After two years of searching for employment, Ajahnae Padgett, a 33-year-old single mother from Atlanta, is still striving to find her footing in the job market. Despite earning her EKG certification in 2023 through a Clayton County program, she has yet to secure a job. “I’m a single parent. I’ve had some setbacks, and I think this is a great community event that will help people like me who are hungry for the next level, but just need opportunity,” Padgett shared as she explored the newly opened Workforce Career Center (WCC) in West Midtown.
The Workforce Career Center, located at 1073 Huff Rd. N.W., opened with an intention that resonates profoundly in today’s competitive economic landscape: to offer real skills for real jobs while relieving the burden of traditional college debt. The center also places a strong emphasis on ensuring that students have accessible support systems to transition into employment successfully.
Marion Skinner, the driving force behind the Atlanta campus, expressed her pride among the gathering of supporters and potential students. “God said build it, and they will come,” Skinner remarked while observing community members engage with the facility. With a strong dedication to training and upskilling, Skinner believes the center plays a vital role in addressing the skills gap within Atlanta’s labor force.
The center takes a unique approach to workforce development, focusing on creating pathways for underserved communities. For individuals like Padgett, who possess certifications but lack the necessary connections to find employment, the WCC aims to bridge that gap through direct partnerships with local employers.
Shanetha Culbertson, workforce development manager at Grady Health System, stressed the importance of these employer connections. With nearly two decades of experience in workforce development, Culbertson sees building relationships within the healthcare sector as essential for creating a robust pipeline. “WCC has health care programming, and they would like to partner with us to create a pathway for their students who complete training to have a pathway into Grady Hospital,” she explained.
In contrast to the Clayton County program that Padgett attended—which had limited resources with only six to eight students—the direct connection to Grady Hospital offers her a much clearer path to employment opportunities. Moreover, Microsoft’s involvement at the WCC introduces a vital technology element into the training programs offered. Darrell Booker, Microsoft’s tech community acceleration lead, explained their innovative “train the trainer” model, where future trainers learn how to deliver essential skills such as digital literacy and emerging technologies, including AI.
The partnership with Microsoft, which originated around eight to ten months ago, seeks to expand on prior successful workforce initiatives in Texas. For Booker, the move into Atlanta signifies an evolution in education practices. “Education needs to evolve, and it needs to change, and it needs to meet with the times. It needs to focus on the actual jobs of the future, not the jobs of the past,” he emphasized.
As Padgett considers her options, including pursuing additional certifications in transportation and healthcare, she is determined to view her challenges as opportunities for growth. Though her EKG certification is nearing expiration, she sees the Workforce Career Center as a fresh start supported by a robust network.
Recent data from May 2025 released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Georgia has approximately 333,000 job openings, with a job-openings rate of 6.3%, significantly exceeding the national average of 4.6%. This statistic, while seemingly optimistic, underscores a concerning disparity between the abundance of job opportunities and a workforce that is adequately equipped to meet those needs—a gap the WCC is determined to address.
“I’m here exploring my options,” Padgett remarked as she observed fellow prospective students visiting the site. The palpable difference between this center and her past training experiences is evident, highlighted by not just state-of-the-art equipment, but also the tangible connections to major employers in Atlanta.
The physical environment of the Workforce Career Center is intentionally designed to promote student engagement and success. With modern facilities that include a fully equipped commercial kitchen and advanced computer labs, the WCC prioritizes creating a space conducive to learning, where students are eager to participate. “They’ve created something that’s very immersive to where, when you come in, you want to be here. You want to learn,” Booker noted.
This is a deliberate shift from traditional workforce programs, aiming to establish itself as a destination of choice rather than a last resort for those who have struggled to succeed in other venues.
By concentrating on sectors that are more resilient to economic downturns while maintaining a zero-debt model, the WCC offers a viable alternative to conventional higher education. For residents like Padgett, whose aspirations include providing a better life for their families, as Skinner puts it, the Workforce Career Center provides not just training, but a pathway toward an entirely new way of life, bolstered by the necessary support systems to transform certificates into viable careers.
For additional details regarding programs and enrollment, visit www.workforcecareers.com.
image source from：theatlantavoice
