Executive Director's Message
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SkillWorks is looking ahead at the next four years to come!
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SkillWorks has been a
consummate mainstay for the past 14 years, with a proven track record acting as an
innovative funder and partner while influencing the policies and practices of dozens of organizations in the region. As the pendulum of the economy has made dramatic shifts from periods of high unemployment to today’s tight labor market,
SkillWorks has applied its practice, knowledge, and experience to respond as a nimble tool in support of our region’s workforce needs.
As we consider our role for the four years ahead, we will continue to sustain our values and act as a
dynamic partner to aligned funders, intermediaries, organizations and employers,
innovative platform to link talent to employers,
responsive driver for diversity and inclusion, and
strategic shaper of policy and practice.
Over the next four years, SkillWorks' plan is to support interrelated components to
achieve our overall goal of sustained improvement to the workforce system. We will target our region’s skill gaps and systemic challenges by
- expanding employer engagement in healthcare, information technology/technology, and hospitality in order to aggregate better labor market intelligence to inform training programs,
- focus on career awareness and workforce readiness integrated with career pathways so youth and young adults are exposed earlier to career options and credential requirements,
- diversify pipelines through internship models for youth and young adults to expose employers to non-traditional talent pools, and
- leverage retention and succession planning needs of employers by promoting job quality, upskilling and career advancement strategies.
Thank you for your support and partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work to create opportunities toward economic sufficiency for low-income workers and meet employer needs for high demand occupations throughout our region.
Best,
Marybeth Campbell
Executive Director, SkillWorks
P.S.
There's so much more below! Please continue reading for all the latest news, updates and insights from SkillWorks, our partners and folks throughout our networks!
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**We're Moving!**
As of August 17, 2017, SkillWorks will be rejoining our colleagues at
the Boston Foundation in their new space:
75 Arlington Street,
3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116
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SkillWorks' *NEWEST* Investments in IT/Tech
1. Expand Employer Engagement and Internships for Boston youth and adults through the TechHire Boston employer consortium.
2. Support the Scaling of the Tech Apprentice summer internship program through incorporating the Signal Success work readiness and career exploration curriculum.
3. Create a Career Advancement Plan for Cyber Security through Cyber Warriors Academy, an upskilling program for mid-level help desk and technical roles.
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Earlier this month,
SkillWorks' Executive Director, Marybeth Campbell shared her
ViewPoint on the need to re-think how we do workforce development to build a diverse IT/tech workforce and remain competitive in a rapidly changing economy.
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What does it mean to be economically self-sufficient? Some of us may learn the basics of personal finance and the importance of being financially literate starting from an early age and may even get some exposure to tools and tips from family, teachers or mentors, but
studies show
that
nearly 70%
of Americans are not financially literate.
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The
TechHire Boston employer consortium, SkillWorks and the
Boston Private Industry Council, hosted the
third and final Boston IT/Tech forum on June 19th, 2017, where Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Foundation's Paul Grogan announced
unprecedented new investments in workforce development!
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"I was privileged to participate in a
TechHire
Boston forum... focused on
strategies to close the workforce gap in Greater Boston’s IT and tech space. As part of a panel of leaders from public, private, and nonprofit sectors, our discussion centered on the economic shifts in the digital age and the
need for employers to easily find quality, diverse talent in a highly competitive market."
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Involvement in policy advocacy can seem daunting, meant only for policy wonks and experts who know all the physical and political in’s and out’s of state and local legislatures – not true! CBOs can and should get civically engaged
to tell representatives why they should care about and support your cause! We've identified a few easy ways for CBOs to get involved in policy advocacy.
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Employers are struggling to find skilled workers and
these programs will build and support training pipelines to ensure our economy continues to grow and people are able to advance their skills and careers.
Read the Final FY 2018 Massachusetts State Budget.
Download the WSG's Budget Chart for specific line item information.
Sign up for the WSG's email list for all the latest workforce development policy updates in Massachusetts!
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Deadline to submit responses: Friday, October 13, 2017 by Midnight.
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WCTF & WTFP Bill Moves Forward!
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Thank You to Chairs
Sen.
Jason Lewis and
Rep. Paul Brodeur for their leadership and to the Committee members for their support. The bill is now being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and
we welcome your letters of support to the Committee!
Click here
to contact the Senate Ways and Means Committee and
pledge your support!
Download
a fact sheet on the bill to learn more and share with legislators.
For more information please contact
Kathie Mainzer
of the Workforce Solutions Group at 617-263-3344.
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SAVE THE DATE!
"Talent in the New Economy:
Powering Economic Growth"
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Around the Workforce World
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CWC is starting off their Fall Regional Networking Series with a workshop looking at the
Economic Impacts of Just-A-Start Inc.'s Biomedical Careers Program.
Register here.
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Filling The “Skills Gap”
An innovative program aims to retrain workers for high-demand "middle skill" jobs in manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare and other fields.
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More than 380 business, workforce development, and philanthropic leaders met in Philadelphia, PA to discuss how communities can
build prosperity together.
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The Latino population has driven Boston’s population growth, but data show efforts needed to improve access to high-wage, high-value industries. The report was released at an event hosted by the
Latino Legacy Fund at the Boston Foundation.
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Google.org is committing $50 million to support nonprofits that are expanding economic opportunity for everyone.
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Further Reading & Resources
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New article via
WBUR's Bostonomix team features
Hack.Diversity - an exciting and innovative initiative expanding access and diversity in Boston's tech industry. Supported in part by SkillWorks and the Boston Foundation.
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SkillWorks is a nationally recognized workforce funder collaborative, launched by
the Boston Foundation in 2003 to improve workforce development in Boston and across Massachusetts. SkillWorks brings together philanthropy, government, community organizations and employers to address the twin goals of helping low-income individuals attain family supporting jobs and businesses find skilled workers. We're also a model for the
National Fund for Workforce Solutions, along with 33 other regional workforce funder collaboratives.
Learn more on our website:
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