Employment Training

BridgeBuilders aims to train students in skills and trades that provide numerous and consistent job opportunities in high growth industries. In order to adjust to flexible job markets, the curriculum for each class is built around the industry standard and current skills assessment with corporate partners and regional data for unique job opportunities. Most classes are even certified by community colleges as Continuing Education Units providing the students with college credits. In addition, our curriculum is taught by individuals with many years of work experience in the industry who can intentionally train the students for real-life work environments.

The mission of the Education and Employment Training Program is “To continue the transformation of lives through education and employment training, enabling individuals to become more productive and contributing members of their community.” To accomplish this goal, BridgeBuilders teams with the Bill J. Priest Institute of Economic Development, a campus of El Centro Community College, to provide the graduates of our training program Continuing Education Units (CEUs). We team with organizations such as Salvation Army, Reconciliation Outreach, Urban League, Victory Life, Family Gateway, Dallas Housing Authority, and others to recruit students for our training programs. And we work with employers such as Wal-Mart, Eye-Masters, APC, and others to provide employment upon completion of our training programs. We also provide each student with a mentor who acts as a friend, encourager, and supporter as the student progresses through our training program. We will walk with our students for as long as they want to walk with us.

TRAINING ORIENTATION

The first step in our training process is for the potential student to attend an HISBB Orientation on the second Friday of the month from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the BridgeBuilder’s Eye Clinic (2525 Lucas Dr., Dallas – Bus 29 or 409).

The second step is to attend an orientation and testing session at Bill J. Priest (1402 Corinth, Dallas-Bus 26) on a Tuesday morning at 8:00. They should allow at least 1 ½ to 2 hours for the orientation and testing.

Most of our students qualify for Financial Aid. It is important to get this process started early as it can take 6-8 weeks for the paperwork. We encourage anyone interested in our training classes to get started as soon as possible.

dispensing optician & lens laboratory technician training

The Dispensing Optician & Lens Lab Tech training class provides our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to gain meaningful employment in the Optical industry either as a Dispensing Optician or working in a lens lab as a technician. Students are trained in advising on frame selection and size, selection of lens material, measuring pupil distance, measuring bifocal heights, fitting eyeglass frames, and the final fitting, adjusting and dispensing processIn addition, they learn the total prescription process and purpose, anatomy of the eye, prescription tolerances and impact on the patient’s sight, training on the machines used in the production of the lens, calibration of the machines, optical measurement pertaining to lens and frames, beveling and finishing of the lens, and integration of the lens into the frames.

Machine shop skills training

The Machine Shop Skills training class grew out of a relationship with a local manufacturer that had a desire to serve God through providing employment opportunities. This entry-level class prepares our students to find employment in a production, maintenance, or manufacturing environment by teaching basic machine shop math, reading a blueprint, troubleshooting machines, using measuring instruments, and basic machine shop skills. We provide simulated hands-on training through Siemen’s SinuTrain software. Students also have the opportunity to learn SolidWorks, a CAD software used throughout the manufacturing industry.

Dental Lab Technician training

BridgeBuilders held a pilot training for Dental Lab Technician in 2008. We plan to resume this training program with the relocation of the dental clinic to West Dallas. Our goal is to begin offering the training in early Spring of 2010.