(Mennonite Central Committee)

Abbotsford, B.C.--A Mennonite Central Committee training program won recognition at the recent Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity awards. "Above the Underground" is training in retail and customer service. Participants receive training in a clothing store, as well as help with resume writing, job search and computers. In six years, the program has had nearly 250 participants, 90 percent of whom were women and more than 75 percent visible minorities. The program, under MCC B.C.'s Employment Development, is funded by the provincial government. The program competed against Walmart, Envision Financial and Revy for the award.--From MCC B.C. release