We hope everyone was able to safely enjoy the solar eclipse on Monday! 🕶️ 🌘 What a cool historic event to happen in Tarrant County!

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County has had a busy first quarter. We are excited to have the new Commissioner Representing Employers, Joe Esparza join us at this month's Board Meeting. He visited one of our Workforce Centers last month.

We will round out our Annual Awards with a few last awards to some folks that could not join us at the ceremony in February. We also have a great discussion with our new Commissioner planned. He will give us some updates from the perspective of the Texas Workforce Commission and what he has gathered from his conversations with employers from across the state.

As always, we will continue our journey to transform and improve our services for the citizens of Tarrant County. We are here to help, you can reach out to us multiple ways:

Phone 📞: 817.413.4000

Email 💻: info@workforcesolutions.net

Live Chat 💬: Via our website, workforcesolutions.net



Sincerely,

Featured in this month's newsletter:

• Summer Young Adult Program
• Board Member News
• TWC Commissioner Visit
• National & Statewide Events
• Workforce Updates
• Updated Resources
• WSTC Alerts, Live Chat & Career Exploration

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County has an amazing opportunity for Young Adults this summer! You don't have to navigate this career pathway on your own, our staff are here to help! Let's put your talents to work and help uncover your passion.

We have opportunities that include working in: The Arts, City Municipalities, IT, Healthcare, Hospitality, and more! Services are provided at no cost to qualified Tarrant County Young Adults. To learn more about our program visit the link below.

Ready to get started, contact us today:

📲 817.413.4000

💻 info@workforcesolutions.net

💬 www.workforcesolutions.net (chat live with our team)

Our Board Vice-Chair, Rosa Navejar was honored at the Fort Worth Chamber's 142nd Annual Meeting on March 27th. She was awarded the 2024 Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award, presented by Jackson Walker LLP. The Chamber was quoted as saying "A beacon of leadership in our community, Rosa’s commitment to innovation and community development mirrors the values we cherish." We could not agree more.

Workforce Solutions was proud to be in attendance and help cheer on Rosa.

Judy McDonald was joined by Board Members: Tyrone Taylor and Estrus Tucker at the event.

Congratulations to Board Member, Dr. Di Ann Sanchez who was recently honored by the North Texas Area Community Health Center, Inc with the Visionary Commitment and Leadership Award. She has served on their Board for over 10 years!

Thank you for your commitment to this community Dr. Sanchez.

Cheers to Board Member, Jerletha McDonald, every time we look on social media she is speaking at another conference and sharing her passion for child care. Thank goodness we have advocates like Jerletha who help keep the important child care issues front and center.

Joe Esparza - Commissioner Representing Employers for the Texas Workforce Commission visited Tarrant County on March 14th. Judy McDonald, Executive Director welcomed the Commissioner to our Resource Connection Workforce Center where key staff spoke about our work with area employers and job seekers.

Staff that joined Judy and the Commissioner included:

• Kimberly Clark, Workforce Center Supervisor
• Lacey Douglas, Communications & Events Director
• Love Kelly, Business Services Coordinator/Texas Live!
• Heidi Nielsen, ‪Deputy Director - Operations & Partnerships
• Jason Scanlan, ‪Business Liaison
• Shannon Spriggs, Managing Director
• James Stokes, Digital Storyteller / Communications Coordinator

Sabre Industries was onsite for a hiring event and the center was full of activity during Thursday of Spring Break. Lots of exciting things going on in Tarrant County and we are glad we got to showcase them for our newest Commissioner.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker worked with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Wells Fargo and Judy McDonald to host a Small Business Roundtable Event on February 29th. Previously the USCM held events in Phoenix, Tampa and Las Vegas before coming to Tarrant County.

Mayor Parker invited the following Mayors to join her:

• Arlington Mayor Jim Ross
• Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth
• McKinney Mayor George Fuller
• North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino
• Weatherford Mayor Paul Paschall

A great discussion took place and allowed the small business owners, mayors and stakeholders (to include our local Chamber leaders) to discuss resources available to them in the community as well as share their own experiences with addressing ongoing challenges related to the shortage of workers, etc.

Board Members and staff in attendance included: Felicia Davis, Lacey Douglas, Steven Gonzalez, Jerletha McDonald, Judy McDonald, Leslie Scott, James Stokes and Tyrone Taylor.

Board Member, Jon Gustafson participated in the Texas Science and Engineering Fair sponsored by the Texas Workforce Commission & ExxonMobil and hosted at Texas A&M University! What an amazing opportunity to see the creativity and ingenuity of these young Texans. Witnessing the groundbreaking projects on display was inspiring. One thing is for sure, the future is bright 💡 in Texas!

From Left to Right: Jon Gustafson (Lockheed), Ruth Hughes (Partner, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP), Bobby Gutierrez, Mayor of Bryan, TX , Alma Walzer-Santos, Government and Business Affairs Liaison, SpaceX, Ross Guieb, Executive Director, Bush Combat Development Complex and Dr. Cortlan Wickliff, Associate Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Rice University.

The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) held its Forum March 23-26, 2024 in Washington, D.C. 

The forum was attended by: Carlos De La Torre, Mike Doyle, Lacey Douglas, Jon Gustafson, Judy McDonald, Rosa Navejar, Tyrone Taylor and Estrus Tucker.

The group heard the latest in innovative strategies on topics including: Apprenticeships, Building Talent Pipelines, Child Care, Future of the Workforce System, Inclusive Hiring Solutions, Regional Convening's with our DOL Representatives, Skills Based Learning, Young Adult Strategies and more.

