THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CELEBRATES THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY

OF LABOR DAY

News Release: August 29, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella hosted an event commemorating the 125th anniversary of Labor Day on the front steps of the Frances Perkins Building. The Acting Secretary, joined by long-serving members of the Department, unveiled a banner honoring the historic anniversary that will be prominently displayed on the Frances Perkins Building. Acting Secretary Pizzella shared the Department of Labor's history and celebrated the Department of Labor's service to the American workforce.

On this Labor Day, more than 157 million Americans are working – the highest number of Americans working ever recorded. 5.7 million jobs have been created since January 2017. Unemployment is at 3.7%, near a 50-year low, and has been at or below 4% for 17 months in a row. This is the lowest unemployment going into a Labor Day since 1969. Year-over-year earnings growth has been at or above 3% for a year straight and is currently 3.2%. There are 7.3 million open jobs and there have been more open jobs than job seekers for 16 straight months.on of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

ODJFS + OhioMeansJobs Partnership = All Around Success

Reiser & Company, a small accounting firm in Hamilton County, needed an accountant and hoped to hire a Veteran. They were having a difficult time finding a Veteran with the accounting skillset. After meeting an Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Workforce Specialist at a networking event, Ms. Reiser was introduced to a Veteran candidate referred by a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staff member who had been working with this job-seeker to help discover a new career opportunity. A Veteran of the Gulf War, the candidate had been laid off from a warehouse position and thus far had been unsuccessful in finding work. He had an accounting degree but had not worked in accounting for quite a few years.

In the meantime, OMJ’s business services unit staff reached out to Ms. Reiser, getting the company signed up to access the On the Job Training (OJT) program. As a small business owner, Ms. Reiser was very clear how beneficial the $5000 training reimbursement would be for the company, potentially providing additional software training to hone the candidate’s accounting skills even further.   The OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) Center was able to offer further support for gas cards. This transportation assistance was critical to assist the new employee to be able to get to work while awaiting a paycheck.

From left to right: Sabina Blake (DVOP), Kathleen Busemeyer (On-the-Job Training), Michael Flynn (Veteran), and Jules Camarda (ODJFS Account Executive)

The SWORWIB has always benefited from the involvement of construction employers beginning with Pete Strange of Messer Construction in 2001. Since 2001, the SWORWIB has had multiple construction employers as board members, committee participants and board leaders. Currently on the SWORWIB, Jackie Alf of Jurgensen Companies, Michael Prus of Prus Construction and Tyronne Stuckey of TYS Construction Services are active participants and contributors to promoting construction trades, skill-sets and employment.   I Build America–Ohio proudly serves as the Ohio chapter of the I Build America movement. Their website is https://www.ibuildamerica-ohio.com and is full of resources for the construction industry as well as for young people and their parents who can learn more about the industry and its extensive career pathway options. 

 

At the August SWORWIB Quarterly Board meeting, a spotlight on construction was featured with the members from the robust website:   https://www.ibuildamerica-ohio.com/  and a YouTube message https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c03VTOJMhCI. New construction instructional programming was introduced to the board after years of preparation for a new associate degree and certificate learning in the Mining, Asphalt and Concrete Construction (MACC) industry. Detailed information on the “MACC” is available by clicking on the graphic below: 

Congratulations to Easterseals for their creative new fundraiser “Cocktails for a Cause ”

After work hours on August 29 ^th, board members, staff, supporters and friends gathered at Revel OTR, 111 E.12 ^th Street to celebrate the “house that youth built”!! Guests learned how academics and construction training through Easterseals created breakthrough moments and brighter futures for young adults in Greater Cincinnati – and contributed financial support that was matched by anonymous donor. Easterseals has applied for another YouthBuild grant, supported by the SWORWIB, that will continue a construction focus for training while also expanding to healthcare credentials as an alternate career for program youth. 

Pictured left to right:   Sherry Kelley Marshall, SWORWIB President; Pamela Green, Easterseals President; MaryCate McIntyre, University of Cincinnati DAAP ’19 and designer of the YouthBuild Construction Lab instructional model and James Harris, YouthBuild Manager.

