THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010255
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision '96
At Issue: Leadership
SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 147 lines
Keeping people working, Annette Gray says, requires the effort of the whole community.
Gray, a 43-year old Chesapeake native, said workers, the government and employers all must contribute.
Gray is one of the successful ones. She works days at Norfolk Naval Shipyard as an employee relations specialist and nights teaching in Chesapeake's adult education and public housing programs. In between, she is working toward a master's degree in urban education at Norfolk State University.
``Teaching, I thought, would be a great way to give recipients their opportunity to learn new skills that can help them get a job, or a better job,'' she said.
She teaches adults from the business community and from public housing the same skill: How to use a computer keyboard.
``I encourage them to struggle to get where they're going, like I do,'' said Gray, who is a single mother. ``They have various skills. Some are divorced and going back to work, some went to college a long time ago.''
The job-seeker's responsibility, she said, involves attending classes, maintaining enthusiasm for finding a niche in the business world and working out the details, such as transportation and child care - areas that government is not always be able to provide.
Gray encourages her students to work together to solve the problems that stand in the way of employment.
``Maybe one could stay home and baby-sit while the others work,'' she said. ``Public transportation is a problem in Chesapeake, but I tell them to be resourceful, car pool or something. I don't believe in excuses.''
Providing education is both her ``investment'' and the government's, Gray said. The students she teaches from public housing are provided classes for free.
``I hate to see someone capable of working who can't for some reason, like she can't get there,'' said Gray, referring to a specific student who could type an impressive 50 words a minute but had no one to care for her daughter while she worked at the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
With a little asking around, someone stepped up to help, Gray said.
``It takes unity,'' she said. ``Everybody has a part to play.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Annette Gray pushes work and partnerships. She works days, and
nights, and is pursuing a master's: ``I don't believe in excuses.''
Color photo by Mark Mitchell/The Virginian-Pilot
Annette Gray works days at one job, nights at another - and, at
times in between, studying for a master's in urban education. When
she teaches, she encourages her students to work together to
dissolve obstacles to employment. It takes, she says, unity . . .
resourcefulness . . . and enthusiasm for finding work and working
out details like child care and transportation.
[color photo appears on p. B1]
Photos
[of all of the candidates]
Graphic
[Gray's Question for the Candidates]
Many people are enrolled in computer classes and specialized
training programs to help them qualify for good jobs, but there are
other barriers to employment, such as day care and transportation.
What help should the government provide to job seekers?
SENATE
John W. Warner's response: ``Through a variety of federally
funded programs administered by the Virginia Employment Commission,
there is assistance available to help retrain workers for new jobs
as well as to help these workers develop work related interpersonal
skills, arrange for day care and transportation, and to help address
other barriers to employment. Federally funded day-care programs
like Head Start, and a wide variety of community-based and
school-based child nutrition programs also are available, as are
federally subsidized transportation services for new workers and
those seeking employment. The recently enacted welfare reform bill,
which I supported, re-authorized many of these initiatives.''
Mark R. Warner's response: ``Current welfare reform increases
child-care funding and provides transportation money for those
trying to find a job. Unfortunately, there are not similar
provisions for those who lose their job but don't go on welfare. We
ought to explore solutions so people who haven't been on welfare
don't get penalized in their job search.''
HOUSE
2ND DISTRICT
John F. Tate's response: ``World-wide it has been shown again and
again that free markets, not governments, generate good jobs and
good benefits for workers. Yet, year after year, federal programs
are proposed, supposedly to help create jobs, but all have failed.
Instead, these programs have created level after level of social
welfare bureaucrats and wasted billions of dollars. Any decisions on
these issues are best made at the state level or by the local
community, which is what I favor.''
Owen B. Pickett's response: ``The Virginia Employment Commission
assists applicants in locating job opportunities. Those meeting
eligibility requirements may qualify for day care and transportation
assistance provided through the Department of Social Services.
Taxpayer-funded programs are an avenue of last resort. An important
part of welfare reform is to provide assistance, such as child care
and transportation, so that individuals can get and keep gainful
employment.''
3RD DISTRICT
Elsie Goodwyn Holland's response: ``In my lifetime, I've seen
that people who wanted jobs found jobs. People who really wanted
them found a way. In the city you have a bus line, for example.
That's probably the most economical way to travel. Maybe we could
give the individuals some bus tokens to get to their locations, but
I don't know what else the government could or should do.''
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott's response: ``There are a number of
initiatives we are considering and I support. If we are going to
have any tax cuts, the tax cuts for education after high school
should be the ones we consider. The welfare reform legislation
includes day care and other transitional services, but they are not
fully funded. So, as we re-visit welfare reform next year, day care,
transitional services, child-support collection services and
educational assistance should be some of the things we give strong
consideration to.''
4TH DISTRICT
Norman Sisisky's response: ``Right now, the government can't do a
lot. We don't have the money to do it while trying to balance the
budget and other things. We're going to be doing some of this in the
welfare reform. I understand the problem, but it's very difficult
for government to do everything.''
Anthony J. Zevgolis' response: ``I like the GI bill. Obviously,
that was one of the greatest things we have had, because it allowed
so many Americans coming home from war to get an education. I favor
some type of GI bill, where people can participate in some type of
voluntary service in return for getting an education. The government
is probably the best source of that, although I'm a strong believer
that the states are the best ones to provide things like that. I
would prefer that the federal government give grants and let the
states administer them.''
KEYWORDS: DECISION 1996 CANDIDATE ELECTION U.S. SENATE RACE
CONGRESSIONAL RACE ISSUES LEADERSHIP by CNB