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For Immediate Release
JUBILEE WOMEN'S CENTER RECEIVES MICROSOFT BOOST FOR SEATTLE'S FIRST SHELTER-BASED TECHNOLOGY CENTER SERVING HOMELESS WOMEN
Jubilee is the first homeless shelter authorized as a MOUS testing site
SEATTLE (Feb. 14, 2002) - Jubilee Women's Center (JWC), Seattle's oldest transitional housing program for homeless women, announced today a gift-in-kind of $20,000 from the Microsoft® Office User Specialist (MOUS) program, administered exclusively by Certiport, Inc. This gift, MOUS exams, complements last year's grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which facilitated the opening of Seattle's first shelter-based Learning and Technology Center to provide computer training, information technology services, and other educational programs for homeless women. Jubilee is the first homeless shelter in the country to be authorized as a MOUS testing site, or iQcenter.
"We are pleased to offer MOUS testing to these women working to improve their careers and their lives," said Randy Pierson, president and CEO for Certiport. "MOUS certification's growing popularity demonstrates that employers are recognizing the value of measuring and validating skills proficiency on Microsoft Office applications."
More than 500,000 MOUS certifications have been awarded globally in 137 countries and 18 languages. As the only Microsoft Office certification program endorsed by Microsoft, MOUS provides recipients proof of proficiency in Microsoft Office, the world standard for business productivity software.
"We are thrilled with the addition of MOUS certification to our Learning and Technology Center," said Sherry Riva, executive director for Jubilee Women's Center. "This rounds out our Microsoft Office training and will give our residents a portable credential that will boost their career development."
The Learning and Technology Center, which provides networked computers with full Internet access, was designed to provide women with the skills they need to become self-sufficient and financially independent. Open to women at transitional housing facilities and to other homeless women in the community, the center offers a core technical curriculum focused on computer basics, Internet basics, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.
"The test was harder than I thought, but I am excited that I passed," said Roberta Gay, a resident at Jubilee Women's Center who recently achieved her MOUS certification. "I know the MOUS certificate will make me more marketable when looking for a job."
About MOUS
The Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) program is globally recognized as the skill standard for the Microsoft Office suite of business productivity applications, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint®, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Outlook®, and Microsoft Project. MOUS certification is available at three levels: Core, Expert, and Master. More information on MOUS can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mous/.
About Jubilee Women's Center (JWC)
Founded in 1983, Jubilee Women's Center is a transitional housing program in Seattle for women who are homeless or at risk for becoming homeless. JWC's mission is to help women make a successful transition to permanent housing, sustainable employment, and independent living.
Press Contacts
Tomi Tierney
Jubilee Women's Center
206-325-2152 ext. 121
tomi@jwcenter.org
John Pilmer
Certiport
801-847-3128
jpilmer@certiport.com
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