Boys & Girls Clubs launches workforce readiness program

Brandy Harris: The Reach initiative takes a "whole-family approach."

Tim O'Reilly is a supporter of the program.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield is looking to help youth in its program prepare for the workforce with a new initiative.

Launched this month, the Reach workforce readiness program offers hands-on career training, financial literacy activities, career matching, skill development and other services, according to a news release. It's designed to equalize access to workforce development opportunities for youth and their caretakers in underrepresented communities.

“In order to really holistically address poverty, especially when it comes to jobs, you really have to have a whole-family approach,” Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Brandy Harris said in the release.

Boys & Girls Clubs is seeking business and community agencies to collaborate on the Reach initiative.

One businessperson who supports the project is Tim O’Reilly, CEO of O'Reilly Hospitality Management LLC. He helped develop the Reach program.

“It’s going to be a great, positive thing for the community and for the club,” O'Reilly said in the release. “It will start to break the cycle of issues relating to work and professional environments and income and some of the challenges our club families experience.”