An Orange County based nonprofit, Vital Link,  will benefit from a Federal grant from the Strengthening Communities Fund made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).   Janine McDonald, in affiliation with the Volunteer Center of Orange County has been engaged by Vital Link for consulting services for organizational and leadership development.   McDonald with advise the fast growing organization on infrastructure enhancements in the areas of human resources and board development.\n\nOrange County Capacity Building Program will provide capacity building to local community and faith-based organizations through customized workshops, consulting, learning groups and financial assistance. The OCCBP is designed to increase an organization’s ability to provide workforce, job readiness and support services to low-income families and individuals.\n\n\nThings are looking brighter in a dark economy as Vital Link connects high school students with the workplace. Vital Link seeks to help students realize the reality of what they can truly bring to the business world once they’re ready to be there. It’s a preparatory program that helps with the transition into employment so none fall through the cracks as they move from one stage of life into the next.\n\nThe organization has a set of goals that include providing schools and students with business standards and expectations, providing schools with information on applicable skills for students to learn in business, accuracy in assessments, opportunities given that allow students to provide their Employability Transcripts for potential employers, allowing students to interact in the business world and other goals that lessen the gap between schools and employers.\n\nVital Link benefits all the parties involved in various ways. For businesses it provides a way for businesses to have input on the curriculum and gives them entry-level job candidates. For students it gives them a better understanding of what is required and expected in business and also gives them the opportunity to meet with possible future employers and a chance to receive mentorship for the future. Schools benefit by increased interaction with businesses and the chance to share resources and training with businesses.\n\nAs a whole, this organization does a fantastic job of making those connections that high school students need in a time in their life when many are very unsure where to go from there. Check out Vital Link here.\n