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June 2022
The Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) of Ramsey County is founded on the belief that everyone who wants to work deserves the dignity of having meaningful career choices. The WIB stands firmly in this belief and is committed to supporting and leveraging the partnerships that make our local workforce ecosystem so robust.
This month's newsletter highlights just some of the partnerships, resources and activities happening in June collaboration with our community partners. Thanks to the many partners working on behalf of our residents. Together we can ensure that everyone has a pathway to opportunity.
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 Pictured L to R: Ling Becker, Scott Herold, Peg Thomas, Jenny Moore, Commissioner Jim McDonough
The three recipients of the 2022 Vern Vick Memorial Award were recognized at the June 2 WIB meeting. Scott Herold, Business of Music Facilitator at High School for Recording Arts, Jenny Moore, Career Pathways Coordinator at White Bear Lake Area High School, and Peg Thomas, Executive Director of the Sundance Family Foundation, were chosen as this year's honorees for their exceptional contributions to the support and empowerment of Ramsey County’s youth through personal, academic or career development.
“The WIB is so proud to honor such impactful individuals making a difference for young people in our community," said Ling Becker. "Each of our 2022 Vern Vick winners brings unique passion to the work. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that young people have access to resources to achieve their potential and each are exceptional at leading within our local workforce system to ensure stronger and deeper connections are being made between schools, government and industry.
Paul Nikstad, Chair of the WIB’s Youth Committee, said, “We could not have asked for a more deserving group of recipients this year. Scott, Jenny and Peg are doing such amazing and transformational work with our young people. Their dedication and willingness to go above and beyond is having deep and meaningful impacts on so many lives. On behalf of the Youth Committee, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to each of them."
The Vern Vick Award is dedicated to the memory of Vern Vick, a widely respected member of his community, an inspirational leader and role model in the field of youth development. Throughout his life, Vern dedicated himself to working with and improving the lives of Ramsey County’s youth through his long-term involvement in education as well as his participant in organizations and activities designed to develop the full potential of our county’s youth.
 The COVID-19 pandemic brought new stress points and intensified existing issues for families across the nation. Significant complex issues like unstable housing situations, employment crises and challenging educational environments emerged, further limiting the ability of families to step out of constraints of insufficient financial means.
A collaborative partnership of community organizations has come together under one Ramsey County initiative called YouthWorks! to address these issues.
“Our viewpoint is to bring forward support to the families and youth of the area,” said Mary Sue Hansen, Executive Director of Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative, one of the YouthWorks! partners. “There are so many organizations with people wanting to serve the community and YouthWorks! is an excellent initiative to help everyone work better together to deal with the community’s emerging needs.”
Read the full article here.
Looking for free or low cost community based training programs in our area? Are you a local training provider interested in connecting with individuals looking for short-term education opportunities? Be sure to check out the online training dashboard on the Ramsey County Means Business website. The dashboard contains over 80 local training programs in a wide range of in-demand industry sectors. Training providers can use the new submission form to add their training programs to the dashboard.
Visit the Workforce Training Dashboard to learn more about how Ramsey County is connecting residents to the training programs needed for them to start or advance in their career.
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Ramsey County in partnership with Think Small launches a new Early Childhood Academy, which will provide incentives and support services to attract and retain child care programs. This three-year, $750,000 initiative is a part of the Ramsey County Investment and Support Efforts program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Ramsey County, and all of Minnesota, has long experienced a serious shortage of quality child care programs, but the problem escalated into a crisis during the pandemic. In an effort unlike any in the country, Ramsey County’s Early Childhood Academy will offer an array of new incentives and support services to increase the number of quality child care programs including:
- Workforce Retention: The Academy will provide bonuses of $1,000 per year and at least 16 hours of free professional development training to help existing participants keep their doors open to area families.
- Early Educator Recruitment: The Academy will recruit child care educators in the neighborhoods most affected by the child care crisis and provide interested residents with at least 16 hours of free training of their choosing, and 120 hours of free training that is required to achieve a Child Development Associate credential.
- New Business Start-Up: The Academy will offer a Build Your Own program that:
- Helps participants through the child care start-up process.
- Provides advice about how to locate or retrofit space.
- Matches start-up child care providers with experienced mentors who currently operate high-quality programs.
- Provides compensation to new child care providers to apply their learned skills while getting feedback in the early stages.
- Supplies training in health, safety and kindergarten-readiness best practices associated with state licensure and a Parent Aware Rating.
Read the full article here.
 The Inclusive Workplaces Cohort supports 17 local employers in becoming more inclusive workplaces to amplify the diversity of our community as a tool for economic growth. These selected Ramsey County employers are participating in a 10-month peer learning cohort while advancing equity and inclusion in their organizations. Each of the employers has made a commitment of executive leadership participation with an agreement to bring about tangible action or policy changes to their organizations. The WIB is happy to feature two participating organizations each month. This month, we are spotlighting the Minnesota Credit Union Network and Paul Davis Restoration.
Members of the Workforce Innovation Board are key decision makers within their organizations and experts in the workforce arena appointed by either the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners or the Saint Paul City Council.
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners recently appointed Pamela Maldonado, Director of Financial Opportunities Programs at Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties.
Welcome, Pamela! We look forward to leveraging your skills and experience to advance the WIB's mission and goals.
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The WIB is currently accepting applications for Business and Community Based Organization members. Take your place in joining with other community leaders engaged in supporting a more inclusive Ramsey County economy. As a member of the WIB, you can IMPACT workforce initiatives in our community that ensure businesses have the talent they need and residents have access to opportunity and prosperity.
Learn more about WIB membership here or contact Becky Milbrandt with questions about the application process and eligibility requirements.
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