2011 PRESS AND EVENTS
November 4, 2011- Scarecrow with a Resume - wins prize for the humorous category in the City of Manchester Competition - Pictured above is the scarecrow created by Manchester Adult and Continuing Education and CTWorks for the 2nd Annual Downtown Manchester Scarecrow Festival. The scarecrow, sits in front of CTWorks which is located at 893 Main St in Manchester and he represents the well-organized job seeker. Click to check out his resume!
September 28, 2011 - Job Fair a Big Hit - CTWorks assisted at Senator Blumenthal’s job fair, which was held in East Hartford and was attended by over 1,000 job seekers and more than 40 businesses. The job fair was an excellent opportunity for CTWorks representatives statewide to connect with and offer services to job seekers.
Check out the list of amazing employers who attended!
BLUMENTHAL ANNOUNCES NEXT MEASURE IN SERIES OF JOBS PROPOSALS
(Hartford, CT) –Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today discussed skill training programs he will introduce in the U.S. Senate as a part of a larger job creation initiative to cut the unemployment rate and boost economic recovery. At the CT Works facility in Hartford, Blumenthal laid out the next step – a job centered, work based training initiative – in a series of measures. Others will support community colleges and provide assistance to vocational and technical schools.
Blumenthal said, “These proposals will help put people in Connecticut and across the country back to work. Congress must put aside posturing and partisan politics and focus on real steps to help businesses grow and hire, and to give job seekers the skills they need to find employment. The Pathways Back to Work Proposal is an important step in that process, and I will be laying out additional proposals in the near future that will ensure Congress is focused on job creation.”
“As the region’s workforce investment board,” said Thomas Phillips, President and CEO of Capital Workforce Partners, “one of our roles is to convene and engage key stakeholders from higher education, secondary education and the business community to address today’s critical unemployment situation, as well as longer-term talent challenges related to demographic trends. We welcome and support Senator Blumenthal’s legislation that will help us address these challenges.”
The measures announced today include components of the American Jobs Act. The American Jobs Act, President Obama’s jobs plan, was blocked earlier this week by a Republican-led filibuster.
Blumenthal’s proposal – Pathways Back to Work – would subsidize employment for unemployed adults, promote summer and year-round jobs for youth, and create a competitive grant program to support work-based training, and tax credits for hiring long-term unemployed.
As part of his comprehensive agenda to support job creation, Blumenthal previously introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals in the hiring process based on their employment status. It would also prohibit employers or staffing agencies from advertising jobs with the stipulation that only currently-employed individuals will be considered.
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Contact: Kate Hansen (202) 224-2823 or Lily Adams (860) 729-4812
Kate_Hansen@blumenthal.senate.gov; Lily_Adams@blumenthal.senate.gov
September 27, 2011 - Congressman Larson Visits the Hartford CTWorks Career Center
to listen to job seekers share their concerns and what they are facing in today's job market. Also listening in were CT Labor Commissioner, Glenn Marshall; new CETC Board Chair Donald Shubert and CWP Board Chair, Charles Smith. Job seekers, many who were near or have expended their unemployment insurance benefits shared their candid experiences regarding their job search challenges.
September 19, 2011- Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Awards $15,000 Matching Grant is it's 4th Year of Support in New Britain's Future Workforce-
The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) recently awarded $133,116 in grants to nine local non-profit organizations. Among them was a $15,000 matching grant for the Future Workforce Investment System, an initiative of Capital Workforce Partners designed to improve employment training opportunities for youth and to develop a future workforce that will lead to a more competitive local economy for the New Britain region. Read the press release.
September 8, 2011 Construction Jobs Press Conference with Governor Dannel P. Malloy and CT Department of Labor Commissioner, Glenn Marshall
Courant: Region in midst of $5.4 Billion in projects
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-construction-jobs-outlook-0909-20110908,0,5646453,print.story
CT News Junkie: A few miles away in Hartford Thursday morning Gov. Dannel P. Malloy attended a press conference that projected a five-year turnaround in the construction industry in large part because of state funded capital projects, such as the Hartford-New Britain Busway and renovations at the Uconn Health Center in Farmington.
