The spokesperson for the graduating class said it had been 12 gruelling" weeks of training.

We've been eating, drinking and sleeping with rivets on our minds," said Des Moines Washington.

But Washington, 28, also spoke for the class when she offered public thanks for the opportunity to learn the skills needed to move away from public assistance and toward good-paying employment.

On Thursday, April 25, Washington and 17 other public assistance recipients were presented graduation certificates from Wichita Mayor Bob Knight and Roy Norris, president of Raytheon, a Wichita aircraft manufacturer. The graduation ceremony took place at Diversified Educational Training and Manufacturing Company, Inc. (DETAMC) in Wichita.

The graduates have completed a training program set up by Raytheon, DETAMC and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). They now move a step closer to a sheet metal worker job with Raytheon with a $9.50/hour starting salary.

It was the first of what Raytheon President Norris said would be more collaborative efforts to find workers for his company and job opportunities for people on public assistance.

From a very selfish standpoint, we support the program because of the need to build airplanes," Norris said. But more than that, Raytheon supports the program because it makes the community a better place to live.

It's the right thing for all of us to do," he added. To create opportunities for disadvantaged people who haven't had the opportunities that others have had."

The Raytheon/DETAMC/SRS collaboration is one of several joint ventures between the public and private sectors in Wichita paying off for both businesses and people.

With this program, Raytheon joins the ranks of Cessna Aircraft, Evcon Industries, Southwest Manufacturing, and many smaller businesses in taking advantage of a ready-made job pool of SRS clients in the KanWork program. KanWork is the Kansas version of the federal Job Opportunities and Basic Skills program providing training and employment services to public assistance recipients.

KanWork clients receive job-specific training at DETAMC, where company officials work both with businesses and SRS to bring people and jobs together.

Connie Hubbell, commissioner of Income Maintenance and Employment Preparation Services with SRS, said the Wichita community has made great strides toward moving people on public assistance into the workforce. She also praised the work between the business community, SRS, and DETAMC, particularly the job specific training.

Our goal of empowering individuals to become more self-sufficient through employment is greatly enhanced when individuals know that the training will lead to a strong job possibility," she said.

Speaking to the class, Mayor Knight talked of his own family's problems with unemployment during his youth. He then praised the graduates for their perseverance.

The very essence of human dignity is self-reliance...the ability to take care of yourself and your family," he said. You are to be commended for trying to improve your lives. We need people like you in this city, people who are dedicated. The city is proud of you."

George Johnson, founder and chief executive officer at DETAMC, also announced after the graduation ceremony that a branch office providing training for unemployed persons in Hutchinson will open in early May.

Johnson said he hopes to duplicate the work done in Wichita in the branch office.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001