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Gov. Mark Dayton issued a $100 million edict to legislators, laying out
a legislative agenda aimed at ensuring racial equity. His proposals, if
enacted, would provide one-time infusions of capital into business-development
programs, youth employment initiatives, and down-payment assistance for
lower-income first-time home buyers. He also wants more funding for the
Department of Human Rights, a state agency that investigates complaints of
discrimination in workplaces.
A census report showing a rise in black poverty increased urgency for
Dayton’s initiatives.
In the months leading up to the unveiling of Dayton’s racial equity
agenda, the governor’s office sought input on proposals from community groups
such as the Minneapolis NAACP, Northside Funders Group, and Neighborhoods
Organizing for Change, a north Minneapolis nonprofit. Dayton said it’s
important for minority groups to have input on proposals.
Senate and House members are working to craft their own proposals. Of
the $100 million Dayton has proposed for racial equity, nearly $34 million has
been left to be divvied up by legislators.
Read
the whole story.
The Urban Institute has released a new research brief intended as a primer
on local workforce systems. Local workforce systems prepare individuals for successful careers and
connect skilled workers with employers, helping to spark sustainable local
economic growth.
In “Understanding Local Workforce Systems,” the authors offer the first
ever framework for local workforce systems that
- defines the local
workforce system
- provides an overview
of populations served and key actors involved
- describes the range
of functions performed
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offers potential
strategies for addressing local workforce issues
The passage of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act in 2014 marks a
new emphasis on workforce strategies that emphasize strong partnerships with
many stakeholders that help strengthen local systems. Understanding local
workforce systems and these frameworks will become important for your community
when WIOA moves toward full implementation this summer.
Learn more about local workforce systems here.
This year, STEP-UP invited 3,447 young people to work readiness
training certified by the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. This number
represents every STEP-UP applicant who was eligible to participate in the
program. Youth that successfully complete work readiness training will be
eligible to be matched with STEP-UP jobs.
Trainings are being held at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
on Saturdays from late February to mid-April.
Youth are placed in training based on their age and level of work
experience.
- The most work ready youth, mostly age 16 and above with some previous
work experience, spend five hours in the classroom followed by a mock interview
with a business professional.
- Middle level youth attend ten hours of classroom training along with a
mock interview.
- The youngest youth, and those with no previous work experience, spend
twelve hours in the classroom, learning via hands-on activities and
presentations by business professionals and older STEP-UP interns.
The current job recruitment goals for 2016 are: 750 at the STEP-UP
Achieve level, 700 with STEP-UP Discover, and 300 in STEP-UP Explore for a
total of nearly 1,750 positions.
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City of Minneapolis Employment and Training has announced that EMERGE
Community Development and American
Indian OIC, in partnership with Little Earth of United Tribes, have been
selected to provide the BUILD Leaders program to disenfranchised 18-24 year old
Minneapolis residents via a cohort model beginning April 1.
BUILD is an equity focused youth violence prevention model that focuses
on violence prevention/intervention, youth development, and coalition building.
Participants will receive paid training in facilitation, leadership, and job
skills to deliver the BUILD violence prevention curriculum to youth 9-12 years
old.
EMERGE will provide services to the North Minneapolis African American
community and American Indian OIC, in partnership with Little Earth of United
Tribes, will provide services to the South Minneapolis American Indian
community.
Minneapolis Employment and Training was funded $360,000 through the
City's budget process to administer BUILD Leaders.
The Cedar-Riverside Opportunity Center, planned to open later this
year, is aimed at increasing job skills and connecting the neighborhood’s East
African communities to various employment opportunities. The center will offer
one-stop shopping, where residents will have access to everything from
on-site hiring recruiters to counselors to assist with attaining career credentials. A
focus of the center will be on young people between the ages of 18-24, some of
the community’s most vulnerable residents according to Mohamed Jama, Cedar-Riverside
Youth Council founder and director.
The center will also feature a community library and will provide employers
with opportunities to recruit candidates and host on-site job interviews.
Minneapolis
Technical and Community College will have a space where the school can
give information and counseling services to prospective students. The University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, Augsburg College
and St. Catherine University will also offer career training and mentoring
services at the center.
EMERGE Community
Development which currently operates workforce and IT training programs in the
neighborhood — is poised to oversee the center’s day-to-day activities.
The 2016 City of Minneapolis Budget committed $100,000 to this effort.
Learn more about the center in this MINNPOST story.
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