Category: CWC

Agencies focus on helping unemployed

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Agencies focus on helping unemployed
By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

STURBRIDGE — Across Massachusetts there are hundreds of organizations striving to get people back to work and representatives from many of those met yesterday at the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center to share how they’ve been accomplishing their goals through partnerships with one another.

The Commonwealth Workforce Coalition hosted the event called “Sharing Skills — Building Connections, Partnering for Opportunity” which opened with an address from Joanne F. Goldstein, secretary of the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

About 400 people attended from a variety of social service agencies and spent the day choosing from 33 workshops, including sessions on how to market an agency’s clients and assisting with transitions from college to the workforce.

“Things are getting better,” said Ann Donner, who is program manager for the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition, but she added that there are still a lot of people who have few skills and who earn low wages that continue to have problems finding and retaining jobs.

In one of the workshops, staff members from the agencies were taught to display their clients in a positive light when seeking employment for them.

The “pitch clinic” offered them a chance to “sell” their clients and organizers talked about how companies who take a chance on these clients and have a positive experience might be more willing to hire through the agency again.

The community college system has also become an integral part of getting people back to work and encouraging those who find positions to continue their education so that can retain their jobs. Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester has been successful in using federal grant funds to assist in workforce training and development and Springfield Technical Community College has partnered with Futureworks Career Center. The career center now notifies the college about what types of skills employers seek and the college will work to offer related classes so that students will be ready to take those jobs.

Peter Beard, senior vice president for impact at United Way Worldwide and Kevin Jordan, vice president for National Programs, Local Initiatives Support Corp., joined Loh-Sze Leung, executive director of SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce, for a panel discussion at lunch.

Mr. Jordan said that in developing partnerships, it is important to consider the outcome and what goals the agencies are trying to achieve by bonding with each other.

“Why is it better?” he asked. “How do they hold each other accountable for achieving more complex outcomes?”

Wendy Lauser, director of impact services at Pine Street Inn in Boston, said she often finds her staff dealing with unemployed homeless people and she’s learned that getting help to newly homeless people in the first 90 days is the most effective.

“Sooner is better,” she said, “Engaging people very quickly produces positive results.”

Her agency makes contact with homeless people and gives them bags with information. She said the agency has flexible staff members who will meet with clients anywhere they are comfortable.

What might surprise some people is that about 51 percent of those served by Pine Street Inn’s programs have a high school diploma and 23 percent have some college. More than half admit to having mental health issues or substance abuse problems, and it is important that in helping them find employment, they do not feel judged, she said.

Laurie Rose, who is the coordinator for the Pine Street Inn’s Workfirst program, recalled a successful client who told her it was the first time she’d been treated as something other than a drug addict.

While unemployment is a major problem and the focus of the conference was on working together to get people employed, homelessness often goes hand in hand with the problem.

© 2012 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.
URL: http://www.telegram.com/article/20120515/NEWS/105159995/1237

SourceWorcester Telegram & Gazette

STCC, Futureworks to team up to reduce unemployment in Springfield

Monday, May 14, 2012
STCC, Futureworks to team up to reduce unemployment in Springfield
City’s jobless rate is well above state average
By Sy Becker
STURBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts has an 8% jobless rate, but in Springfield, that number is substantially higher at 10%. A plan to reduce the city’s jobless rate was unveiled Monday at a statewide conference held in Sturbridge.
Springfield Technical Community College and the nearby Futureworks Career Center are involved in the plan.
Rexane Picard of Futureworks said that part of the problem with creating jobs in the area has been that many area job applicants haven’t had the skills that employers are looking for.
“We are chipping away at that number (the city’s unemployment rate), but certainly we hear from the employers’ side, we don’t see the right skills,” Picard said.
Under the plan, Futureworks will communicate with STCC about the kinds of job skills area employers are seeking, and the college will in turn tailor courses to meet these skill demands.
Angela Bellas of STCC said that they are up to the challenge of expanding job opportunities in the city. “We see ourselves as educators being able to build bridges between employers and community members who are currently searching for a job,” Bellas said.
22News had recently reported a similar plan involving Springfield Technical Community College training Spanish-speaking health workers for jobs at the Holyoke Health Center.

© Copyright 2000 – 2012 WWLP-TV.
URL: http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/stcc-futureworks-to-team-up-to-reduce-unemployment-in-springfield

SourceWWLP-TV, Channel 22

Community Foundation awards $100K in work force grants

January 29, 2012
Community Foundation awards $100K in work force grants
GateHouse News Service

The Community Foundation of southeastern Massachusetts recently awarded $100,500 in work force development and early literacy grants with funding from the Polaroid and Acushnet Foundation funds.
This is the Community Foundation’s sixth year of managing the New Bedford-area grants program of the Polaroid Fund under contract with the Boston Foundation. The Polaroid Fund distributes up to $100,000 each year to support organizations or collaboratives that focus on work-force development and early literacy. The foundation’s Acushnet Foundation Fund also provides up to $12,500 for early literacy programming.
Nine local organizations received a total of $73,500 in grants from the Polaroid Fund for work force development programs, with an emphasis on advocacy and capacity building, as well as english for speakers of other languages, adult basic education and general education development classes. They are:
— Bristol Community College, $15,000 for Education in Employment Project, whose goal is to design and implement an employer-driven program for education.
— Catholic Social Services, $7,000 for Future Education and Adult Learning, a program that will provide ESOL, GED and citizenship classes for Spanish and Portuguese speakers.
— Community Economic Development Corp., $12,000 for a pilot project to recruit and train ESOL tutors titled the ESOL Capacity Building and Advocacy Project.
— Commonwealth Workforce Coalition, $10,000 for professional development and training for workers from Greater New Bedford organizations that provide ABE, ESOL and literacy programs.
— City of New Bedford Community Literacy Project, $1,500 to provide transportation and child care services for the Shining Lights/ESOL: Community Literacy Project, as well as off-site education programs at sites such as the public library and city hall.
— Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School/Adult ESOL Program, $5,000 to provide ESOL services to non-English-speaking parents of GNB Voc-Tech students.
— Immigrants Assistance Center, $10,000 for the ESOL Capacity Building and Advocacy Project, which will offer ESOL classes with citizenship preparation.
— Mass. Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, $8,000 for the English Works/New Bedford Campaign, to provide leverage for the recently funded AmeriCorps New Americans Integration Program to build a volunteer brigade, compile data and sustain advocacy.
— PAACA, $5,000 for INSIGHT Youth Services, an effort to increase the educational attainment of out-of-school youths with no high school diploma.
An additional $27,000 was awarded by the Acushnet Foundation and Polaroid Funds to four Early Literacy Programs:
— ArtWorks!, $7,500 for Learning Studio, an interactive arts experience.
— Catholic Social Services, $5,000 for the Early Literacy Program to offer ESOL, ABE and parenting classes at the Donavan House family shelter.
— New Bedford Public Schools-Pregnant and Parenting Teens, $7,500 for Emerging Readers, which will offer early and family literacy services to teen parents and their children.
— PACE Family Center, $7,000, which will enable the Family Center Literacy Program to provide ESOL and family literacy services for 10 to 15 families at Dottin Place and Satellite Village.

Copyright 2012 The Herald News. Some rights reserved

URL: http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x842390817/Community-Foundation-awards-100K-in-work-force-grants#ixzz1kx66jGQN

SourceThe Herald News

In Brief – Springfield: Job force training for ex-offenders

In brief

Springfield: Job force training for ex-offenders
The Commonwealth Workforce Coalition, in conjunction with several other agencies, will hold a three-day professional-development training session in October at the Springfield Technology Park to certify employment specialists to help ex-offenders who have been released from prison find work.
The Springfield training session will take place Oct. 14, Oct. 21, and Oct. 28.
The fee is $180 for the entire program.
The training will address generational poverty issues that affect motivation; re-entry employment challenges; responding to employers’ questions about offenders; making good job matches; and utilizing community resources.
Similar training sessions are scheduled to take place on Sept. 19, 23 and 30 at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston; and on Nov. 4, 10 and 18 at the Massasoit Conference Center in Brockton.
Information: (617) 727-5944.

© Copyright 2011 Media News group
URL: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_18768932

SourceBerkshire Eagle

New training aims to get ex-offenders jobs

Wednesday, August 24, 2011
New training aims to get ex-offenders jobs
A three-day training being offered this fall and organized by a coalition of workforce organizations, community colleges, state departments and law enforcement agencies aims to help enhance job training opportunities for ex-offenders.
The training will certify employment specialists so they are better equipped to help job-seekers who are released from prison.
The program is being organized by the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, New England Center for Homeless Veterans, and the Middlesex and Hampden County Sherriffs’ Departments. Training sessions will be offered in Boston and in southeast and western Massachusetts.
Called offender employment specialist training, the program costs $180 and is geared toward workforce development professionals who currently work in offender employment services. Registration for the Boston session will run between August 19 and September 9, and the actual training will take place September 16, 23, and 30 at Bunker Hill Community College.
The curriculum will follow one used by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Corrections, which results in a nationally-recognized certification for those who complete the course.