CCMEP Launches Youth Tech Team

While many youth spent the summer watching TV and playing video games, a group of forward-thinking teens got paid to learn to code. The group are a part of the Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program (CCMEP) which helps low-income 14-24 year-olds connect to education, training and employment.

These teens were looking for summer jobs and, after interviewing with several employers, were selected to work with Michael Beck of Midwest Latino, LLC. and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. They were paid $10.00 per hour to do hands-on learning in coding, web design, robotics, drone technology and 3D printing.  “There is a high demand for jobs in technology in the Cincinnati area,” said Tori Turner, coordinator of CCMEP Summer Employment Program. “We want to make sure our youth are prepared for those jobs.”

To expose them to the many opportunities in science and technology, Beck and the job coaching team at CCMEP took the youth on field trips that included the Cincinnati Bell Innovation Hub in Avondale and the Neil Armstrong Space Exploration Gallery at the Cincinnati Museum Center. For ten weeks, the teens worked in teams and individually on projects ranging from programming the path for a robot to follow to designing a course for drones to developing an animated dance app.

“By focusing on these technology skills, problem solving and teamwork, we help the students prepare for the jobs of the future,” said Beck, also a SWORWIB Board Member.

CCMEP is a statewide program that offers year-round services for its customers. Training primarily focuses on in-demand careers in Information Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction, Supply Chain/Logistics and Commercial Driving (CDL). Case management and supportive services are also provided. In Hamilton County, Talbert House, Easterseals, Community Action Agency and Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio work together under the leadership of Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services and the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board to provide these services. To learn more about CCMEP, call 513-482-4600.

CCMEP Tech Class I pose at CCMEP’s summer employment celebration held August 10, 2019.

Photo and story credit to Erica L. Fears, Talbert House

In-School Youth

Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG)

My Summer Work Experience Opportunity at

The Cincinnati Herald

The Cincinnati Herald is a local African American newspaper company published every Wednesday by SESH communications, and that is where I interned for the 2019 summer. Spending most of my time at a newspaper company made me intrigued about becoming a print journalist.

During my time at The Cincinnati Herald, I was assigned different office tasks such as answering the company’s telephone, preparing tear sheets for the weekly newspaper, emailing churches about our signature events and participating in staff meetings. I also was given tasks pertaining to signature events such as the ‘Nefertiti Awards’ that acknowledges local women that have made an impact in the community. I was given the opportunity to interview and write stories about different individuals concerning their black-owned businesses. I volunteered for the National Newspaper Publishers Association Convention that was held in Cincinnati, which is a trade association of more than 200 African American community newspapers from around the United States. I also volunteered to promote the Cincinnati Music Festival through all of The Cincinnati Herald’s media outlets.

The skills that I have developed while interning at The Cincinnati Herald included properly introducing myself on the phone professionally, learning how to write and edit my writing when it comes to writing articles for the newspaper, learning to dress professionally in the workplace and how to promote events on different media outlets. I experienced visiting the WCPO Channel 9 News Station where I also had the honor of meeting civil rights activist Dr. Benjamin Chavis. What I liked about interning at The Cincinnati Herald is writing multiple stories and getting them published through the newspaper. What I found to be challenging is learning how to cooperate with people with personalities that are different from mine. My plan is to further my education at Central State University. I will be majoring in Communications with a concentration in Print Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing.

My overall career goal is to become a freelance writer and work for multiple black-owned print media outlets. I also want to create my own writing blog plus create a podcast that will discuss black politics, black entertainment and black culture. Interning at The Cincinnati Herald inspired me to pursue journalism as a career to share my stories and thoughts with others. I appreciate the staff and faculty of Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates, and I would like to thank The Cincinnati Herald for giving me the opportunity to intern for them this summer!

Follow-up note: With help from The Cincinnati Herald, Jada interviewed and was hired for a position at Central State in the Communications Center! Congratulations Jada!

JCG Program recognized for Philanthropy

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative’s Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates Program will be recognized at The National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on November 7 ^th at Music Hall for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy.

