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SkillWorks Newsletter
January 2008

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SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce successfully promotes workforce development in the city of Boston because of a community of non-profit agencies, employers, philanthropic organizations and participants.  It's a priority for us to keep you informed on the work of the initiative so that together we can provide creative leadership for and solutions to our region's workforce challenges.
News
Ben Franklin 
 
Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration
 
On November 26th 2007 more than 200 people gathered at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to celebrate five successful years of SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce.  The event, "The Doors of Wisdom are Never Shut" brought together funders, grantees, employers, policy makers and participants to recognize their many accomplishments.  
 
The program started off with Michael Taylor, BFIT's President, welcoming the crowd.  Taylor was followed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, The Boston Foundation's Paul S. Grogan, as well as Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Suzanne Bump.  The event also featured two inspiring participants, Houda Rhchim and Faith Dhliwayo, who have both benefited from SkillWorks training.  A video spotlighting several SkillWorks partnerships was enhanced by a special congratulatory message from United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy.  The celebratory event both marked the last year of SkillWorks Phase I and announced the funders' commitment to launching SkillWorks Phase II later in 2008.  Stay tuned for more details!
 
Mayor Menino and SkillWorks Director Loh-Sze Leung are pictured above at the event. 
 
The video and additional pictures from the event will be posted at www.skill-works.org.  Thanks to all for coming!
 
Grant Announcements
 
SkillWorks is pleased to announce grants for the following partnerships:
  • Workforce Solutions Group: A fifth year grant of $300,000 for public policy advocacy activities. 
  • The Hotel Career Center: A fifth year grant of $213,889
  • Building Services Career Path Project: A fourth year grant of $227,400

Congratulations to all!  We look forward to another successful year with all of the partnerships. 

NFWS logo 
 
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
 
On September 6, 2007, SkillWorks was featured at the launch of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.  SkillWorks will receive $450,000 over three years from this fund to implement Phase II of the initiative.   The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a $50 million, five-year effort to strengthen and expand effective workforce development programs across the country.  The fund is aiming to provide grants to up to 40 sites and serve 50,000 people over five years.  More information can be found at www.nfwsolutions.org.
 
SkillWorks Co-Sponsors Commonwealth Workforce Coalition Conference
 
For the third year, SkillWorks is co-sponsoring the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition's annual conference.  Held on March 12 at the DCU Conference Center in Worcester, this year's Sharing Skills~ Building Connections conference will feature many workshops for workforce development professionals.  SkillWorks partnerships are featured in several workshops, and the initiative is sponsoring two sessions in particular: a session on the Food Stamp Employment Training Program and how to draw down reimbursements through this program; and a session on working with higher education partners in implementing workforce programs.  Register for the conference at http://cwc.cedac.org/SharingSkills.pdf.
 
 
Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund RFP Released

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund was established by the legislature in 2006 with help from SkillWorks grantees and partners.  Now, a second round of grants is available.

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund is designed to address employment needs in critical MA industries and to enable a broad range of residents-including older workers, low-wage workers, low-income individuals, disabled citizens, vulnerable youth, incumbent workers and the unemployed-to gain access to employment, education and the skills necessary to move forward along a career path leading to economic self-sufficiency.

Commonwealth Corporation has announced the release of an RFP for the second round of Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund grants. You can get the RFP and information about the program at the
Commonwealth Corporation's Web site.
 
 
SkillWorks in the News
 
Check out the SkillWorks Web site for our latest appearances in the news.  In the past few months, SkillWorks has been featured in:
  • The Boston Globe, "From Helpless to Heartening," September 6, 2007.
  • The Boston Business Journal, "Bay State Jobs Program Goes National with $50 Million Fund," September 7, 2007
  • The Chronicle of Philanthropy, "New Grant Program Plans to Shift Low-Wage Workers Into Careers," September 7, 2007
Additionally, SkillWorks was highlighted as a high-impact organization by America Forward both online and in its briefing book.
 
Make sure you watch WCVB's Chronicle on Friday, January 25th, from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Channel 5.  SkillWorks participants from Partners in Career in Workforce Development, a Partners Healthcare program, will be featured in a segment on getting a leg up in the job market. 

Also, tune in to Urban Update on March 23rd. SkillWorks Director Loh-Sze Leung, Doubletree Guest Suites General Manager Chris Coffin, Back Bay Hilton employee Carlos Arboleda, and Hotel Career Center manager Zeida Santos will discuss the importance of the SkillWorks model to the hospitality industry in Boston.  Urban Update appears after "Meet the Press" every Sunday morning on WHDH Channel 7 at 11:30 a.m.

In This Issue
Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration
Grant Announcements
National Fund for Workforce Solutions
SkillWorks Sponsors CWC Conference
Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund RFP Released
SkillWorks in the News
From the Director
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From the Director
Happy New Year!  2008 marks the last year in SkillWorks Phase I, and I am excited to report that planning is well underway for a second five years of SkillWorks. 
 
For those of you who were able to attend our celebration in November, you saw first hand how SkillWork has made an impact on businesses, public policies, communities, and workers.  As we move forward into Phase II, we hope to have even more opportunities to highlight the work of the initiative. 

Please check www.skill-works.org for reports, updates, upcoming events and news.
 
Thanks to all of you for your hard work, contributions, and efforts to improve workforce development in our Commonwealth.
 
With warm wishes,
 
Loh-Sze Leung
SkillWorks Director
 
SkillWorks Funders
  • The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • The Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund and the Frank W. and Carl S. Adams Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
  • Boston 2004
  • The Boston Foundation
  • The City of Boston's Neighborhood Jobs Trust
  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • The Hyams Foundation
  • The Clowes Fund, Inc
  • The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust
  • The John Merck Fund
  • The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation
  • The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • The Rockefeller Foundation
  • State Street Foundation
  • The William Randolph Hearst Foundation
  • United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
 
 

SkillWorks Partnerships 

  • Boston Health Care and Research Training Institute
  • Building Services Career Path Project
  • Community Health Worker Initiative of Boston
  • Hotel Career Center
  • Partners for Career and Workforce Development
  • Partnership for Automotive and Career Education
  • Workforce Solutions Group