Members of AIOIC's employment
services team: Don Clark, Dawn Paro, Vala Monroe, and Shirleen Blue
American Indian OIC (AIOIC) has
been a partner of Minneapolis Employment and Training since the early 90's.
Through Minneapolis Employment and Training, AIOIC is able to offer
individualized career support services to Minneapolis residents over the age of
14. A team of eight employment services staff provide participants with
assistance developing employment plans and résumés, connecting to personal
resources, searching and applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, procuring
professional clothing, and retaining and advancing employment.
Programs and services offered on AIOIC’s campus include:
- Takoda Institute of Higher Education- The Takoda Institute is a career
college that offers six to nine month accredited training for the occupations
of Health Information Specialist, Computer Support Specialist, and
Administrative Professional. Students complete industry-guided coursework
followed by practicum experiences with business partners or Takoda-operated
enterprises. The Takoda Institute is also a partner in the Minneapolis Saint Paul TechHire initiative.
- Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED Program- AIOIC is a Minnesota
Department of Education consortia provider of ABE and GED services. Students
receive individual and group instruction from licensed teachers to complete GED
coursework and exams and prepare for college entrance.
- Opportunity Center- Any jobseeker can utilize the organization’s public
computer lab for their job search on a drop-in basis. Participants can also
take part in complementary education programs like digital and financial
literacy courses.
- Takoda Prep- Takoda Prep is a Minneapolis Public Schools alternative
high school that provides culturally-infused secondary education to students
ages 14-21 who are at-risk of not completing high school. Takoda Prep
emphasizes rapid credit recovery so students can attain their diploma and move
on to higher education or meaningful employment.
Unique to AIOIC’s programming is its integration with Native American
culture and staff’s knowledge of culturally-specific resources to address the
unique needs of their Native participants. Although AOIC was founded to serve
individuals of Native descent, most of its programs are open to anyone
regardless of race, creed, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Last year over
1,200 individuals utilized its services. Former Secretary of Labor, Hilda
Solis, and former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, have both recognized the
organization’s excellence during visits to its campus.
Learn more about AIOIC’s programs, connect to employers, and enjoy a
free lunch at its annual Founders’ Day Celebration and Career Fair on Thursday,
May 19 from noon-3pm. Find more information here.
Read the recent Star Tribune article
“Takoda Institute plays key role in bolstering minority IT workers”.
Fairview
Health Services has been recognized by the White
House as one of seven founding communities taking part in the Health Career
Pathways initiative, which helps create ladders of opportunity in health care
careers. The White House shared Fairview's commitment to offer 170 new nursing
apprenticeships and hire and offer paid student internships to up to 200
low-income workers and students, in partnership with the Minneapolis Workforce Council, HealthForce Minnesota, and Minnesota higher education institutions. Link
On, Monday, April 11, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy
Hodges welcomed 20 excited students starting their first day of an
eight week, intensive tech training run by Creating IT
Futures Foundation – IT Ready
at EMERGE in North Minneapolis. The
training is a free, women-only class offered as a part of the Minneapolis
Saint Paul TechHire (MSP
TechHire) initiative.
To close the
workforce skills gap in the high-tech economy, the MSP TechHire initiative
enables diverse workers to access training, support and tech jobs across the
Greater Minneapolis Region. In the IT-Ready program, students learn the
breakdown of computers and hardware that will enable them to build their own
desktop computer, how to set up computer networks and troubleshoot operating
systems, as well as a number of other skills needed to get an entry-level job
in the field of information technology. Students take the CompTIA A+
Certification exam upon completing the class which covers desktop and help-desk
technical support duties and skills.
The IT-Ready
women’s’ class is funded by City of
Minneapolis Employment and Training, The Minneapolis Foundation Community Action Funds, North Star Fund, the Paul and Mary Reyelts Fund
of The Minneapolis
Foundation, and the
Women’s Endowment Fund, a designated fund of the Minneapolis Jewish
Federation’s Jewish Community
Foundation.
Learn more about MSP Techhire online.
Tony Goze is President and Chief Manager of MAG Mechanical, one of the
many small businesses working on the new Vikings stadium. He is also a Vice
Chair and Board Member of the Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce and
is a member of the Minneapolis Workforce Council.
