Employment Resource Project

About

Upskill Nac Overview

The Upskill Nac Employment Resource project was created in 2025 by LaToya Smith (winner of the 21/7 Association 2025 Community Change Award) to empower adult job seekers and lifelong learners in Nacogdoches, TX and beyond. This project addresses the evolving challenges of the job market by offering practical, cost-efficient tools and resources. Whether you're navigating unemployment, seeking career advancement, or exploring flexible learning options, this website provides cost-efficient digital resources to all of the county. Build skills and seek employment without breaking the bank.

Mission Statement

My mission is to bridge knowledge gaps and overcome employment barriers for adult job seekers and lifelong learners by delivering free or low-cost resources that enhance resume building, interview preparation, and career development. The priority is inclusive, technology-driven solutions which foster economic empowerment, ensuring that everyone in our community—regardless of background —can access the tools needed to thrive in a competitive job market.

Vision Statement

I envision a vibrant Nacogdoches community where every adult has equitable access to innovative, cost-efficient education and employment resources, leading to reduced unemployment, stronger career trajectories, and a culture of continuous learning that supports personal and economic growth for generations to come.

Disclaimer

The Upskill Nac Project was created to assist job seekers with valuable resources with the intent to help lessen unemployment and increase the chance of employment, but it does not guarantee employment. These resources are provided in links that may be attached to outside websites. The outside websites/possible resources attached may occasionally have broken links due to those outside websites changing domain names or deactivating; therefore, if a link is broken you can simply email or use the contact form to report those broken links so that they are edited or removed from the resource files. If you are on a third-party website and determine a link is broken, then please report that to only that third-party website.

This project is not affiliated with the websites mentioned in the resource files, nor does it reflect the views of those outside sources and sites. The Upskill Nac Project is not responsible for any content created by other websites. Please be cautious when researching and vetting job listings as applying to job posts and determining scam listings are solely the responsibility of the user and not this project/page. Lastly, any information gathered through other websites, purchases made through other third parties, or agreements through other websites are between the user and the third-party site(s) and not this website/project.

LaToya SMith - Project Creator

I moved to Nacogdoches, TX in December 2008 to transfer to Stephen F. Austin State University after graduating from Panola College. It was here in Nacogdoches that I realized that searching for employment was quite challenging. I encountered few options, rejection, lower pay offers, false hiring advertisements, and overall frustration. Luckily, I eventually gained employment which I am grateful for to this day. Although I was lucky, I still acknowledge that others are not and that the unemployment crisis has gotten much worse. Firsthand, I know the feeling bills coming in with no income to pay them and to pray every night for anyone to give me a chance (even if the job pays the bare minimum). I also still feel the crushing weight to this very day of student loan debt that my friends and I carry after earning degrees years ago in hopes of earning better money in the long run.

During the period from 2008 until the present, I have pursued various ways to both make money and gain additional certifications to survive and make ends meet. This includes years of freelancing with remote/work from home gigs outside of my 9-5 job and using nontraditional and legitimate education methods to boost my knowledge. The job and education market has changed drastically in such a short amount of time. None of this has been easy due to the fact that in a small East Texas area, very few people know about other options, and if they do, they are quick to gatekeep so that others cannot have access to the same knowledge. Others simply do not care and are quick to brush off the needs and desperation of others because they are privileged enough to do so. I have had to dig and scrape for alternative ways to make it. Although this project is small, I am attempting to change the narrative by providing others with knowledge that I have learned and used for several years. I will continue adding to this website over time (especially the "Resources" and "News and Statistics" pages).

We cannot continue to move the same way when everything is constantly evolving, and the same traditional methods do not work for everyone. I want to close by saying that although I give you these resources for free, it is solely up to you to put in the work to research jobs, apply, consistently educate yourselves, and be proactive. I strongly encourage you all to share this website and its resources with anyone who you feel may need it and uplift each other.

Thank You!

A special thank you to these non-profit organizations for helping me make this project possible!

The 21/7 Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Nacogdoches residents in 2019 to support the health, safety, and well-being of the Southeast and Southwest areas of Nacogdoches. https://sites.google.com/view/217association/

CWJC makes a valuable contribution to the community by providing skilled women who have gained employment readiness training the opportunity to be productive, contributing members of society. https://cwjcnac.org/

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