Community partnerships are valuable assets to any organization. For Harris County Department of Education’s Adult Education division, a five-year partnership with Walmart offers employment opportunities for adult learners looking for part-time jobs, as well as interview training.

As part of their second major round of hiring with HCDE, staff from the Walmart on Crosstimbers visited the Adult Education Learning Center on June 7 to recruit prospective employees and help more than 150 students and community members fill out online applications for jobs of their choice.

“Our partnership with Walmart is very important to us,” said Adult Education Program Manager Angela Johnson. “They work with our students and their schedules to ensure they can continue with their education while gaining employment opportunities.”

The partnership began five years ago when Johnson noticed the Walmart at Crosstimbers was looking for extra help. After speaking with Raquel Hernandez, human resources manager and personnel coordinator for the location, HCDE and Walmart decided to work together to find a solution for both organizations.

“A lot of the students at HCDE are willing to do part-time jobs on the weekends,” said Hernandez. “That’s exactly what our store needs.”

Hernandez also believes in the importance of hiring within the surrounding area to make sure the community’s needs are met.

HCDE Adult Education staff, including classroom aide Bianca Garcia, helped spread the word about the hiring event to area residents and students looking for jobs. Garcia posted the flyer on social media and invited friend Sonia Reyes to attend and meet with Walmart staff.

“This event is great because it gives people more opportunities for jobs, some of them their first job,” said Garcia.

For more information on HCDE Adult Education classes, visit www.hcde-texas.org/adulteducation.

Photo: HCDE Adult Education classroom aide Bianca Garcia helps Sonia Reyes apply for a job with Walmart.

About HCDE Adult Education: With a 30-year track record, HCDE Adult Education provides classes to adult learners with a goal to “learn to earn,” including adult basic literacy and math skills, GED, English as a second language and vocational training. Classes are held in 35 community locations throughout Harris and Liberty counties as HCDE serves over 8,000 adult learners. Communities include Baytown, Alief, Channelview, Cy-Fair, Deer Park, Galena Park, Goose Creek, Katy, Klein, Pasadena, Sheldon, Spring Branch and Liberty. Corporations also benefit from HCDE services provided to English language learning employees aimed at improving productivity and safety in the workplace. For more information, access www.hcde-texas.org/adulteducation or 713-692-6216.

About Harris County Department of Education: HCDE helps school districts in the state’s largest county meet the needs of uniquely challenged learners, directly serving students at their schools or one of four HCDE-operated campuses across the county. Learn about these services and more at www.hcde-texas.org.