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/recovery_slows_but_more_than_half_of_ct_businesses_recorded_profits/
New Haven Register: CT’s Economy Gets a Thumbs Up for new construction jobs
http://www.newhavenregister.com/articles/2011/09/08/business/doc4e695c263f7d6683550173.txt
CT Mirror: Business warily waits for the special session on jobs
http://ctmirror.org/story/13849/business-warily-waits-new-session-jobs
PEDRO E. SEGARRA
MAYOR
CONSTRUCTION JOBS ON THE INCREASE - HARTFORD POISED AND PREPARED TO BENEFIT
NEWS AND COMMUNITY RELEASE
(September 8, 2011)--- A new report from Capital Workforce Partners shows that as many as 30,000 jobs in the construction industry are projected for the next five years in the Greater Hartford region, with the City of Hartford being one of six cities and towns to see the highest concentration. $5 billion in labor related projects could translate into hundreds of thousands of work hours.
Mayor Pedro E. Segarra spoke today at a news conference at Union Station with Governor Dannel P. Malloy, State Labor Commissioner Glenn Marshall, Thomas Phillips of Capital Workforce Partners and Yolanda Rivera of the Jobs Funnel, which trains and builds the talent pipeline so that skilled labor is ready to fill today’s jobs needs.
“Here in Hartford, we need jobs now and we need to be preparing our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. I am proud to support the Jobs Funnel. For more than 11 years, our residents, especially those in minority communities, have benefitted from this partnership. Case in point is our new Public Safety Complex that will be the future home of police, fire, and emergency services. So far, 115 construction jobs have been created and when you include truck drivers and other related positions, that number goes up to 130. About 30-percent of these positions have been filled by Hartford residents. Our city bears the burden of a higher unemployment rate, but there is hope and promise that more construction projects in transportation, green technology, and education will create an even brighter future for Connecticut's Capital City,” said Mayor Segarra.
WTIC 1080-AM, on Saturday, August 27, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.for United Way's Community Connections radio show featured:
THIS MONTH'S TOPIC: “Tomorrow’s Talent: Preparing Our Young People for Work” Featuring:
- Susan Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut,
- CWP's Jim Boucher
- Tim Lefebvre, a university relations recruiter at Aetna
- Ashley Hernandez, a recent high school graduate who has completed two summer internships at Aetna through CWP’s Career Connections program.
Join us for the conversation!
August 25, 2011 - CTWorks Team - flies to the finish line and raises over $1,300 for youth employment participant scholarships
Hartford CTWorks Center Director and CWP Board Member, Ram Aberasturia came up with the idea to build team comeraderie while at the same time help the region's future workforce reach their career goals. The race was part of Hartford Marathon's X-Treme Scramble Series. Running for CTWorks were staff members from: CT Department of Labor, Career TEAM, KRA Corporation and Capital Workforce Partners.
IT'S NATIONAL WORKFORCE WEEK OF ACTION - AUGUST 15, 2011 - AUGUST 19, 2011
In the midst of the recession, more than 8 million adults and dislocated workers were served by programs under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). More than half went on to find jobs and many others participated in services to increase skills and job readiness.
August 10, 2011 -“Career Connections” School-to-Career Initiatives Supported by Peoples United Community Foundation
HARTFORD – As part of an overall initiative to develop school-to-career programming and operations specifically designed for urban youth in the North Central Connecticut region, the Peoples United Community Foundation has awarded Capital Workforce Partners $10,000. Read the press release.
July 18, 2011 Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Visits Hartford with a Message of "Collective Impact" - CWP's Tom Phillips spoke on a distinguished panel discussing ways community stakeholders can collectively make a difference in workforce, economic and housing development through systemic change. Click here for the Stanford Review "Collective Impact" article.
July 9-10, 2011 CTWorks Front and Center in Enfield - Enfield’s KRA Corp. and Career Team Staff represented the CTWorks One-Stop Center at the Town’s Fourth of July Celebration. Staff informed the public about the variety of valuable job seeking services available at the center, as well as the upcoming move and state of the art technology the new facility will have! The new location at 786 Enfield Stree (Back of the Plaza) is expected to open on, or about August 1st.
June 21, 2011 – 11 Graduate St. Francis' School at Work CNA training program – The CWP-funded program taught by Capital Community College provided new, and more advanced skills to the workers at the Mt. Sinai Campus - further imprving the quality of care, and quality of life for all involved.
June 16, 2011 – 7th Annual Workforce Stars Breakfast – Over 150 gathered at the Farmington Club to honor the achievements and commitment of job seekers, workforce professionals, businesses, civic leaders and legislators. Award recipients were those who used the workforce development system to improve their lives or those around them. The employers honored placed and developed workers at their organizations, and the legislators loyally sustained the workforce system amid budgetary headwinds. Pictured are Karen Cirincione, CTWorks (left); honoree Judi Spreda from business winner, Peter Paul Electronics; Janet Gemmiti, Capital Workforce Partners. [Photos]
June 9, 2011 – Many Gather to Celebrate the Accomplishments of Frank Gulluni – It could be said that no one has done more for the manufacturing industry in Connecticut, than Frank Gulluni at Asnuntuck Community College - his accomplishments and a national award from the National Association of Workforce Development Boards brought a distinguished crowd together in June. In the photo (l-r), are Frank Gulluni, Asnuntuck Community College President, Martha McLeod; U.S. Representative, Joe Courtney; CWP's Pamela Nabors and Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin. Learn more.
June 8 , 2011 – Allied Health Symposium - Over 60 allied health partners attended the 4th annual symposium recognizing work and learn accomplishments over the past four years. Here is a participant from ECHN reflecting on her experiences.
May 14, 2011 – Students of Hartford Hospital’s Your Educational Success (YES) Program - an academic and works skills program, organized a generous community clean-up at Hartford’s Core Knowledge Academy at the Thirman L. Milner School. See the photo gallery.
The YES program stems from work-based training initiatives funded by Capital Workforce Partners. The program incorporates life skills with essential Math, Grammar and other key competencies that are essential to career growth. Through a partnership with Capital Community College and the hospital, YES Students also complete a three credit college course. The YES Students attending this event hosted children's activities, discussed community service and local green initiatives. Volunteers included noted YES Program founder and educator, Leticia Colon and Hartford Councilman, Luis Cotto. The group was also joined by Mayor Pedro Segarra, who donned a “YES” team shirt and dug in with the rest. The mayor praised the effort, particularly effective collaboration by groups and residents to make Hartford more livable for youth and local residents.
May 11 , 2011 - Job Training for Those in Mortgage Crisis Gets Some Attention - Former State Representative Ryan Barry of Manchester addresses businesses and Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program clients at the Manchester Chamber in an effort to raise awareness for the growing need for solutions that will help families find sustainable work to save their homes from foreclosure. This was a business networking event - and we hope to report several hires were made as a result. Many thanks to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce for their partnership in this effort.
Download the program overview.
 May 10, 2011 - Talent Dividend Competition - Hartford is one of 4 New England cities and 57 nationwide competing for $1 million to see which city can experience the largest increase of two- and four-year college degrees completed. - Read more.
April 26 - 29, 2011 - A week with a local, state and federal focus on Workforce Development - We assembled in North Central Connecticut for a 2011 Board Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors - Workforce Development Council. From around the country, attendees came to share and learn. We left with a sharpened perspective, priority and understanding of adult and youth workforce development including challenges, economic and social benefits, best practices, policies, budget crises and innovation.
Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra welcomed the US Conference of Mayors to Hartford, and Senator Dick Blumenthal and Governor Dannel Malloy each addressed and engaged the Council.
The sessions were substantial, and the event was designed for the group to begin more nationally coordinated and refined strategies. Highlights:
- Improving Adult Education and Literacy Services: What Approaches are Effective in Work-Related Basic Education Skills.
- Improving Adult Education and Literacy Services: Strengthening Linkages Between Workforce Investment Boards ("WIBs"), Adult Education and Community Colleges.
- Lessons Learned Nationally from Connecticut Regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Temporary Aid to Needy Families - Emergency Contingency Fund (ARRA TANF-ECF Program - PDF)
- How the TANF and WIA systems partnered to make subsidized employment work for both businesses and job seekers.
- Jobs and Economic Security: A Blueprint for Developing a Thriving Economy in Connecticut.
See the photos.
 April 28 , 2011 - Senator Blumenthal Meets with Employers, Youth, Job Seekers at CTWorks in Hartford - After a roundtable filled with information about the workforce system, combined with personal stories of area businesses, job seekers and youth from Hartford's Law and Government Academy, Senator Blumenthal posed for a photo: (l-r) Alex Johnson, COO - CWP; Senator Dick Blumenthal; Wally Barnes, CETC Chair; Charles Smith, Chair of the CWP Board. CT Department of Labor Commissioner, Glenn Marshall and Deputy Commissioner Dennis Murphy also welcomed the Senator to the CTWorks One-Stop. See the photos.
 April 8, 2011 - CT Green Jobs Partnership and the Jobs Funnel Prepares "Green Welders"- Eleven individuals completed a green construction welding certificate program and are now in demand by employers. Three of the the program completers have already been hired!
See the photo gallery.
April 5, 2011 - Jobs For Teens - Mayor Spadaccini of Manchester and Sue O’Connor, GMCC President welcomed a room full of employers at this Manchester Chamber breakfast, with the goal of hiring as many teens as possible. Among those in attendance were representatives of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Diana, Conti, & Tunila, LLP, ECHN- Manchester Hospital, FandoTech, Nutmeg Fed. Credit Union, ShopRite of Manchester, and Webster Bank.
March 24, 2011 - National Workforce Action Day - They Told Their Stories - Hundreds of One-Stop Career Centers across the U.S. spoke out on March 24th. The Capital Workforce Blog and Guest Book recorded job seekers in our region.
 March 24, 2011 - Mayor Segarra's Youth Employment Campaign Breakfast – The Mayor's office, Metro Hartford Alliance and Capital Workforce Partners launched a campaign with local business to hire Hartford's youth in the summer of 2011. Many businesses attended the event at the Mark Twain Museum, including representatives from major corporations.
A youth program participant, Vidalys Traverso, from Hartford High's Government and Law Academy, joined the Mayor and others, clearly conveying the opportunity and benefit of hiring motivated and skilled high school juniors and seniors, particularly those who have received Capital Workforce Partners career competency training.
March 21, 2011 - Thanking the Governor for his Support of Youth Employment – at Governor Malloy’s Town Hall Meeting in Hartford. Pictured are Deena Mundle and Charles Smith, Chairman of the Board, Capital Workforce Partners.
Capital Workforce Partners was also represented at the Bristol Town Hall Meeting – with a CTWorks job seeker asking the Governor about how CTWorks could be understood as an economic driver – not an “expense.”
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NEW BRITAIN
GENEROSITY AND DONATION BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS DURING TOUGH BUDGET TIMES
(NEW BRITAIN, CT)—Due to the tough fiscal challenges facing our nation’s schools, some community partners have made it their commitment to help urban districts with crucial funding and resources in the midst of flat funding of education cost-share (ECS) dollars in Connecticut. The New Britain Academy for Health Professions (NBAHP) opened its doors this year at New Britain High School (NBHS) as the only comprehensive health academy in Connecticut that offers an introduction to health care and medical sciences and on-the-job experiences at local New Britain hospitals. The Health Academy will continue to offer nursing assistant and EMT certification programs, as well as allow students to earn credits towards college and universities while exploring other certificate programs, such as Medical Office Assistant and Pharmacy and Phlebotomy Technicians. The Academy’s successes have depended critically on its community sponsors and major partners, including Hospital for Special Care (HSC), The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HCC), and the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB). Read the release.
March 9, 2011 - Press Release
Improving Career Opportunities for Youth Focus of Hartford Foundation, Bank of America Grant
 With youth employment rates running at record low levels, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Bank of America have awarded $250,000 to help fund a project designed to encourage high school graduation and improve student preparation for work in a global economy.
The collaboration between the Hartford Foundation ($150,000) and Bank of America ($100,000) will support participation of Hartford youth in the school-year Career Competency Youth Development Program, an ongoing project of Capital Workforce Partners in partnership with local nonprofits and businesses. The program complements the Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program by linking summer jobs to academic-year programs.
The program will serve approximately 150 students ages 14 to 19 at the Weaver Culinary Arts Program, Pathways to Technology, Weaver High School Journalism and New Media Academy, Hartford High School Nursing Academy, and the Hartford High School Law and Government Academy.
The focus will be on improving basic academic skills; computer literacy; interpersonal communication, job seeking skills; customer service and problem-solving; and decision making. After the students complete 10-to-12 weeks of career competency instruction, they will participate in a 7-to-10 week paid work experience and internship. Participants receive a $25 per week stipend during the instruction period and minimum wage ($8.25 per hour) during the internship, for an earning potential of $821 that can help to support participants’ immediate personal and family needs. Read the release.
March 4 , 2011 - Economic Development and Workforce Training are the Topics in East Hartford - As CWP President and CEO, Tom Phillips meets with Board Member, Heather Summerer of Pratt & Whitney and East Hartford Chamber of Commerce President Ron Pugliese. The ability of our state's employers to find the workers they need is critical to our economic competitiveness.
 February 10, 2011 - A Celebration of Youth Employment at the Capitol - Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Labor, Dennis Murphy and several key State Legislators joined more than 130 at the Capitol. From across the state, workforce development professionals and youth employment program participants gathered in the Old Judiciary Room to celebrate accomplishments and recognize the value of Connecticut's youth employment program achievements and outcomes. Key legislators and guests included Deputy Speaker Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey (D), State Senator Steve Cassano (D), Representative Tim Ackert (R) and James Ieronimo, Co-Chair, CT Employment & Training Commission (CETC).
Click here for the photo gallery.
 February 8 & 9 , 2011 – CTWorks KRA Representatives Take the Stage at Fox 61 with Logan Byrnes - After the Department of Labor segments on Resume Writing and Job Search Skills, CTWorks professionals Charles Botts and Noemi Lugo were featured on a Dress for Success segment and Joseph Seymour focused on interviewing skills.
February 3 , 2011 – Mature Workers Get Clues on How to Get Ahead in Today's Competetitive Job Market - Deb Krawiec, VP-Lead Consultant for Lee, Hecht, Harrison and also a representative of the Human Resources Association of Central CT - received lots of questions and input, connecting to a broad range of job seekers at the Hartford CTWorks.
The next workshop designed for "mature" job seekers (generally individuals 40 and older) is slated for March 3rd at the New Britain CTWorks.
January 13, 2011 - American Savings Foundation joins effort to upgrade region’s workforce
NEW BRITAIN — American Savings Foundation, headquartered in New Britain, has awarded a grant of $25,000 to support Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford.
Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford is a public/private partnership working toward an educated, economically self-sufficient workforce with the skills needed by area employers.
The American Savings Foundation grant will support the collaborative’s mission to strengthen and expand the region’s workforce training system and enhance access to support services for lower-income workers and their families. The collaborative helps lower-skilled employees advance to mid-skill jobs by providing the right mix of training and supports. The grant from American Savings Foundation will go toward expanding and supporting collaborative projects in the New Britain area.
“In this economy, we want to help people develop their potential to get and keep good jobs,” said David Davison, President and CEO of American Savings Foundation.
Other funders of the collaborative are Capital Workforce Partners, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Nutmeg Foundation and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford is a regional collaborative associated with the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, a $30 million, five-year effort to strengthen and expand effective workforce initiatives around the country.
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