Solis Advocates Faith-Based Jobs Training at Cascade UMC Wednesday

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis joined pastor Wednesday to promote faith-based career ministries and other community-based programs to help unemployed southwest Atlantans find jobs.

The three-hour "On the Front Lines of Getting Americans Back to Work" symposium drew hundreds of job-seekers and career counselors from across the greater Cascade area.

In a news conference at the event, Solis talked about the importance of community-based career couseling and national programs such as The Obama Administration's American Jobs Act in reducing the metro area's unemployment rate, which is currently around 10.4 percent.

"One billion dollars can be returned right back here in the state of Georgia," Solis said, "helping to modernize highway and transit projects, and helping to create well over 13,000 local jobs."

The event—sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) and highlighted by three major panel discussions—provided information on everything from job training to government grants to faith-based career counseling.

Job seekers should visit www.servicelocator.org to find the nearest One-Stop Career Center or www.myskillsmyfuture.org for career ideas and planning.