Reinvesting in New York Workers
Glenn T. now has a career and can take care of his children, thanks to training from HOPE, a Jobs to Build On partner.
The New York City Council is reinvesting in job training, with restored funding for three key programs — Jobs to Build On, Worker Service Centers, and Immigration Protection Group — in the city budget passed earlier this summer.
That’s good news for New Yorkers like Glenn T., a graduate of Jobs to Build On (JtBO) partner HOPE. Glenn says the program helped him feel like he has a purpose in his job. The father of five and grandfather of eleven is now working in the construction industry after spending 30 years in prison.
“If I had not gone through HOPE, I would not be in the position to do what I am doing right now, taking care of my children,” says Glenn. “I speak to my grandkids about my background. If I have anything to do with it, they will never touch a penitentiary in their life.”
Jobs to Build On, Worker Service Centers, and Immigration Protection Group have provided job training, career placement, and other services to tens of thousands of workers. These programs are administered by CWE and direct funding to dozens of neighborhood organizations around the city to run training programs for their communities.
Jasmin Thomas got a start in a new field through support from Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ), another program funded by JtBO. She was placed into a job as a case manager at a homeless shelter and, in less than a year, was promoted to shelter operations manager. Now she is helping the community, veterans, and their families apply for emergency rental assistance.
“Even when I didn’t believe in myself, BVSJ-JtBO encouraged and pushed me to work to my fullest potential,” says Jasmin.
CWE programs can include job readiness classes, occupation-specific training with certifications, resume and interview help, and job placement assistance. Many providers also have wraparound services to ensure participants have stable housing, childcare, and health care to be able to complete the training and succeed in their new careers.
Mas Carrasco came to JtBO provider HANAC as a single parent struggling to complete college and support a family. Mas completed HANAC’s Employment and Training Services program, was placed into an administrative position at a large organization, and graduated summa cum laude. Mas feels newly independent and aims to complete post-graduate studies.
Mirna Meza is a refugee who immigrated to the United States in 2019 and, like many in her position, she had trouble finding a stable job. Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp. helped Mirna create a resume and prepare for job interviews, and then referred her for a patient greeting position at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She has been working there for one year.
The backbone of CWE’s programs is a network of community organizations with deep roots in neighborhoods across the city, from Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side, to SoBro in the Bronx, Urban Upbound in Queens, and Brooklyn Workforce Solutions in Brooklyn. Together with CWE’s long lasting partnerships with labor unions, this network is able to make sure that workforce training reaches the city’s micro communities that are so often missed.
Through these programs, the City Council is ensuring that all New York's communities have the support they need to succeed in today’s economy.