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Message from Julian Alvarez
Commissioner Representing Labor

Spring-Summer 2022 Newsletter

From the desk of Julian Alvarez 

Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2022? Like many Texans across the state, our office has taken the success of 2021 and continued to build upon it! As I've traveled across the state, I have had the tremendous pleasure of meeting many of you in person. I have spoken at your events and shared information about all the impactful initiatives my office has spearheaded as well as the excellent programs at the Texas Workforce Commission!  As we continue to power through the rest of 2022, I would like to touch on the highlights from the first half of this year!

Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) Grants

(South Texas ISD $332,500, Laredo ISD $304,836, Cigarroa ISD $332,500, Santa Maria ISD $291,915, Brownsville ISD $329,060, and Harlingen CISD $332,500)

Photo of Commissioner Alvarez sigining JET Grant.

Congratulations to South Texas, Laredo, Cigarroa, Santa Maria, Brownsville, and Harlingen ISDs on receiving JET grants this spring. I traveled to these school districts to present these awards. I was so impressed with how these districts used these funds to help students connect with in-demand occupations.

The JET program provides grants to eligible entities to purchase and install equipment necessary for the development of career and technical education (CTE) courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.  The way we work and the way we train has evolved so much over the years. 

Photo of Commissioner Alvarez testing new Virtual Reality training equiptment.

This picture illustrates how virtual reality headsets and equipment will be used to train firefighters! JET grants are a great way to help train the next generation of workers while preparing them for in-demand occupations in their local communities. 

To learn more about JET grants https://twc.texas.gov/partners/jobs-education-texans-jet-grant-program

Nursing Apprenticeships

Pictured above March 30, 2022, convening of healthcare systems, higher education partners, Workforce Boards and Board of Nursing representatives.  More than 200 attended this in person convening to begin modeling nursing apprenticeships.

Nursing has been a top demand job posting for the past ten years in Texas, according to TWC’s Labor Market Information group. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted, Texas, along with the rest of the country, is facing a critical shortage of registered nurses. By 2032, it is anticipated Texas will face a deficit of 57,012 registered nurses needed in our labor market.

In February 2022 with the help of my fellow Commissioners, we announced a $15 million initiative to assist in the development of a DOL Registered Apprenticeship program for the healthcare industry to increase the number of registered nurses (RN) and healthcare professionals in the state.

This statewide Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship Initiative will be designed to offer employers an innovative approach to recruitment, retention and training future nurses and healthcare staff by expanding opportunities for students who wish to pursue career pathways to RN certification and other healthcare fields.

This initiative will not only develop nursing and healthcare apprenticeships but design a model which pays student nurses for clinical work.

Photo of Commissioner Julian Alvarez with San Jacinto Chancellor Brenda Hellyer and Associate Vice Chancellor of Continuing & Professional Development, and Sallie Kay Janes who is overseeing the articulation piece of the nursing apprenticeship crosswalks.

“After convening a group of stakeholders, including experts from Baylor Scott & White and DHR Health to discuss their challenges, it became clear we needed to take immediate action to train more healthcare providers and nurses across the state,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Our registered apprenticeship approach to training nurses is one of the most innovative in the country, and we’re thrilled to play a part in creating healthcare career opportunities for Texans.”

For more information on TWC’s Statewide Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship Initiative, visit twc.texas.gov or email ApprenticeshipTexas@twc.texas.gov.

Rural Capital Area Workforce Board Giddings, TX Grand Opening

Outside view of the new Workforce Solutions Center in Giddings, Tx.

Giddings getting an upgrade! Provided with new and advanced resources, residents will now have more services and direct customer training available for the future workforce of Giddings! The Workforce Solutions Center is a community partnership that provides no-cost recruitment, employment, and information services to businesses and job seekers in the nine-county Rural Capital Area.

Currently, Lee County has a population of 17,058 people. 61% of this population participates in the labor force. That is over 10,000 people working in Lee County alone! The three most significant jobs in this workforce are construction, agriculture, and retail. This data proves that Giddings, Tx, has a very hard-working and dedicated workforce.

Over the next year, employment demand is expected to expand in the following fields: Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas Extraction, Construction, Health Care, Social Assistance, Accommodation, and Food Services. Percentages of these industry sectors show that Construction accounts for 24% of the workforce, with Agriculture (15%) and Retail (8%) accounting for the second and third highest industry sectors, respectively. Of these combined services, Lee County had a total GDP of $802 million in 2020.  With Construction alone accounting for $242 million. This new Workforce Solutions Center truly is beginning a new era for Giddings, Tx. With the resources TWC provides, today’s youth in Giddings, Tx, will have advanced resources right in their hometown to help pave the way for their futures!

VEX Robotics & FIRST Robotics RGV Competition

(Dallas, TX & Corpus Christi, TX) 

Photo of Commissioner Julian Alvarez speaking at the podium of the VEX Robotics World Championship.

All students of the VEX Robotics Competition are naturally gifted scientists and engineers. They have a passion for experimentation and the testing of their creations. VEX competitions foster these skills and interests and allow the participants to implement these attributes in a competition setting that will stimulate their minds to compete in STEM-related fields.

VEX competitions are great for developing soft skills, teaching participants how to push the boundaries and limits of STEM-related fields, and teaching them how to become true innovators.

With the support of my fellow Commissioners, we could feature a hearing-impaired team for the first time! This team competed on a global level with all the most intuitive and competitive minds in STEM fields! A perfect example of how STEM fields are becoming more accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds! The VEX Robotics competition, like other robotics competitions, exposes young people to STEM education, which stimulates more significant interest and encouragement to pursue STEM-related careers.

FIRST RGV, INC. is a non-profit working in four of the poorest counties of Texas, prioritizing the inclusion of underserved students. FIRST RGV is the local partner representative for FIRST robotics and promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education using their program, inspiring millions of students worldwide. FIRST RGV, INC. was founded in October 2015. It has seen significant growth in its programs year over year and is projected to become the fastest-growing STEM organization in the Rio Grande Valley.

We Hire Ability

(Austin, TX) 

Photo of Commissioners Julian Alvarez and Aaron Demerson with the staff of Goodwill Central Texas holding the "We Hire Ability" Decal

The We Hire Ability program recognizes Texas employers for their commitment to hiring people with disabilities and their efforts to create an inclusive workforce.

Employers whose 10% of their workforce is comprised of individuals with a disability are eligible to apply for, or be nominated to receive, a We Hire Ability employer recognition decal to display on their storefront and a digital decal to display on their website.

This year, accompanied by fellow Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson, the Texas We Hire Ability Employer Recognition Ceremony was proud to award the We Hire Ability Employer Recognition Decal to Goodwill Central Texas! The work they do for the state of Texas is truly extraordinary, and they more than deserve this recognition! For more information regarding the We Hire Ability Employer Recognition Program visit https://twc.texas.gov/partners/WeHireAbility

Interns Unite!

(Austin, TX) 

Photo of Commissioners Julian Alvarez and Aaron Demerson with Executive Director Ed Scerna, and their new summer intern staff.

In partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and TXWORKS Internship Program, this initiative will allow interns the opportunity to build relationships and strengthen industry connections. If an employer or an intern is looking to connect, they can join Texas Interns Unite! on LinkedIn for updates, events, and post or discover internship opportunities.

(https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14096378/) 

Texas Interns Unite! is an initiative connected to the TWC Texas Internship Challenge, a leading statewide campaign that challenges employers to increase and promote internships for students in Texas. For more resources for employers and students, visit https://www.txinternshipchallenge.com/vosnet/Default.aspx  

The portal provides a free platform for employers to post internships and for students to access multiple paid and academic credit internship opportunities across the state. Speaking on the benefits of completing internships before starting a career, former TWC intern Feliciano Garza said, “Internships are by far the best way to begin receiving and absorbing skills in the workplace. Take everything you guys are learning out there and apply it after graduation, or after your internship, or whenever you take the next step in your career.” The Texas Internship Challenge was developed as a result of a recommendation from TWC, the Texas Education Agency, and THECB to Governor Greg Abbott, as part of the Tri-Agency Initiative. Additionally, employers interested in providing paid internships for undergraduate Texas college and university students can be reimbursed through the Texas Working Off-Campus: Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills Internship Program (TXWORKS.)

