Governor's Workforce Development Board
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
The Governor's Workforce Development Board Executive Director, Mike DiGiacomo, recently spoke on a panel at the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Neurodiversity in the Workplace conference. Joining Mike on the panel was Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz and Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol Beatty, with moderator Dr. Nancy Grasmick, a former Maryland State Superintendent of Schools.
Panelists discussed the state of employment in Maryland and building a neurodiverse talent pipeline and workforce. Mike highlighted the success of the Benchmarks of Success interagency collaboration as a holistic approach to deliver customized services to support Maryland jobseekers.
 Pictured from left to right: Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Secretary Carol Beatty, Executive Director Mike DiGiacomo, and Secretary Kelly Schulz.
Board Member Wins Entrepreneur of the Year
The Governor's Workforce Development Board (GWDB) member Veronica Cool was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by LATINA Style, Inc. LATINA Style, Inc. is the premier company addressing the needs of professional Latinas in the US. Ms. Cool, CEO & Hispanic Strategist of Cool & Associates, was recognized for her community service, leadership, vision, and for being a role model for women. Cool & Associates is a full-service management consulting firm that brings Hispanic strategy, workforce development, education, marketing, and outreach to the forefront of any organization.
 Veronica Cool receiving her "Entrepreneur of the Year Award" from LATINA Style, Inc.
Labor and Industry
Belarusian Delegation Visits Maryland Occupational Safety and Health
Earlier in November, Commissioner Matthew Helminiak from Labor & Industry and a team from MOSH welcomed a delegation from Belarus to MOSH. During the visit, management from MOSH provided information about the agency's workplace safety and health policies and procedures. They also talked about their outreach efforts to reduce injuries and illnesses through the various educational programs. The highlight of the visit was tour of the MOSH training lab.
 Team Labor sharing best practices with the Belarus delegation.
 The Belarus delegation touring the MOSH training facility.
Maryland Racing Commission
Congratulations to Doreen Piquett for 45 Years!
Congratulations to Doreen Piquett from the Maryland Racing Commission for receiving a certificate from Executive Director Mike Hopkins in recognition of her 45 years of service with the State of Maryland!
All of Doreen's colleagues rave about her kindness, work ethic, and willingness to help anyone who calls. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the people of Maryland, Doreen!
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Workforce Development and Adult Learning
Grand Re-Opening of the Wheaton American Job Center
DWDAL Assistant Secretary Jim Rzepkowski joined numerous elected officials and WorkSource Montgomery for a grand re-opening ceremony of the Wheaton American Job Center. This American Job Center will continue providing the same fantastic services to job seekers and businesses, but will be in a new and improved location. Very exciting!
 Pictured from left to right: DWDAL Assistant Secretary Jim Rzepkowski, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, WorkSource Montgomery Board Chair Ted Rose, Councilmember Hans Riemer, and WorkSource Montgomery CEO Ellie Giles.
 Assistant Secretary Rzepkowski addressing the crowd at the grand re-opening ceremony.
Division of Rehabilitation Services's 90th Anniversary and Graduation Celebration
DWDAL Assistant Secretary Jim Rzepkowski and Deputy Assistant Secretary Erin Roth attended an event held by the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS). This event was held to celebrate DORS' 90th Anniversary and the graduates who either successfully completed a workforce training program or earned their Maryland High School diploma. They also presented an award to a Registered Apprentice who graduated from DORS' programs to celebrate his success as an apprentice with CVS. Congrats!
 Assistant State Superintendent Scott Dennis addressing the crowd.
Fair Practices
Native American Heritage Month
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose. Native American Heritage Month has been traditionally identified to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and the vast array of contributions made to our country by the various Native American tribes in the U.S.
Native American Heritage Day, as we in MD celebrate, is a civil holiday observed on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. This year that falls on Friday, November 29. Maryland established this day in 2008 under the name American Indian Heritage Day. The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York.
One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.
In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since 1994.
Maryland Charity Campaign
Donations to Date
As of November 21, the Maryland Department of Labor has raised $33,426, which is 54.41% of our $61,430 goal! We are more than half way there! The State of Maryland has raised $1,165,482, which is 41.62% of the $2.8 million goal!
Krispy Kreme Donut Fundraiser
DWDAL sold Krispy Kreme donuts at Eutaw Street to raise money for the Maryland Charity Campaign. YUM!
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