News Corner

Let me introduce you to Shaun Cormier, our Quality Assurance Manager, who has been with Acadiana Workforce Solutions for 4 years. In his role, Shaun is responsible for the compliance and data integrity of our program. To know Shaun is to know that he doesn’t allow his job duties to end there. Shaun is heavily involved with all aspects of the participants we serve. His passion is apparent when it comes to our Summer Work Experience program for the youth in our communities. “I was one decision away from being a participant in our program,” Shaun begins, “My parents would have both been eligible for our services. When someone walks through our door, I see myself or I see my dad. That’s my ‘why’.”

While he has never held the title of “Career Coach” (our team members who are working one-on-one with the participants), Shaun is always willing and available to assist. He sees himself as a mentor or a big brother type, he says, “I try to be the person I needed when I was growing up. Just an objective ear and someone who may be able to provide advice that could benefit them down the road.” Drawing from his own experiences as a youth facing challenges, Shaun is dedicated to helping these participants overcome their obstacles the same way he overcame his.

Recently, Shaun embarked on a project to provide graduation portrait sessions for youth who couldn't afford to get them done elsewhere. He privately posed the question to participants in the three parishes he was most familiar with and then conducted the photo shoots and printed the photos for the kids to hand out to their family and in graduation invitations. “The idea just kind of came to me after I got a student’s graduation invitation in the mail. Knowing many of our kids are low-income, it just made sense. I didn’t want them to miss out on one of the things that most high school seniors look forward to,” he continues, “It really was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done since being with the organization. It combined my love of photography with my need to provide for others.” Shaun already has plans to expand this idea for our next group of graduates. He wants to expand to all eight parishes that we serve and leave the kids and their family with lasting memories of their senior year.

Shaun's impact on the participants is clear, with success stories like a young woman who improved her grades with Shaun's guidance and support, eventually earning a scholarship and presenting at her university's financial literacy summit. Or the young man who Shaun assisted with increasing his ACT score by doing nightly Zoom calls and providing tutoring sessions. Shaun’s nameplate on his desk jokingly states that he is the “Fixer of Everything” but when faced with a challenge, he indeed does everything in his power to find a solution.

Being able to be a part of these amazing experiences is what keeps Shaun going. Shaun has had to call upon his creative skills to collaborate with participants with barriers. This includes finding ways around and over their barriers. “Sometimes the most difficult part is getting the person in front of you to believe in themselves and that they can do incredible things,” he says.

When asked about what is unique about Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer Work Experience Program for youth participants the response was, “You are not just a number in the program. Our team will figure out your needs and provide support before, during, after, and even once you’ve left the program. We look at the human side and not just government mandates. I think we do a great job connecting with the students and offering an alternative to a typical ‘high school’ job.”

Shaun's advice to youth and parents is simple: “For parents, if you’re concerned about your child going down a wrong path or having uncertainties about where to even begin, send them to see us. For my students, if you're feeling lost or confused or overwhelmed about your future, come see us. Acadiana Workforce Solutions is here to help you navigate the various paths while ensuring you get support and guidance when needed. And hey, you’re earning money while participating so there’s nothing to lose.”

In addition to his role with Acadiana Workforce Solutions, Shaun volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, and The DREAMS Foundation of Acadiana. He has also hosted ACT prep workshops and voluntarily tutors students who need help raising their grades.

Acadiana Workforce Solutions Youth Program Participant, Denote Green has always enjoyed working with cars. He began working with cars when he was 16 years old. Mostly in family members’ place of business.

Don’s Car Care & Tire Center has served as a Summer Workforce Program Employer for three years. This year they are hosting three of our youth participants. One of them is Denote Green. This summer he is gaining valuable hands-on experience working at Don’s Car Care & Tire Center through Acadiana Workforce Solutions Summer program. Denote stated that he first joined the summer program last year to find employment and a way to occupy his time.

Denote has always aspired to become an auto mechanic. Business owner of Don’s Care Care & Tire Center, Don Dejean, stated “Denote is very mechanically inclined, on a scale of 1-10 I’d rate him an eight on knowledge”. Don has 22 years of experience working with Bridgestone and 13 years of experience owning his own business. Don also stated that he is providing our summer youth participants with the proper way to work in the industry.

Denote said that although he loves every aspect of the job his favorite part is learning how to properly use the machines. Denote was recently accepted to Universal Technical Institute and plans on attending their Houston location in the fall.