|
An Agenda for
Equity: Examining How Sector Initiatives Can Serve Immigrant and Communities
of Color
NNSP recognizes that sector strategies can be powerful tool in addressing
economic disparity within communities of color. NNSP is currently developing
relationships with ethnic and racial community organizations that have a
focus on workforce development. Last summer, NNSP presented with the Unity
Council at the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) national conference in
Los Angeles and partnered with NCLR to deliver sector training to NCLR’s
workforce affiliates. NNSP is further exploring opportunities to work with
African American, Asian American, and Native American community groups to
document ethnic/racially specific program models and to work with community
groups to utilize the sector approach.
Strengthening Community
Colleges through Sector Strategies
Sector Strategies are emerging as a model for community colleges. The
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has placed an emphasis on
sector strategies and is currently creating opportunities for its members to
learn and implement sector strategies. NNSP recently collaborated AACC and
the National Council on Education and the Economy to develop a training
module for workforce professionals in community colleges. AACC is currently
piloting a sector institute in four Midwestern states and has delivered the
training module in Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana. NNSP will continue
to explore how it can work more closely with AACC to strengthen community
colleges capacity to implement sector initiatives.
Expansion of Funding
Collaboratives in California
NNSP’s has been working to expand regional workforce funding collaboratives
in California. Building upon the successful example provided by the Bay Area
Workforce Funding Collaborative (BAWFC), the state of California set aside
up to $3.9 million of matching funding to expand the funding collaborative
model. BAWFC received a commitment of $1.2 million for early 2007 grant
awards. Based on NNSP’s involvement which helped to establish the BAWFC, we
have been asked to work with the State, the California Endowment, San
Diego’s Workforce Partnership, the California Community Foundation, United
Way of Los Angeles, and others to assist in developing additional
collaboratives in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Los Angeles, and San
Diego.
Strategic Venture
Grantees
NNSP awards Strategic Venture Grants regularly to help NNSP affiliates build
the cutting edge of the sector field. This year’s grant making focused on
state policy, improving low wage industries, and expanding the role of
community colleges in sector strategies.
Below are descriptions of each of the projects that received funding. For
more information about the Strategic Venture Grant Program, contact Dexter
Ligot-Gordon at dexter@nedlc.org.
Bay Area Retail Industry Project, Jewish Vocational
Service
JVS is working with Goodwill Industries, San Francisco Mission Hiring Hall,
and Macy’s to create a regional sector initiative to build career paths in
the retail industry. Their grant will be used for industry analysis and
planning for the initiative.
Mississippi Community Based Allied Health Education
Partnership, Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative
The Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, an affiliate of Children’s
Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office, is leading an initiative to create
allied health career paths that are centered in Mississippi community
colleges. Their grant is supporting the planning and partnership development
to launch the initiative.
Ohio Sector Strategies Group, WIRE-Net
WIRE-Net was funded to assist in grassroots advocacy to achieve policy
change that strengthens state support for sector initiatives.
Expanding Career Pathways in Arkansas, Southern
Good Faith Fund
The Southern Good Faith Fund has continued to play a leadership role in
shaping policy in Arkansas to support sector initiatives. They were awarded
a grant to work as member of a gubernatorially appointed team to expand
sector strategies in the state. The team is exploring creating new career
pathway programs to support the auto industry in the delta region.
New Models to Improve Low-wage Jobs, Wisconsin
Regional Training Program (WRTP)
WRTP was awarded a grant to hold a forum to examine Preferred Employer
Organizations, social enterprises that improve job quality for low-wage
workers. The forum will engage experts in California, Pennsylvania, and
Wisconsin.
|
|