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SkillWorks News: Summer 2014
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SkillWorks' 2014 Gubernatorial Forum: Building Massachusetts' Skills to Compete
Before a statewide audience of job seekers, employers, policy makers, workers and students, the candidates discussed topics that are critical to the growth of Massachusetts' economy and development of a skilled workforce. Peter Howe raised questions on key issues including job growth, workforce development and job training, community college reform, vocational technical schools, increased access to adult basic education, ESOL, and higher education, and much more.
SkillWorks also brought a few constituent speakers to the stage to share their personal stories and ask how the candidates plan to support issues important to them.
For more information on the topics discussed, and SkillWorks' recommendations for the next governor check out our policy platform!
Thank you to the candidates, speakers, Peter Howe, Roxbury Community College, sponsors, SkillWorks' staff and partners, volunteers, and everyone who attended for making this such a terrific event!
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 National Fund for Workforce Solutions' Fourth Annual Meeting: Better Skills, Better Jobs
SkillWorks joined nearly 400 workforce leaders and practitioners from across the country in attending this year's National Fund Annual Meeting, held from June 17-19 in Chicago. The event was comprised upon a wide array of topics and discussions focused on advancing the goals of providing low-wage workers with the demand-driven programs necessary to obtain good jobs and close industry skill gaps.
Highlights from the event include:
- Greg Mumford, Deputy Director of YouthBuild Boston (SkillWorks Grantee) presented at a breakout session on Emerging Lessons from National Fund Sites Engaging Young Adults.
- Zeida Santos, SkillWorks' College Navigator at Bunker Hill Community College presented at a breakout session on The Role of Navigators in Promoting Credential Attainment.
- Joanne Pokaski, Director of Workforce Development at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Founder/Chair of the Boston Healthcare Careers Consortium (SkillWorks Grantee) facilitated a recognition presentation of the 2014 CareerSTAT Frontline Healthcare Worker Champions.
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US Secretary of Labor, Thomas E. Perez shared remarks on the Department of Labor's plans for workforce development, job creation, and economic growth nationwide.
For pictures and more information about the event click here! ____________________________________________________________
Other Exciting News & Updates From This Quarter:
Fall 2014 Funding Cycle: SkillWorks will accept proposals for its Fall 2014 funding cycle by invitation only and will not accept unsolicited Letters of Inquiry or proposals. Full proposals will be due on November 1, 2014. For more information about SkillWorks' priorities for this and future funding cycles, please read the application guidelines.
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Introducing SkillWorks Spring 2014 Phase III Grantees
On July 1, 2014, SkillWorks released our second round of Phase III grants.
SkillWorks is excited to be welcoming these partners to the family:
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JVS:
- $5,600 to pilot, track, and analyze outreach strategies to Opportunity Youth.
- $31,500 to implement the College Persistence and Completion technology pilot.
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC): $20,000 special project grant for the Boston Special Education Transition (B-SET) project's Workforce Development Taskforce to improve transitions of BPS students with disabilities to higher education and the workforce.
- X-Cel Education:
- $10,000 planning grant to develop specific career pathways as part of building out its college bridge program.
- $4,793 to pilot, track and analyze outreach strategies to Opportunity Youth.
- $25,000 to implement a College Persistence and Completion technology pilot.
- Year Up: $5,000 grant to support enhanced outreach strategies to Opportunity Youth.
- YouthBuild Boston: $29,000 to serve an additional eight young adults and support enhanced outreach strategies to Opportunity Youth.
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Focus on: YMCA Training Inc.
 | | Kiesha, a SkillWorks-funded YMCA Training, Inc. graduate, on her new position at Tufts Health Plan as Member Service Representative! |
Over the past 30 years, YMCA Training Inc. has been among Boston's most successful workforce development programs, with over 4,500 men and women having successfully completed training and moved into good jobs and rewarding careers.
In January of 2014, SkillWorks released a two-year $150,000 grant to YMCA Training Inc. for their Emerging Careers in Health Insurance program. The goals of this program are to build out a new health insurance customer service training program and employment pipeline to address the staffing needs faced by health insurance companies and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
YMCA Training Inc. works closely with employers to incorporate their feedback into curriculum design, and has developed a referral processes with Boston Medical Center HealthNet, Commonwealth Care Alliance, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts to help ensure job placement for their participants. We look forward to supporting and continuing to share the successful results of this exciting program!
This past May, SkillWorks also had the opportunity to attend YMCA Training Inc.'s annual Partner
s Celebration Breakfast, recognizing their sponsors and employer partners. The morning also included two YMCA Training Inc. graduates who shared how the program helped them obtain successful and rewarding careers.
