Meeting demands within the nonprofit sector as potential tariffs loom
Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI) is playing a pivotal role in connecting public housing residents in New York City with job opportunities, particularly in highly unionized careers that offer good wages and stability. The organisation's partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), specifically with the NYCHA Resident Training Academy, is aimed at filling the skills gap for residents in public housing, providing them with technical skills necessary for employment in sectors that are often inaccessible due to geographical or systemic barriers.
BWI offers eight sector-based career training programs, each lasting between four to eight weeks. These programs cater to a range of first-time applicants, with a focus on low-income New Yorkers, including those residing in public housing. By focusing on sectors such as construction, telecommunications, and others, BWI ensures that residents not only get technical skills but also have a pathway to stable employment.
To ensure that public housing residents are adequately prepared for the training programs, BWI assesses their readiness, including whether they have the basic needs covered. This includes addressing childcare, transportation, and other essential costs that might hinder participation in the programs. BWI tries to support these needs as much as possible, given its resources, to position participants for success in their chosen careers.
Over the years, BWI has placed nearly 11,000 low-income New Yorkers into lucrative careers in various industries, including transportation, television, woodworking, construction, and more. The organisation's commitment is to create easy pathways to work, focusing on delivering training for bluish and greenish collar jobs.
BWI's teams are available for two years after graduation for career advancement and support. The executive director, Aaron Shiffman, spoke about maintaining flexible programming and placing graduates in jobs amidst the turbulence of ongoing federal cuts and tariffs.
It's worth noting that about half of BWI's enrollees reside in public housing. The organisation's partnership with the public housing authority was not baked into their DNA, but it was a result of their commitment to serving vulnerable neighbours in the city.
The NYCHA resident Training Academy is building career opportunities within the infrastructure of the massive authority. BWI's programming caters to blue collar jobs, but aims to deliver training curricula that meets a wide set of individuals. The organisation started as a training program connecting public housing residents in Red Hook with commercial driving jobs.
In summary, BWI's role is to bridge the gap between public housing residents and job opportunities, while also ensuring that participants have the necessary support to succeed in their new careers by addressing fundamental barriers like childcare and transportation costs.
- Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI) not only connects public housing residents with job opportunities in sectors like construction and telecommunications, but also offers training programs to equip them with the necessary skills for these roles, aiming to fill the skills gap in these sectors.
- BWI's comprehensive approach extends beyond job placement, addressing essential needs such as childcare and transportation costs to ensure participants can fully participate in their training programs and be better positioned for success in their chosen careers.
- The organization's commitment extends beyond initial job placement, with teams available for career advancement and support for two years post-graduation, further fostering personal growth, education-and-self-development, and career-development for participants.