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County (WSTC) held its Annual Joint Workforce Governing and Workforce Development Board Meeting and Awards Celebration, February 14, 2024, at Lena Pope Amon Carter Center. The meeting was a chance to celebrate the partners and programs who contributed to the successful service delivery in Tarrant County.

At this meeting the members of the Workforce Development Board (WDB) along with the audience heard the latest information impacting the county from our elected officials, including Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.

“I know this is a favorite event for many, you really get to see the good work being done in Tarrant County. I am extremely proud of our staff and the work we accomplished with our partners. We are excited for the many things to come in 2024!” said Judy McDonald, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County executive director.

This meeting is also a venue to honor our exceptional partners, businesses and special individuals who have contributed to our success over the past year. The following individual and partners were recognized:

Outreach Champion of Workforce Award

• Brumley Printing

CTE Champion of Workforce Award

• Susan Patterson, CTE Director, Arlington ISD

Child Care Champion of Workforce Award

• United Way of Tarrant County's Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Community Partner Champion of Workforce Award

• Belinda Gonzalez Hampton

Cathers Award

• Dawn Stupnicki

We have a few more individuals and partners to recognize at the April Board Meeting.... Stay Tuned.

💡 Did you know that Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County added two new satellite offices to our list of 5 workforce center locations around Tarrant County.

💼 📕 🎓 We are your Employment and Training Resource! If you are headed to the Northside or MLK Community Center, stop by and see us!

Tuesdays and Wednesdays : 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

📍 Northside Community Center Location

1100 NW 18th St, Fort Worth, TX 76164

📍 Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Community Center Location

5565 Truman Dr., Fort Worth 76112

We are happy to share that Tarrant County College as part of the Tarrant County Adult Education and Literacy Consortium is hosting ESL and GED classes at the Northside Community Center. These classes are no cost for those that qualify. Attend our upcoming orientation to learn more about this program.

📅 Saturday, April 27, 2024 - registration / orientation

⏰ 9am to 1pm

📍 Northside Community Center, located at: 1100 NW 18th St, Fort Worth, TX 76164

📚 Classes will start April 29th from 9am to 12noon on Mondays & Wednesdays

WSTC Biz Boost

We have started a new event series for our Employers. WSTC Biz Boost, is a networking event designed to elevate business connections. Our employer services team facilitated a collaborative platform where entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners came together to share insight, exchange ideas and forge meaningful relationships. 

Facilitated quarterly around Tarrant County our team highlighted the latest programs we oversee to help assure that the businesses in our area remain competitive and grow jobs while giving employers in the area a chance to connect. We will include other partners in these events to include the locals Chambers, etc. 

The first event was held March 19th and was co-hosted by: Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and Urban Village. We had over 40 employers and staff in attendance and it was a great way to introduce our services to the employers in the area. We are already working on our next event which should be in June in the Northside Area.

Arlington Area Job Fair

📣 Looking for a job? Check out our upcoming Job Fair (in-person).

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is proud to co-host the 2024 Arlington Area Job Fair. Other hosts include: Arlington ISD, City of Arlington, Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Rush Creek Church.

This in-person job fair will connect over 80 Tarrant County area employers with qualified candidates like YOU! Don’t miss this important event. Register now for our Arlington Area Job Fair!

Event Details:

⭐ Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 10:00am – 2:00pm

⭐ Rush Creek Church located at: 2350 SW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, Texas 76017

⭐ Plenty of FREE parking is available



⭐ A list of employers and their openings will be released 72-hours before the

event.

Continuing the Climb Job & Resource Fair

In partnership with, City of Fort Worth, Cornerstone Assistance Network, Envision Center, Goodwill North Central Texas, Redemption Bridge, Reentry First Stop Center for Tarrant County, Tarrant County, Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I.), Unlocking Doors and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, we will be hosting a job and resource fair. The focus will primarily be on employment opportunities for individuals with challenged backgrounds.

Meet with 70+ Re-Entry and Veteran-friendly area employers looking to fill employment vacancies. Organizations will also be on site to connect attendees with programs and services such as clothing, education, financial literacy, health, job search tips and training opportunities, legal services, rental assistance, shelter, transportation, utility assistance and more.

Event Details:

⭐ Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. CST

⭐ Resource Connection Gym: 2300 Circle Drive Fort Worth, TX 76119

⭐ Plenty of FREE parking is available

⭐ A list of employers and their openings will be released 72-hours before the

event.

Employers interested in having a booth at this event should email: events@workforcesolutions.net

Newly Updated Job Seeker Booklet

We have just finished updating our Job Seeker Booklet. This is a wonderful resource as it touches on all the services, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County has to offer. Check it out!

Newly Updated Quick Training for Good Jobs Booklet

This was developed to highlight target occupations in Tarrant County that require quick obtainable certifications/credentials. You can learn more about duties, pay and demand for each occupation in this booklet.

Did you know we offer live chat on our website 💬?

Workforce experts are here to assist you with all your employment and training needs. Want to know when our next workshop is, ask 💬? Have a WorkinTexas.com question, ask 💬 ? Want to know about our upcoming Virtual Job Fair, ask 💬 ? We are here to help Tarrant County!

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Did you know you can visit any of our five Workforce Centers and try on a pair of Virtual Reality Goggles?

The possibilities are endless, let your curiosity be your guide! Make an appointment and start exploring today: