Arapahoe/Douglas Works was presented with the prestigious Mark Sanders Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies at the 2022 Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C. The Mark Sanders Award is bestowed each year upon one individual or group in the U.S. that provides exceptional workforce and/or job market assistance to Veterans, especially those with significant barriers to obtaining and retaining employment.
Arapahoe-Douglas County Veterans Award
“We are honored to serve those who have served and support them in discovering career pathways,” said Sasha Easton, Division Manager of Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center. “We strive to meet every veteran where they are today—to triage immediate needs, to walk beside them at a pace that makes sense for them and to create a personalized plan to achieve their employment goals.” Article Courtesy of Douglas County.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, nominated by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, quickly and successfully adjusted to utilizing virtual platforms to better serve their veterans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The ADW! Workforce Center organized 13 virtual events for veterans to learn and obtain specific industry information, talk with potential employers, and share resumes. ADW! also partnered with leading aerospace industry companies, chambers of commerce and military bases in launching apprenticeship programs to help veterans secure the talent, skills and experience needed to enter the workforce.
Awarded annually at the NASWA Veterans Conference, the Mark Sanders Award recognizes the efforts of an entire one-stop career center whose efforts to serve Veterans go above and beyond the scope of mandatory service provision, and with a special emphasis on veterans with significant barriers to employment.