SE Works

SE Works was founded in 1997 and is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SE Works' mission is to strengthen the economic health and well-being of our diverse community by facilitating successful connections between job seekers and employers. We provide workforce programs that aim to disrupt poverty through education, training, and living wage jobs. In 2008, SE Works joined with the Oregon Employment Department (OED) and Worksystems, Inc. to implement an integrated services model, expand services, and become WorkSource Portland Metro-SE (WSPM-SE).

BankWork$ trains low-income, underserved minority communities & unemployed and underemployed adults for careers in Banking. The program trains up to 80 participants each year through four, 8-week cohorts supported by contributions from the industry without charge to the participant. Throughout the 8 weeks of training, participants learn basic banking skills such as cash handling and balancing, job readiness skills, such as resume building and interviewing, and customer service skills, such as communication and conflict resolution. At the completion of training, the program holds a graduation and job fair exclusive for the graduates and program sponsors, giving graduates the opportunity to interview with a variety of employers.

This program meets the needs of historically underserved communities. The program assists individuals to get in front of employers, and realistically compete for positions in banking, significantly and positively impacting their futures. The program offers ongoing coaching and mentoring after training to support the graduate in their job search and through their 1st year of employment.

BankWork$ meets the needs of banks by providing training common to entry-level positions. Those completing the training come from a trusted source.