Goze talks about the challenges facing entrepreneurs in a conversation
with Commissioner Kevin Lindsey that was featured in the MDHR/CTV15 production,
On the Margins - Entrepreneurs (part 2).
See Tony’s interview here.
The City of Minneapolis STEP-UP
Youth Employment Program hosted its
13th annual “mock interviews” at the Minneapolis Convention Center the week of
April 11th. At the event, 1,700 Minneapolis youth preparing for STEP-UP
internships gained real-life interview experience and feedback from over 400
Twin Cities business professionals. The event provided youth with insights on
how to prepare, communicate professionally, dress for, and network during a
real interview.
Many STEP-UP youth consider the mock interview one of the most important
parts of their work readiness training,
allowing them to test out their new skills and learn to relax under stress, all
while receiving constructive feedback from real business professionals.
Prior to the interview, all STEP-UP interns completed 7-14 hours of
work readiness training directed by AchieveMpls and certified by the
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. These trainings focused on
professional communication, problem solving, professionalism, interview skills
and resume writing.
Youth at mock interviews, as well as over 400 middle school STEP-UP
youth who do not attend mock interviews,
are now job-ready and will be placed into position during the month of
May. STEP-UP expects to place over 1,700
youth into paid job experiences this summer.
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City of Minneapolis Employment and Training partnered with Minneapolis
Public Schools (MPS) and Fairview Health Services to allow thirty-two 6th-8th
graders to participate in SCRUBS Camp during Spring Break in April.
Young people enjoyed learning about a wide variety of medical career
options in biomedical engineering, nursing, pet therapy, emergency medical
technology, dentistry, oncology, the surgical field, and more.
The week included a day on the University of Minnesota campus with the
Masonic Cancer Research Center, a day on campus with Minneapolis Community and
Technical College nursing professionals, a day with a surgical simulation lab,
along with many other guest medical professionals that provided experiences for
students.
The student attendance rate for the week was an outstanding 99%! Scrubs Camp for Middle School Youth will be
offered this summer through MPS in three distinct sessions.
On Wednesday, April 13th supporters of R.T. Rybak showed up to First
Avenue to celebrate the release of his book, Pothole
Confidential: My Life as Mayor of Minneapolis. Proceeds from the fun night
of local music, highlights from the book, and book signings were donated to STEP-UP,
the City of Minneapolis youth employment program that Rybak co-founded in
2004 with Richard Davis, U.S. Bancorp Chair, President and CEO.
STEP-UP is a highly successful pairing of the private and public
sectors to train and prepare the future workforce. In his position as
co-founder and co-chair, R.T. Rybak continues to champion the effort to inform
businesses of the value of hiring motivated, diverse, and talented STEP-UP
interns.
Since 2004, the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP program has created over
21,000 meaningful internships for youth, helping young people to gain 21st
century skills, build professional connections, explore career interests, and
begin the path to educational and career success.
R.T. Rybak is currently Executive Director of Generation
Next, a public–private coalition that helps improve academic outcomes for
children of color.
Top Dayton Aide Shawntera Hardy to Lead DEED
Shawntera Hardy will replace DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben, who stepped down April 22 after more than three years at the helm.
Hardy has served as Dayton’s deputy chief of staff since March 2015. Learn more about Hardy.
DEED Names Assistant Commissioner of New Office of Career and
Business Opportunity
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
has named Karen Francois Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Career and
Business Opportunity. The new DEED office was created by Gov. Mark Dayton to
help workers and businesses of color find career paths and business
opportunities in Minnesota. Learn More about Francois.
New Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) President
Selected
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees named
Sharon Pierce president of MCTC effective July 1, 2016. Pierce has served
Howard Community College (Md.) as the vice president for academic affairs since
2010. Read More about Pierce.
Governor Dayton Appoints James C. Burroughs II as Chief Inclusion
Officer for the State
Governor Dayton announced the
appointment of James C. Burroughs II as Chief Inclusion Officer for the State
of Minnesota. Burroughs will oversee the State of Minnesota’s efforts to
ensure: (1) that the state’s workforce reflects the rich diversity of
Minnesota; (2) increasing state contracting opportunities for racially diverse
businesses; and (3) increasing the state’s civic engagement and partnerships
with communities of color and other diverse communities. Learn More about Burroughs.
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