Happy Workforce Wednesday!
Here’s the roundup for this week — please add anything we missed by using the “comments” field.
- One of the biggest topics of discussion and a really exciting development in the national fight against unemployment was the release of the Democrats new workforce bill. The Workforce Investment Act of 2013 will improve the nation’s workforce investment infrastructure, focusing on finding workers jobs and careers through strategic partnerships with in-demand sector employers, community colleges, labor organizations, and non-profits.
Be sure to stay tuned for updates regarding this bill!
Workforce in the News
- High School Students March for Jobs (Brian Ballou, The Boston Globe, February 21st)
- Thomas Edison State College Pioneers Alternative Paths (Tamar Lewin, The New York Times, February 24th)
- Graduation Rates Should Drive New Community College Presidents (Lawrence Harmon, The Boston Globe, February 16th)
- Solution Found for Long Term Unemployment
Research and Reports
- Reforming Student Aid: How to Simplify Tax Aid and Use Performance Metrics to Improve College Choices and Completion (Center on Postsecondary and Economic Success, CLASP, February 2013)
- Pell Grants on Solid Ground for Now – Let’s Keep it That Way (Julie Strawn, Marcie Foster, CLASP.org, February 2013)
- Career Pathways: Take the Next Step Toward Quality and Scale (Vicki Choitz, Marcie W.M Foster, Patrick Reimherr, CLASP, February 2013)
- Home Economics: A Discussion about the Unregulated World of Domestic Work (The Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative)
Tools and Resources
- Training Opportunity: Online Learning Readiness at Boston Neighborhood Network: Free workforce readiness training program geared at helping unemployed and underemployed residents gain new skills to impress future employers. To schedule an assessment, applicants should email ollr@bnntv.org with their complete mailing address and phone number.
- VIDEO: “In Search of the Skilled Worker: Finding, Training and Placing Workers in the Skilled Trades” First in a series of roundtables and webinars – Partnerships and Practice
- ETA “Mobilizes” Its Job Search Tools: The ETA’s most popular online tools will now be available as a mobile-optimized website.
- GED Test Series to Go All Digital (Workforc3 One Newsletter)
- Labor Market Information Resources include six new podcasts that help you identify and use workforce statistics. The ETA also issued all of the products that were funded by the ARRA’s State Labor Market Information Improvement Grants. Follow the link to view the catalogue of all participating state products, evaluations, practitioner briefs, a Webinar, and podcasts.
- The Census Bureau has released an Economic Indicator Mobile App, “America’s Economy“
- Innovative Technology Pilot Project: Mobile Apps (World Education’s National College Transition Network) The project goal is to develop and pilot two apps (for use on standard feature phones and smart phones) that accelerate learning of academic and health career related vocabulary and concepts for adults preparing to enter post-secondary education and technical training.
- CAEL Alert: Working Learners and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, January 2013)
Funding Opportunities
- Pathways out of Poverty Grant Program – Massachusetts Clean Energy Center: This grant program supports job training programs directed toward the clean energy industry that move training participants towards financial self-sufficiency.
- Stand Down Grants: These grants provide an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into society.
Upcoming Events
- April 5, 2013: Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education Network Conference (MCAE)
- April 9, 2013: Coaching for College and Career Workshop (The Boston Foundation)
- May 9, 2013: Commonwealth Workforce Coalition 10th Annual Conference
Filed under: Weekly Roundup