National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is a special day set aside to promote philanthropy and recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that are inspiring change through their significant impact on nonprofit organizations. Each day, generous benefactors and volunteers make a difference to people across a spectrum of nonprofit organizations from the arts to education to social services and everything in between. The National Philanthropy Day Luncheon is an annual, signature event at which people representing businesses, nonprofits, philanthropists and volunteers come together to celebrate our vibrant philanthropic community. All nonprofit organizations have the opportunity to participate in our Honoree process by recognizing donors, volunteers and special friends who have made a truly exceptional impact.

Details for the event:  https://www.afpcincinnati.org/2019-national-philanthropy-day/

Out-of-School Youth

Santa Maria helps Na'Kelah obtain

her goal of becoming a STNA/PCA

When Na’Kelah Williams first came to Santa Maria, it was clear that she already had a goal and was determined to reach her goal of completing the State Tested Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (STNA/PCA) PLUS Program at Great Oaks. She was well on her way as she had already completed several of the pre-requisites required for the class before she even started working with her coach. She had also done this as a single mother of a 2-year-old while also 7 months pregnant.

Despite lack of childcare and transportation, Na’Kelah actively participated in activities at Santa Maria Community Services. In March, Na’Kelah completed the Leadership Bootcamp at Santa Maria, which involved an intensive week-long training designed to enhance and discover leadership qualities in the youth. She also participated in a service project with her peers, aiding in trash cleanup of several streets in East Price Hill. At the end of the week, she attended a lunch with a member of city council where she relayed important issues and struggles that she could speak to from her own experience.

Within a few months of completing Leadership Bootcamp and giving birth she began working with her coach to complete all prerequisites in order to take the STNA/PCA PLUS Program. Now a single mother of two, Na’Kelah met with her coach weekly both in the community and at Literacy Center West to complete an ITA application, which was approved within a few weeks, and also secured childcare while she attended classes. Na’Kelah scored very high on the WorkKeys Assessment and is currently in her third week of STNA/PCA Training at Great Oaks. She reports that she is enjoying classes, and while they are a bit harder than she anticipated, she is up for the challenge. Upon completion of the program, she will work with both Great Oaks and her coach to find satisfactory permanent employment. 

Graduates Complete Credential Training

and Interview for New Employment

On August 15 ^th Dohn 22+ teachers and students of the Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant Credential conducted a “smash success” Employer Showcase. Participating employers included Beckett Springs, BrightView, IKRON, New Foundations, Sun Behavioral Health and Talbert House all of which interviewed interested students for which approximately ten students were interviewed and expect to be hired by the end of August.  Starting wages with this credential vary based on prior work performance and experience as well as successful completion of the credential test. In general, Dohn 22+ graduates, upon completion of the credential attainment, are moving from an average of $10 per hour to $16 dollars per average after training. Congrats to the Credential completers!

New Youth Focus with

Cincinnati Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard

On August 19 ^th dozens of youth services providers responded to Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard’s request to meet each other and explore ways to reach more of Cincinnati’s youth to connect them to meaningful experiences and support for their needs and dreams. Thanks to Crossroads exceptional meeting space, after introductory remarks by Councilwoman Dennard, participants divided into smaller groups in separate rooms to explore ways each organization could partner with others to expand opportunities for youth in our community. All groups reconvened in the central meeting room with enthusiasm for collaborating to serve young people and explore the need for a Youth Department of the City of Cincinnati.

L eft to right:  Delano M. White, STEMulates; Greg Walker, Youth & Teen Services at the Cincinnati Recreation Commission; Caitlin Burke, Women Helping Women; Tiffany Stewart, Cincinnati Recreation Commission; Vestal Simms, Talbert House; Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard; Andy Buechel, Lighthouse Youth & Family Services; Shawn Jeffers, youth at the center; Sherry Kelley Marshall, SWORWIB; and Officer Eddie Hawkins, Cincinnati Police Department.

