Swords to Plowshares, a leading veteran service organization in San Francisco, has entered into a community partnership with the City of Oakley to address the needs of veterans living in Contra Costa County.
Chris Adame, Swords to Plowshares Workforce Community Liaison, said the first step is a needs assessment survey that will be posted to Oakley’s website, geared to provide a more accurate depiction of local military and veteran population’s employment prospects, improve resource utilization, and develop new strategies to get veterans engaged in the local workforce.
“We’re already active in many of the local counties, so now we’re looking at Contra Costa County, and Oakley in particular,” said Erica Trejo, Swords to Plowshares Director of Employment & Training. “We hope to learn more about the needs of Oakley veterans with the long-term goal of addressing veteran service gaps, in particular helping them obtain jobs and training.”
“I encourage Oakley Veterans to complete the survey, as it’s the first step in identifying the needs and service gaps that exist. Thereafter, through this partnership it is our full intent to support Veterans’ transition back in to civilian life with the resources that will uplift them and make them successful members of our community,” stated Mayor Kevin Romick. “We look forward to building a partnership with Swords to Plowshares in order to address the numerous challenges facing our veterans,” he added.
Key supporters of the partnership include Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick, as well as the local group Veterans of Oakley.
Interested veterans can take the survey here.
About Swords to Plowshares Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing and legal assistance to homeless and low-income veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can help, by visiting our website at www.stp-sf.org.
