About Momentum
Momentum is an employment program designed to empower marginalized individuals to overcome barriers and gain self-sufficiency.
What is Momentum?
Life Transformation Starts Here.
Momentum is a proven successful, six-week intense workforce development and life skills program from One City United that mines talent in Waterloo and surrounding communities. It is a radically different way of addressing workforce development with a unique blend of life, essential, and employment readiness skills. Momentum gets to the root of what causes job loss, initiates transformational change, and develops talent with traits that employers crave.
Momentum provides eligible, unemployed, and underemployed people with job and life skills training to secure and maintain viable employment. Each Momentum graduate completes a rigorous six-week course, including 100 hours of in-class instruction and volunteer work experience. In addition, graduates are placed into good-paying jobs from the network of local employers. The program includes life skill services, workforce readiness training, and job placement services.
PROVEN REAL-TIME SUCCESS
Momentum Impact
92%
90-DAY JOB RETENTION RATE
60%
GRADUATION RATE
92%
PLACEMENT RATE
*data from December 2023.
Employment Barriers
the ripple effect
Who Do We Serve?
A needs assessment is conducted with each participant to identify barriers preventing them from obtaining and sustaining meaningful employment. An individualized assistance plan is developed for each participant, including a mix of life skills classes, support from community partners, and a career coach.
Momentum is for you, if…
You are unemployed or underemployed.
You are a recovering addict.
You are justice impacted/returned citizen.
You are homeless.
You are affected by mental health struggles.
You struggle to make ends meet.
You do not know your skill set.
JOIN ONE OF OUR NEXT CLASSES
Upcoming Momentum Terms
change starts now
Let’s Journey Together to Overcome
the momentum experience
Workforce Readiness Training
In addition to life skills, we provide technical skills training for each participant.
Job Interview Training
We offer opportunities for participants to learn how to prepare for interviews, learn different interview strategies, and participate in mock interviews.
Resume Writing & Cover Letter Construction
Every participant is taught how to construct and write a resume and cover letter that appropriately conveys their strengths to potential employers.
Skills Identification
We work with every Momentum participant to identify their strengths and interests to find a career that would be the perfect fit for them.
Develop & Execute Career Objectives
We teach every participant how to develop realistic and achievable goals professionally and take steps to follow through with them.
Access to Full-Time Training Professionals & Guest Presenters
Momentum participants are given access to guest workshop presenters and full-time training professionals who are specialists in a wide range of industries.
Introduction to Technology Tools
We train participants in technology tools such as search engine utilization, email setup and use, virtual platforms, MS Office, and online job search networks.
The Momentum Business Network
Job Placement Services
The One City Momentum Business Network (MBN) consists of more than ten member businesses that guarantee interviews for each graduate upon completion of the program and whose policies allow for the hiring of Momentum graduates.
GET INVOLVED
Here Is How You Can Join Us
Volunteer
One City United is always looking for great people to help us! We have opportunities to serve under our programs or help with general administration.
Partner
We are proud to work with companies that support and share our mission. Contact us with your workplace to see how we partner for change.
Donate
Your generosity makes it possible for One City United to connect the Cedar Valley to valuable resources and organizations to equip and restore people through stability and reentry services.
