed. It helped her build confidence, expand her network, polish her resume, and discover careers she hadn’t known about before.
“The program definitely created opportunities that never would have been possible otherwise,” Kemp said.

This includes tours at two courthouses where she learned about administrative roles – a match for her interest in the justice field. She’s now scheduled to job-shadow a court clerk to learn more about the position and its qualifications.

As for Myers, she is one of several participants whom the program has already connected to potential employment. She has an upcoming interview for a full-time position as a switchboard operator at a local hospital. She’s nervous, but after a mock interview and lots of positive encouragement she feels ready and is excited for the possibilities ahead.
“I feel like this position could help me and my children a lot,” she said.

Career Exploration for Children and Youth

As Bangor Housing introduces parents to new careers, the on-site Boys & Girls Club of Bangor is doing the same for children and youth. Utilizing virtual reality headsets, fieldtrips, guest speakers and other programming, the club exposes its members to a wide range of jobs, shows how their skills and interests could translate into careers, and empowers them to set their sights high.

“We want to open their minds to what is out there in the world – to let them know there are many different careers that can fit with their interests,” said Executive Director and John T. Gorman Fellow Cat Myatt. “And we want them to understand the value of work in creating the lives they want for themselves.”

The club also offers paid internships to give older youth valuable work experience. Once old enough, interns often go on to work there as Youth Development Professionals – like high-school students Naomi Leavitt, Kymani Riley, and Carmen Hincks (pictured, left to right).

“Before I started working here, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Hincks. “It made me realize I want to do something with kids, so I’m on the path to go into education.”