Portsmouth At Work outlines hiring events, training partnerships and youth career outreach

Portsmouth — The city’s Portsmouth At Work employment specialist described workforce development pathways, upcoming hiring events and community resource days intended to connect residents to training and jobs.

Sonja Briggs, employment specialist at Portsmouth At Work, told the task force the program offers education and training pathways including commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, medical assistant and phlebotomy training, and partnerships with Tidewater Community College and the Skilled Trade Academy for welding, shipfitting, electrical and trade skills. Briggs said staff refer residents to the program website for registration and that the center also provides career‑readiness coaching, resume help and interview practice.

Briggs outlined four upcoming events she expects to promote to residents and employers: a March hiring event at the TCC Portsmouth campus that will bring employers to campus; a youth career connect event focused on ages the presenter described as “15 and 6 months able to get a work permit to the age of 21” and done in partnership with the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Big Homies and other partners; and two community resource events in April that will bring multiple services to Fountain Park (Port Norfolk) and Lexington Place/Dale Home neighborhoods so residents with limited transportation can access help in one location.

Briggs said Portsmouth At Work partners with neighborhood civic leagues, the housing authority and community partners to distribute flyers and outreach materials. When civic infrastructure is absent, Briggs said the center will use door‑to‑door canvassing and direct outreach. She described plans to pilot quick in‑event surveys at resource events and to work with the Virginia Department of Health on a Healthy Heart initiative to gather participant feedback about the usefulness of offered resources.

Commissioners pressed on youth engagement and retention in training. Briggs said enrollment barriers include lack of awareness about programs, transportation challenges, limited hours for permit‑age workers and basic soft‑skills gaps that make sustained employment difficult for some youth. She said Portsmouth At Work has done industry tours with local employers, such as the shipyard and manufacturing partners, and coordinates with Portsmouth Public Schools’ CTE efforts to help students gain employment by graduation.

Briggs left business cards and said she will email flyers and registration links to task force members and partners when they are available.