© 2011 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/08/24/new-training-to-get-ex-offenders-jobs.html?s=print

SourceBoston Business Journal

Don’t slash workforce training

Don’t slash workforce training
AS I SEE IT

By Roger Herzog and Ann Donner

Climbing out of a jobless recovery is not an easy task. For college-educated men and women who are out of work, it requires diligence. It is even more of a challenge for lower-income residents without the professional networks or skill sets that will make them competitive in the workforce.

That makes the work of employment counselors and job training center professionals all the more important. They are the individuals on the front lines connecting job seekers with potential hiring managers. And right now, funding and other resources for their critical work is threatened. At a time when we should be providing resources for those in workforce development, we are instead limiting their means to help employers find employees and the unemployed find jobs.

This is especially significant for Central Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, Worcester County has borne much of the brunt of the Great Recession. Even though the state has fared better than the national average in terms of unemployment, many communities in Central Massachusetts have unemployment rates that are higher than both the state and national averages.

For instance, according to state unemployment statistics, the Leominster/Fitchburg area had a 10.7 percent unemployment rate in December (not seasonally adjusted), whereas the overall state average was 8 percent.

This is part of the reason that the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition (CWC), managed by the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), recently held our annual conference at Devens. More than 350 individuals from across the state, whose job it is to boost Massachusetts’ overall economic performance by helping others find work, came together to share insights on finding jobs for individuals eager to work.

It is important to understand what these professionals do. Job counselors and workforce development experts are largely invisible but vital to making this economic recovery sustainable and to keeping our region competitive nationally and internationally. They assist job seekers by identifying opportunities and matching the skills of unemployed individuals with prospects.

As important, they are helping employers find qualified workers. They are meeting with hiring managers and working with them to make sure that their needs are fulfilled. They are also helping underemployed individuals gain the appropriate skills to achieve family-sustaining wages.

Research shows that, on average, a person will have 25 different jobs in their lifetime. For lower skilled workers, job developers are critical in helping them prepare for jobs and career paths to family-sustaining wages. At the same time, productive, appropriately trained employees are necessary for the long-term growth of businesses in New England.

Despite their importance to our economic recovery, however, those who specialize in workforce development are facing diminishing resources themselves.

According to the National Skills Coalition, $2.97 billion in funding for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) would be eliminated in the 2012 budget the House of Representatives passed recently, which is 100 percent of WIA funds. The proposal also rescinds $175 million for the current year.

Such cuts threaten the very existence of career centers and workforce development agencies. The commonwealth of Massachusetts has been a strong partner in promoting these services, but slashes to job training on the federal level will have a strong, and potentially devastating, impact on employment and slow economic recovery.

Additionally, workforce development professionals need added opportunities to share with each other what they are seeing on the ground. The conference content came straight from the field, from agencies like the Worcester Housing Authority or Employment Links Inc. in Leominster.

As part of CEDAC, a public/private agency that offers support to nonprofit community development agencies throughout the state, CWC’s mission is to provide technical assistance to the men and women who are critically important to developing the workforce pipeline. This conference is the one major opportunity they have every year to learn from each other regarding critical issues such as youth employment and navigating the CORI system. More resources for job counselors means more effective job placement, which is a win for everyone, a fact that Lt. Gov. Tim Murray recognized when he addressed the conference to say that “now, more than ever, it’s imperative to provide the right assistance and training.”

The calls for shared sacrifice in a challenging economic environment are understandable. But it makes little sense to defund workforce training and leave those on the front lines of economic development with even fewer resources. Central Massachusetts needs these job counselors to help employers find workers with the most potential and assist job seekers develop the skills they need to be hired.

Roger Herzog is the executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation. Ann Donner is program manager for the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition.

Copyright 2011, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.
Hyperlink: http://www.telegram.com/article/20110323/NEWS/103230360/1020#

