A/D Works! hosted Talent Pipeline Makeover Workshop

Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center hosted the Talent Pipeline Makeover Workshop on April 23, 2024. Anthony Cherwinski from the Office of New Americans (ONA) was the keynote speaker. He advised employers on everything from establishing New American hiring initiatives to creating upskilling programs for multicultural teams. If you are interested in working with this talent pool, view ONA’s webinar series “Working with New Americans: From Recruiting to Upskilling.”

There was a panel discussion that focused on innovative strategies to recruit and hire diverse populations to harness new talent pools. The panel featured representatives from the Immigrant & Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, Blue Star Recycling, Latino Coalition, Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce, and CDLE Veteran Services.

Employers stated that the presentation and the panel were very informative and beneficial. Additionally, employers received resources to improve their workforce development opportunities. If you are interested in increasing your talent pipeline, contact a Business Development Representative at 303.636.1359 or fill out a request form.

The Future U Program at Arapahoe/Douglas Works! helps drive opportunity for young people to realize and own their workforce potential.

A/D Works! is hosting a no-cost Summer Job Hunt Boot Camp for young adults aged 14-18. The boot camp will be held June 3rd - 6th in Aurora. A job fair will follow on June 7th. Those interested should register by May 19th at https://bit.ly/48HXUet as seats are limited.

• The Believe in Reading Grant aims to improve reading and literacy for people of all ages. Applications are considered as they are received and grants are renewable for up to a maximum of three years. There are no specific deadlines, but please apply long in advance of when you would like your check to arrive. It may take 90-120 days to receive a response.

• COEDIT's Advanced Industries Export Grant is open and accepting applications for Colorado-based advanced industries technology businesses who want to export or are currently exporting. The next application will open July 1, 2024. 

• The Manufacturer’s Edge Small Manufacturing Recovery Grants (SMRG) program is here to help small- to medium-sized manufacturers in Colorado looking to transform their company. The program offers consultative engagement opportunities valued at $10,000 to $20,000 or more that, thanks to a one-time state-funding opportunity, can be implemented in your organization for a fraction of the cost.

• The Manufacturer’s AdvantEDGE Scale-up Solutions (MASS) catalog is tailored for small- to medium-sized manufacturers who are eager to witness the transformative impact of consulting and training services.

• Colorado House Bill 23-1198 created a new, statewide K-12 Teacher Externship Program focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-focused (STEM) occupations. Teachers will be able to earn credits toward professional development and licensure requirements and may also receive salary increases and/or graduate-level university credits toward advanced degrees by participating in externships. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is actively seeking participation from business partners dedicated to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces to participate as hosts to teachers. Those interested in participating are asked to fill out this interest form.

Upwardly Global is a national organization working to support immigrants and refugees with international credentials to restart their careers in the United States. The Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP), alongside the Office of New Americans (ONA), announced a new training opportunity through Upwardly Global. The training is designed for Career Coaches, Employment Specialists, and other employment staff who work directly with refugees and immigrants, as well as, Administrators of Career Development programs that serve these populations. The free training opportunity includes the following:

4-part Virtual Training (dates below)

• Training 1: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Training 2: Thursday, June 6, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 
• Training 3: Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
• Training 4: Thursday, June 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

- Ongoing Technical Assistance

- Access to Upwardly Global's Job Readiness Training platform for your clients (includes 50+ hours of instructional content)

- Network with a selected cohort of participants from refugee and immigrant-serving organizations, community colleges and workforce centers from across Colorado

The application deadline is May 17, 2024. 

Board on the Move

In March, several members of the Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to attend the National Association of Workforce Boards Forum 2024. Peter Hancock, Shelbi Davis, Andrew Bercich, Carrie Warren-Gully, Todd Nielsen, Heidi McDonald and 1400 other workforce leaders from around the country met to collaborate to build stronger policies and programs.

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Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is an equal opportunity employer/program.

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