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New Grants to Respond, Recover, and Redesign in the Wake of COVID-19This past month, the National Fund received grants from Prudential Financial and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to help communities across the country invest in good jobs, bridge the digital divide, and build a more equitable economy. With a $2 million grant, Prudential Financial will help communities and employers redesign local jobs to build a more inclusive economy. A $1.25 million grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation will build a more equitable post-coronavirus economy by helping workers gain in-demand skills—especially digital skills— amid new economic conditions. President’s CornerAs I write this month’s president’s corner, I am thinking about the millions of Americans who are about to lose a temporary safety net that is keeping them from falling over the ledge. On July 31, those who’ve lost their jobs due to the pandemic will lose the $600 weekly unemployment supplement. There is no more moratorium on evictions, and the rent is due. Our public benefits system can be difficult to navigate under normal circumstances, but that’s only going to become more challenging as these offices are strained amid unprecedented demand. Workers need additional support to get through this immediate crisis, but we know that our long-term strategy can’t be to get things back to the way they were—we must come out of this crisis better and stronger than before. That will require us to redesign our economy and to identify and challenge the systems that were holding problems in place. As one example, our funder collaborative in Atlanta, CareerRise—before COVID-19—began working to address inconsistencies and inequities in the public workforce system across the large metro area. We will need more of this. The context of our work may have changed, but our mission remains clear. And if we want to create a more inclusive economy where workers, businesses, and communities thrive, it matters how we think about what to do next. Reimagining the 2021 National Fund ConveningThe COVID-19 crisis has asked all of us to rethink how we live, play, and work. That includes how we come together as practitioners, co-investors, and employers to share practices and learn. Since we do not know what 2021 will hold for large gatherings, we have made the decision not to host our convening in June 2021 as planned. We are taking this opportunity to reimagine our convening – scope, timing, format, everything. We remain committed to hosting carefully curated events with lots of opportunities for our network partners and friends to connect in meaningful ways around actionable ideas. Of course, we will keep you informed as we move ahead with any and all National Fund events. Making the Case for Sustaining Workforce Development Strategy Through COVID-19The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn are causing healthcare institutions across the country to make hard decisions and budget cuts. Historically, despite how short-sighted it is, workforce development programs are often on the chopping block. On July 15, CareerSTAT leaders in Boston and Charlotte presented on how they are adjusting strategy and advocating for the continuation and strengthening of workforce development programs as critical to COVID-19 recovery. Essential Workers Deserve Recognition and Support, Not Lip ServiceRecognizing the value and dedication of essential workers is long overdue. As we ask frontline workers to put themselves at greater risk of COVID-19, the lesser-known workers who keep our healthcare system running – from the front desk to the cafeteria – deserve the same accolades as doctors and nurses. In our latest blog post, learn how three healthcare systems in Dallas redesigned the patient care technician position, a critical, in-demand job. Success Across the NetworkNews from the FieldThis month, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative in Sarasota, FL celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade, CareerEdge was able to train almost 6,000 workers and engage almost 400 employers, building a skilled labor pool for employers and creating good jobs for workers in the region. Learn more about CareerEdge’s success over the past decade here. Media and Articles
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