 The annual Step Up Kick Off event was convened virtually on February 25. One of the true highlights of the program was hearing from Step Up alumna Tanavia Harrington (Edison grad!) who was able to set personal goals and gain skills and knowledge she did not know were possible, setting her up for success while she works to complete a Computer Science degree at the University of Minnesota. Her Step Up supervisor, Alex Berger, Project Designer at RSP Architects, highlighted the importance of developing young talent and being involved in the community where we live and work.
We also heard about the generational impact the Step Up Program has had on the Twin Cities business community from Mayor Jacob Frey and Step Up co-chair, Jonathan Weinhagen, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. We heard about how Step Up is a solution to the employment and economic barriers young people of color are facing, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, from Step Up Director Nina Robertson and Step Up Founder, R.T. Rybak, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Minneapolis Foundation.
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km-B6m0W4cc
Women Building Success Virtual Info Expo
On March 11, women interested in careers in the construction trades are invited to join the Women Building Success Virtual Interactive Info Expo from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Guests are invited to a panel discussion, hosted by Apprenticeship Minnesota at the Department of Labor and Industry. Attendees will learn about the earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship model and hear from women in registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades. Representatives from Women Building Success and Building Strong Communities will also discuss their program initiatives which focus in increasing diversity within the building and construction trades. Guests will circulate virtual booths and interact directly with registered apprenticeship program representatives through chat and video interview.
There is no charge to participate in the event; participants join by phone, mobile device or computer with internet access. This event is one in a series of networking, career, and informational opportunities during Women in Construction Week, from March 8-12.
For more information, contact Marie Larson.
Employment and Training Partners of the Year Award 2020
Since 1982, Minneapolis Employment and Training team and the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board have selected partner agencies to receive annual Awards for Outstanding Service in the Youth Programs and the Adult Programs. Eligible agencies are those delivering services to participants in the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training programs.
Partners of the Year are recognized for their great work in assisting Minneapolis residents to develop their academic, life, and work skills; identify career pathways; obtain industry-recognized credentials and achieve meaningful employment. This has been a difficult year full of challenges, yet these partners found ways to reach and serve people with high quality services.
The winners for the 2020 Awards for Outstanding Service were issued to:
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EMERGE Community Development and Urban League Twin Cities for the Adult Programs Partner Awards
- Together, they served more than 115 people, more than 90% of whom were from communities of color and were low-income. They assisted 31 jobs seekers in becoming Certified Nursing Assistants or earning their Commercial Driver’s License. They helped 52 people secure employment with an average wage gain of more than $15.00 per hour.
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Hired for the Young Adult Programs Partner Award
- In its second year, Journey Forward, a program of Hired that serves 67 gang and cliqued involved youth in the City of Minneapolis, is making a huge impact by focusing on barrier elimination.
We are pleased to recognize our partners. Congratulations to all of them!
 In January, EMERGE Community Development was recognized as a Minneapolis Employment and Training Adult Program Partner of the Year. EMERGE has a long history of serving job seekers with a focus on north Minneapolis, but their services extend throughout the City. In 2017, EMERGE began offering services at the newly launched Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center.
EMERGE has continued to serve community during COVID and quickly adapted to offer job seekers displaced during the pandemic the support and serviced needed to stabilize and reenter the workforce. A few examples of their work include:
- Added new website features including live chat, online forms, and quick access to staff working remotely.
- Distributed over 400 laptops to participants to increase access to services, training, and job search tools.
- Erected tents to offer safe, in-person services at the North and Cedar Riverside locations.
- Supported youth interns who organized and led food drives and food distribution events.
- Adapted Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), construction, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training to be accessible and offered online.
More information on EMERGE’s employment services can be found here
 Apply for a Dual Training Grant
Applications for Dual Training Grants to help pay for costs related to dual-training programs are now being accepted. Companies and organizations can apply for up to $150,000 and may receive up to $6,000 per employee each year for their education. Over $2 million will be available in this 10th round of funding.
The grant program is a partnership between Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Applications are accepted through April 16, 2021. Apply and learn more.
 Labor Market Information Update: Metro Region
DEED's Data Center:
Minnesota DEED Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/mndeed
CareerForce Twitter Feed:https://twitter.com/careerforcemn
Minneapolis Workforce Development Board Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Virtual Meeting
Members and Guests—due to the Covid-19 public health emergency, the meeting will be held remotely. Meeting information is available on the City’s Boards and Commissions calendar via the link below. The public is welcome to listen to the meeting. Guests will be muted. Member attendance and all actions will require a roll call vote. Agenda will be sent to members in advance and available online at least 24 hours before the meeting. https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Calendar/all/monthly
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Find past issues of the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board News >>here
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