 ID: A photo with narrow depth of frame shows people sitting at a conference table looking up and listening to a presenter – who is out of the frame. (L to R) Anne Mersereau and KS Venkatraman.
Workforce and Talent Development Board
2023-2025 Recommendations Sent to Governor's Office
The Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) hosted a successful Oregon Talent Summit on May 14-15, 2024, at the Salem Convention Center. Over 400 business, workforce, community-based organization, education, and economic development leaders convened to hear about and discuss the implications of critical workforce and education trends, challenges, and opportunities. One of the key learning sessions was regarding the 2024 Oregon Talent Assessment.
“The 2024 Oregon Talent Assessment presents analysis and findings on Oregon’s economic and workforce landscape; skills supply and demand for target occupations; and the competitive position of Oregon’s talent pool and workforce development system. Overall, this analysis finds that Oregon’s workforce system benefits from a large network of partners, effective and scalable employer-led training, and significant state investments. Lack of a strong coordinating authority, burdensome licensure processes, fewer workforce development opportunities in rural communities, and evidence of credential bias threaten future prosperity for Oregon’s workers and businesses.” – from the Assessment
The Assessment’s 18 recommendations were voted on and prioritized by the participants at the Talent Summit. These recommendations were included in a letter to Governor Tina Kotek and the Governor’s Office Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Administration, Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Oregon Senate President, Chair and Vice Chair of Higher Education Coordinating Commission from the Chair, Vice, Chair, and Immediate Past Chair of the WTDB on June 4, 2024. The highest-ranking priorities from the Talent Summit participants are:
- Promote greater engagement and collaboration between K-12, higher education, other local workforce development partners, and industry.
- Implement strategies to increase affordable housing supply, including incentives for developers, rent control measures, and investment in low-income housing projects.
- Develop policies and initiatives to increase access to affordable childcare, including subsidies for low-income families and support for childcare providers to expand capacity.
- Reinforce the WTDB as Oregon’s centralized workforce authority that sets the vision, goals, and strategies for workforce development across the state and has the authority to hold multiple state, regional, and local level agencies accountable.
- Advocate for policies to improve wages for childcare workers, including increasing public funding for childcare subsidies, employer-provided childcare incentives, and professional development programs.
The letter provides essential context regarding the WTDB, the 2023-2024 WTDB Strategic Plan, and the 2023-2025 Joint Priorities. The priorities above reenforce the WTDB’s vision of equitable prosperity for all Oregonians and the WTDB’s commitment to “foster and sustain high quality, rewarding pathways to opportunity and success for all Oregonians through an accessible, affordable, equitable and coordinated network for educational achievement beyond high school.” – from the letter
 ID: A young crew composed of seven people stand together for a group photo. Some are wearing their personal protective equipment as well as jackets for the cold.
Oregon Youth Works
Oregon Conservation Corps Request for Applications Opens November 1, 2024
Oregon Conservation Corps has released a Request for Applications for the 2025-2027 biennium. Funding for the grant program is still to-be-determined by the Legislature and/or Governor’s Office. Since its inception, Oregon Conservation Corps-funded partners have trained over 800 program participants and treated nearly 7,000 acres of public and private property over 790 worksites. Youth participants have been hired by local fire districts, Oregon Department of Forestry, private fire-fighting crews, US Forest Service, and more.
 ID: A group of eight people standing and smiling in front of a colorful mural depicting children playing soccer, seniors engaging in activities, and scenic views of a mountain landscape. (Back, L to R) Anay Aceves-Martinez, AmeriCorps member, Amy Corbett, Chief Program Officer, Senator Jeff Merkley, Carie Bauer, Director, OregonServes Commission, Brittani Holland, AmeriCorps Program Coordinator, Mark Oliver, Portland Electric Ways to Work Coordinator. (Front, L to R) Judy Strand, Chief Executive Officer, MFS, Sandra Jones, Director of Program Collaborations.
OregonServes Commission
OregonServes Commission and Metropolitan Family Service Collaborate to Highlight AmeriCorps and Electric Vehicle Initiatives During Visit with Senator Merkley.
Oregon boasts a dynamic network of programs that tackle critical environmental issues and provide a pathway for a strong workforce for the future. OregonServes, the state's AmeriCorps commission, and coordinator of the American Climate Corps initiative in Oregon, recently had the opportunity to partner with Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) to highlight their innovative efforts in this sector, during a recent visit by Senator Jeff Merkley.
Innovative Transportation Solutions at MFS
From their Gresham office, with a clear view of Mt. Hood, MFS discussed their innovative program, Portland Electric Ways to Work, with Senator Merkley and his team. This project, in collaboration with the Portland Clean Energy Fund and Forth, increases access to electric and hybrid vehicles and e-bikes for low-income and credit-challenged individuals who identify as being from an historically underserved community. AmeriCorps members serving with MFS help eligible participants get loans, rebates, and credits to make these vehicles more affordable.
Benefits of the Climate Corps Program
An example of an impactful Climate Corps program, the benefits are many: individuals gain access to a more cost-effective form of transportation, the environment benefits from less carbon emissions, and AmeriCorps members develop valuable skills and resources during their service, including professional development, applicable certifications and credentials, team-building and networking, health insurance, help with child-care costs, a monthly living allowance, and at the end of their term, an Eli Segal Education Award that can be used to pay off student loans or enroll in college courses.
Metropolitan Family Service Impact
Led by CEO Judy Strand, MFS has operated for 74 years and employs 250 staff members. Annually, they serve over 24,000 community members in the metro area, including youth, adults, and seniors—over 70% of whom are Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color. MFS helps people affected by poverty, inequity, and social isolation, by providing support for early childhood education, economic empowerment, hunger relief, community connections, and free tax preparation, having distributed over a million pounds of food and assisted 3,000 children with academic support annually. In 2023 alone, their free tax preparation program returned $17 million to individuals.
Learn More and Get Involved
OregonServes is the state service commission in Oregon for national service, volunteerism, and civic engagement. A nonpartisan entity, OregonServes operates out of the Office of Workforce Investments, located within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
OregonServes Planning Grants Selected
OregonServes staff have notified the following organizations of planning grant awards resulting from their recent grant competition. We are currently in the agreement process with each of these organizations.
Linfield University - $75,000
Location: McMinnville, Oregon
Linfield University is increasing resources and programs that serve veterans, members of military families, and economically disadvantaged students obtaining a four-year college degree. AmeriCorps members will provide college navigation and service-learning support, benefiting from on-the-job training and experience in student affairs within a university setting.
St. Vincent de Paul Redmond - $50,000
Location: Redmond, Oregon
SVDP Redmond is dedicated to supporting unhoused and at-risk community members through Housing Support Programs. AmeriCorps members will assist with case management, direct support, and educational workshops.
St. Vincent de Paul La Pine - 50,000
Location: La Pine, Oregon
SVDP La Pine is expanding wraparound services for mentorship and support for those experiencing homelessness, unemployment, low income, single parenting, and other crises. AmeriCorps members will serve as mentors and assist with resource navigation.
Heart of Oregon Corps - $104,299
Location: Bend, Oregon
Heart of Oregon Corps, Jefferson County, is expanding the local Food Heroes Program. AmeriCorps members will support the growing, collection, stocking, and distribution of nutritious food, improving access to fresh food in the region.
The Stronghold - for $75,000
Location: Chiloquin, Oregon
The Stronghold is developing a community-based approach to combat mental health and substance abuse crises disproportionately impacting Indigenous populations and other community members in Southern Oregon and Northern California. AmeriCorps members will provide culturally sensitive peer support, case management, and community outreach to improve access to services.
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