Verdugo Workforce Development Board
Transforming lives, businesses and our community through innovative workforce services
The tech field is one of the largest sources of wealth generation in the United States—and is 68% White and 65% male. Not only can diversifying the field address wealth gaps, but inclusive tech companies can reduce the likelihood of technology harming underrepresented groups. Here are three organizations that are supporting underrepresented communities in tech.
Diversifying the Tech Workforce, Black Girls Code, Tech Disability Project . . . . full story here
Over 100 job seekers and community partners were in attendance at the Disability Resource Fair on Wednesday, October 23 at the Verdugo Jobs Center, organized in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD). Tabling employers included Goodwill, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Access. Keynote speaker Christopher Arroyo of SCDD kicked off the event; Jose Gonzalez, an alumnus of the CNC Machinist Academy, and Olga Cervantes, an Employment Development Department (EDD) success story, also discussed their career journeys.
From building trades apprenticeships to the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas’ casino and hospitality worker training, labor-management partnerships are well regarded for their ability to connect private sector workers to high-paying jobs while ensuring that employers receive a steady stream of well-qualified employees. Yet, policymakers and advocates often pay less attention to existing partnerships between unionized public sector workers and their employers, despite the fact that these workers now account for about half of all union members and that there is a long history of public sector partnerships providing professional development opportunities to workers.1
By expanding the use of public sector labor-management training partnerships, policymakers and unions can help government employers and unions work together to solve challenges and deliver good results for workers, employers, and the public. Labor-management partnerships—independent organizations that unions and employers jointly control—allow partners to collaboratively design and manage workforce training, professional learning, and apprenticeship opportunities. Research finds that these sorts of programs can help employers recruit and retain skilled workers; improve work quality; boost productivity; and strengthen employee relations.2 Public sector training programs are also being used to increase the diversity of the public sector workforce; ensure that government is ready to serve diverse populations; and provide a pathway to a good job for workers, particularly those who face multiple barriers to finding employment.
The Verdugo Jobs Center/Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program in collaboration with the Employment Development Department (EDD), Glendale Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) would like to invite you to the 3rd Annual Disability Resource Fair on October 23, 2019.
The Disability Resource Fair is featuring the State Council on Developmental Disability (SCDD) who will be presenting a film clip highlighting employed people with disabilities’ success stories and sharing other resources to encourage and empower the disabled population within the community to return to the workforce
When: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 from 10AM-12 NOON
Where: 1255 South Central Ave., Glendale, CA 91204
RSVP: 818-937-8020