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Advocacy Updates: Transportation Bond Bill, Jobs Bill, FY15 Budget, WIOA
Transportation Bond Bill SkillWorks and the Workforce Solutions Group actively worked with legislators to include an amendment in the transportation bond bill to fund pre-apprenticeship training. We were thrilled that our language requiring MassDOT to "train 300 people per year from low-income, minority, youth, or young adult populations in pre-apprenticeship programs registered with the Division of Apprentice Training" was included in the final bill language!
Economic Development (Jobs) Bill  Governor Patrick signed the 2014 Jobs Bill into law on August 13, 2014. With leadership from the Governor and legislature and advocacy by SkillWorks, the Workforce Solutions Group, the Job Training Alliance and other partners, the bill included $12.3 million for a middle skills job training grant fund and $2.5 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund in the Jobs Bill, with $1 million of the funding going to develop more stackable credential programs. FY15 State Budget Victories include: $11.8M for the Employment Services Program, $10.2M for Youthworks jobs, $2.75M for School to Career Connecting Activities, $1.5M for STEM Pipeline Fund, and $400,000 for Adult College Transition Services.
 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014. This law reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and maintains the existing basic structure of WIA, but adds modernizing elements that will ensure federal investment is directed toward producing a skilled workforce through strengthening and improving the national workforce development system. Learn more at www.nationalskillscoalition.org. |
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Recent SkillWorks Resources and Publications
Exploration of Coaching Services in SkillWorks - Final Report
Partnership for Automotive Career Education (PACE) - Final Report
Environmental Scan for Prior Learning Assessment (by the National College Transition Network at World Education, Inc., in partnership with the Council for Adult Experiential Learning) - Final Report
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Farewell to Loh-Sze Leung! |
After 9 wonderful years with Skillworks, Executive Director Loh-Sze Leung has stepped down from her position to move out of state with her family.
Since her arrival in 2005, Loh-Sze grew SkillWorks from a nascent TBF initiative to a nationally recognized workforce development intermediary and funder collaborative that addresses the twin goals of helping low income individuals attain family supporting jobs and businesses find skilled workers.
She will be dearly missed, but we wish her all the best as she embarks on new adventures!
To commemorate Loh-Sze and all of her inspiring work in the field of workforce development, we have created the
Loh-Sze Leung Fund for SkillWorks Participants
This fund will be used for SkillWorks participants who need one time support with education supplies, tuition, child care or transportation expenses.
To contribute to the fund:
- Make checks payable to:
The Boston Foundation
- On the memo line include:
SkillWorks Participant Fund
- Mail to: Fund Administration
The Boston Foundation
75 Arlington Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
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Upcoming EventsSkillWorks and our grantees and partners are involved in a number of upcoming, exciting events!
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SkillWorks-funded BEST Corp. graduate Mohamed Janga with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as he receives the First Literacy Scholarship!
Click here to learn more about Mohamed and his achievements! |
Watch our 2014 Gubernatorial Forum: Building Massachusetts' Skills to Compete!
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SkillWorks Phase III Funders The Frank W. and Carl S. Adams Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A.. Trustee Balfour Bank of America Perpetual Giving Trust Bank of America Charitable Foundation BNY Mellon The Boston Foundation The Clowes Fund, Inc The City of Boston's Neighborhood Jobs Trust The Jacobs Foundation JP Morgan Chase Ludcke Foundation Mabel Louise Riley Foundation National Fund for Workforce Solutions State Street Foundation U.S. Department of Labor, through Jobs for the Future
Thanks for your support! |
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SkillWorks Phase III Grantees
(as of June 2014)
Workforce Partnerships
AACA - Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills
Boston PIC - Healthcare Careers Consortium
Healthcare Training Institute
Hospitality Training Center
MAC - B-SET Taskforce
X-Cel Education
Year Up
YMCA Training Inc.YouthBuild Boston - Green
Construction Program
Capacity Building Boston PIC - College Navigation Career Readiness Commonwealth of MA - Career Readiness Initiative
Policy Advocacy
Job Training Alliance Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Workforce Solutions Group
Planning Grants
JVS - Healthcare Career CenterPine Street Inn - Career Advancement and Credential Attainment initiativeWorld Education - Prior Learning Assessment
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Keep in Touch!
'Til the next newsletter, stay up to date on all the latest SkillWorks & Workforce Development updates!
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About SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce
SkillWorks is an ambitious effort on the part of philanthropy, government, community organizations, unions, and employers to respond to Massachusetts' workforce crisis. SkillWorks' goal is to create a workforce development system that helps low-skill, low-to-moderate income residents move to family-sustaining jobs and helps employers find and retain skilled employees. It is the largest public/private investment in workforce development in Boston's history.
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