Emerging Workforce Committee (EWC)

& Youth Provider Roundtable (YPR)

Recognized for Their Service

At the August 8, 2019 Quarterly Board Meeting, members of the Emerging Workforce Council and Youth Providers Roundtable were recognized for their service over the years on these SWORWIB Committees and in particular, our most recent co-chairs, Chris Fridel, IBEW and Margaret Fox, MARCC. President Marshall provided a short history of SWORWIB youth services and committees since 2007 noting that such a committee was no longer required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, yet the SWORWIB felt the focus on Emerging Workforce was critical. As Governor Kasich advanced the Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program (CCMEP) and SWORWIB youth contractors merged into the broader CCMEP agenda, training, increased funds access and new initiatives, Marshall recognized that the SWORWIB youth contractors needed a full blending into the CCMEP system and could capture more service hours with the sunset of these two youth-related committees. Additionally, the SWORWIB could deploy the available time on the grant-critical Opioid Crisis Grant Council as well as the recently formed Regional Library Partnership Council developed in the course of the Southwest Ohio Regional WIOA Strategic Planning process. Consequently, the SWORWIB officers concurred with Marshall’s recommendation to sunset the two committees during the WIOA/TANF combined funding and efforts under CCMEP.

A complete listing of all those involved over the years was included in the board packet (and provided here as an attachment). Those who responded to Pat Bready’s invitations were recognized and awarded a SWORWIB Star for their service, support and contributions over the years. 

The SWORWIB is thankful to all our Committee members for their investment of time, talent and energy in service to all of our customers.

From the left to right:  Pat Bready, Michael Beck, Sean Stanbro, Brandy Porter, Erika Fears, Sherry Kelley Marshall, Chris Fridel, Harry Synder, Tyrone Stuckey, Leta White, Jennifer Roeder, someone from Santa Maria, Thanapat Vichitchot, H.A. Musser, Margaret Fox, Paula Brehm-Heeger and Eric Thomas. 

In the News

NAWDP Business Academy

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals conducted a Business Services Academy in Denver, Colorado this August to further develop and train Association members and America’s one-stop center business service representatives to optimally serve employers and assist economic development efforts. The Cincinnati Team of Chris Xeil Lyons, Sharonville’s Economic Development Director and SWORWIB Board Member joined SWORWIB President Sherry Kelley Marshall and the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center before nearly 100 attendees to share their approaches for improving economic development and workforce development partnerships for continuously improving services for employers and communities.  

Toledo Workforce Leaders Visit

SWORWIB August Board Meeting

The SWORWIB was honored, at our August 8 Quarterly Board meeting, with a visit from Tonia Saunders, Director-Lucas County Department of Planning & Development and Executive Director-Lucas County Workforce Development Board and Michael K. Veh, Deputy Director-Lucas County Department of Planning & Development. 

For many years, the SWORWIB has been impressed by the Lucas County Workforce Development Board for collaborating with employers, business organizations and educational groups to advance their community workforce as “Work Ready” through students and workers participation in the ACT National Career Readiness Credential.

Director Saunders and Deputy Director Veh observed the quarterly board meeting, while touring the OMJ Center they expressed jealousy about the OMJ's physical plant and parking. Then they met with OMJ leadership, Board members and President Marshall to explore initiatives already underway in Area 13/Cincinnati-Hamilton County and share each other’s best practices for local implementation. 

Spotlight on Jobs Information

Click on the image for the Report

Published by

Published on August 29, 2019

For those questioning the worth of a college degree, there are some jobs with six-figure salaries that don't require one,  says Money . Most, however, require specialized education after high school. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, the report found that air traffic controllers had the highest salaries, while other high-paying jobs included dental hygienists, nuclear technicians and fuel service managers.  CNBC did a similar report earlier this year  on jobs paying over $79,000 that don't require college.  •  Here’s what people are saying .

Goal4It!™

A Unique Approach To Assisting Out-Of-School Youth, developed by Mathematica and

implemented in Southwest Ohio

 

In this episode, you’ll learn about Goal4 It!, a unique approach for assisting out-of-school youth in the Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program in Ohio WIOA Area #13 under the SWORWIB’s leadership. Hosts describe details of the approach, why it was developed and lessons learned.

What is Goal4 It! ?

What is Goal4 It! Pro?

CCMEP Fact Sheet

Click on the images for more information

Contact: Sherry Kelley Marshall

President & CEO

[email protected]