Explore Apprenticeship 2.0

(Houston, TX) 

Photo of Commissioner Julian Alvarez with the Apprenticeship 2.0 staff.

One of my favorite initiatives utilizing federal pre-ETS funding is Explore Apprenticeship 2.0. For students with disabilities ages 14-22, the Explore Apprenticeship 2.0 program is a semester-long program from February-May 2022. Participating students will learn about a variety of career fields, apprenticeships, and San Jacinto College programs.

Photo of Apprenticeship 2.0 staff members at the port of Houston, TX.

The program will also feature hands-on experiences and field trips to places like NASA, Port of Houston, and the Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Center among others. 

For more information and to see a detailed program agenda, visit www.sanjac.edu/explore-apprenticeships.com

2021-2022 Clean SMARTS Master Class Finale

(College Station, TX) 

Photo of Clean SMARTS winners Tristen Pool, Carter Ponce, and Alyssa Martinez.

The Clean SMARTS Master Class is a FREE six-episode mini-series that gives you an opportunity to hear, learn, and be inspired by experts in the areas of national Security, Manufacturing, Applications of nuclear, Relationship building & skills in diplomacy, Technology, and Global Security (SMARTS). These experts will share their knowledge and expertise, giving you an opportunity to acquire skills, up-skill, and even learn the importance of retraining in an age of constant change.

Photo of Clean SMARTS winners holding their checks with Commissioner Alvarez and staff. With text saying "2021-2022 Clean SMARTS Master Class Finale!".

I am so thankful to Dr. Valerie Segovia and the TEES Nuclear Power Institute for giving me the opportunity to present a masterclass on Artificial Intelligence and how Texas Workforce Commission utilized AI to improve customer service delivery during the pandemic.  I was so excited to show how cutting-edge technology can be used to solve business needs—shoutout to NPI for inspiring the next generation of scientists.

I was able to attend the Master Class finale to congratulate the top three winners! I am also very proud to say that two of our winners, Carter Ponce and Alyssa Martinez, are from the Rio Grande Valley area! Through this program, Clean Smarts has educated 5,735 secondary students and educators with new skills in manufacturing, nuclear energy, and technology! We congratulate all participants of the 2021-2022 Clean SMARTS Master Class.  

GRACE Conference

(San Antonio, TX) 

Photo of the front of the GRACE conference push card with a QR code to register for the event and text saying "Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa" and "Friday, July 29th, 2022, 9am-5pm".

As we enter the next half of 2022, one of our most essential conferences is approaching! GRACE, or the “Growth through Reentry to Advance Careers & Employment,” is a conference that will be held in San Antonio on July 29, 2022. The conference will provide helpful information regarding the benefits and importance of hiring ex-offenders and giving them a second chance in the workforce! 

I encourage everyone to attend this event! The conference will include a testimonial from a former Lockhart Correctional Facility for Women inmate. She now serves this community and helps them start a new chapter of their life through the in-prison program. 

Photo of the back of the GRACE conference push card saying to contact employer.initiatives@twc.texas.gov or call (512)463-9509 for more information about TWC support services.

Don’t miss your chance to come to this event! Register with the QR code on the Push Card above. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there!

It promises to be a hot summer but be sure to stay in touch with our office through our social media channels to hear about the work we will be doing for the second half of 2022!

LinkedIn:

@TWCCommissionerJulianAlvarez 

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/commissioner-representing-labor

Twitter: 

@AlvarezTWCLabor

https://twitter.com/AlvarezTWCLabor

Facebook:

@OfficeRepresentingLaborAtTWC

https://www.facebook.com/OfficeRepresentingLaborAtTWC

Office Representing Labor Webpage: 

https://twc.texas.gov/office-commissioner-representing-labor