SourceWorcester Telegram

Lieutenant Gov: More emphasis on worker training

March 10, 2011

Lieutenant Gov: More emphasis on worker training

By Mary E. Arata, marata@nashobapub.com
DEVENS — Even as the state’s unemployment rate hovers at about 9 percent, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said Wednesday that work-force needs and concerns “may not be what the media and others may lead us to believe.”
Employers need trained employees, and it’s challenging to retain them in the face of higher costs of living and wintry weather, Murray told a crowd of more than 350 people at the eighth annual Commonwealth Workforce Coalition Conference, held at the Devens Common Center.
The event, subtitled “Sharing Skills, Building Connections,” also included a series of workshops on career-related topics, including networking, career coaching and social media.
Murray said the conference dovetailed nicely with the Patrick administration’s November 2007 launch of its Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, which has a goal of ending homelessness in the commonwealth by 2013.
“If we’re going to better serve our clients, we need to make them fully aware of opportunities to partner,” Murray said.
Murray said recent statistics that indicate a slow economic recovery is “little solace to those who are not working or underemployed.”
He praised the CWC for sparking ideas to fine-tune the Bay State work force because “now, more than ever, it’s imperative to provide the right assistance and training.”
Part of Wednesday’s conference was to track employment trends, Murray said, “not only in the next year, but five to 10 years down the road, and what collectively are we doing to prepare people?”
He said work-force development is receiving a renewed focus in the administration’s second term.
“What has always allowed us to stay ahead and competitive is that we’ve always had a well-educated work force,” Murray said.
The lieutenant governor said requests for proposals are now being accepted from community colleges and other venues, for example, to house adult learning and career centers to help affected workers “sharpen their skills and become attractive job candidates in this very competitive market.”
The administration also endorses arming workers with an arsenal of STEM skills — science, technology, engineering and math. Murray said a STEM-centric curriculum will help in job creation in the fields of education, medicine, biotech and life sciences, manufacturing, video gaming and robotics, to name a few.
“We need to try to make sure that we’re thinking and preparing for those growth industries, from the entry level to those that require significant and advanced degrees,” Murray said.

© 2011 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc

HTML: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_17580670#ixzz1GD1qPzrk

SourceSentinel & Enterprise

Murray calls for worker training

Murray calls for worker training
By Mary E. Arata, marata@nashobapub.com
DEVENS — Even as the state’s unemployment rate hovers at about 9 percent, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said yesterday that work-force needs and concerns “may not be what the media and others may lead us to believe.”
Employers need trained employees, and it’s challenging to retain them in the face of higher costs of living and wintry weather, Murray told a crowd of more than 350 people at the 8th annual Commonwealth Workforce Coalition Conference, held at the Devens Common Center.
The event, subtitled “Sharing Skills, Building Connections,” also included a series of workshops on career-related topics, including networking, career coaching and social media. Murray said the conference dovetailed nicely with the Patrick administration’s November 2007 launch of its Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, which has a goal of ending homelessness in the commonwealth by 2013.
“If we’re going to better serve our clients, we need to make them fully aware of opportunities to partner,” Murray said.
Murray said recent statistics that indicate a slow economic recovery is “little solace to those who are not working or underemployed.” He praised the CWC for sparking ideas to fine-tune the Bay State workforce because “now, more than ever, it’s imperative to provide the right assistance and training.”
Part of yesterday’s conference was to track employment trends, Murray said.
“Not only in the next year, but five to 10 years down the road, and what collectively are we doing to prepare people?” he asked rhetorically. He said workforce development is receiving a renewed focus in the administration’s second term.
“What has always allowed us to stay ahead and competitive is that we’ve always had a well-educated workforce,” Murray said.
The lieutenant governor said requests for proposals are now being accepted from community colleges and other venues, for example, to house adult learning and career centers to help affected workers “sharpen their skills and become attractive job candidates in this very competitive market.”
The administration also endorses arming workers with an arsenal of STEM-skills (science, technology, engineering and math). Murray said STEM-centric curriculum will help in job creation in the fields of education, medicine, biotech and life sciences, manufacturing, video gaming and robotics, to name a few.
“We need to try to make sure that we’re thinking and preparing for those growth industries, from the entry level to those that require significant and advanced degrees,” said Murray.

Copyright © 2011 MediaNews Group

HTML: http://www.nashobapublishing.com/breakingnews/ci_17582926#ixzz1GIpgrjz

SourceNashoba Publishing

Workforce Coalition Conference

Workforce Coalition Conference

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

DEVENS — The Commonwealth Workforce Coalition will hold its 2011 annual conference: “Sharing Skills – Building Connections,” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Parkway.

The conference will feature welcoming remarks from Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, as well as sessions designed to help job training professionals help the unemployed find work.

Workshop topics will include youth employment, the Massachusetts economy, navigating the CORI system, working with homeless participants, and sustainable workforce development.

For a full conference schedule or to register, please visit http://cwc.cedac.org.
— Martin Luttrell

Copyright 2011 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.

HTML: http://www.telegram.com/article/20110308/NEWS/110309628/1237

SourceWorcester Telegram

Money Briefs: Workforce Forum

Workforce forum
WORCESTER — The Commonwealth Workforce Coalition will hold its seventh annual conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at the DCU Center, 50 Foster St.

More than 350 work force professionals will learn new strategies for the post-recession economy, share practices, meet employers, and learn about legislation and training programs. For more information or to register, contact Ann Donner of the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition at adonner@cedac.org or (617) 727-5944.

Sourcetelegram.com