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About MWA

Thu, 12/27/2007 - 17:24 — mwaadmin

Who Are We?

 

MISSION: The Massachusetts Workforce Alliance unites individuals, organizations and coalitions to advance sensible workforce development policy that creates true economic opportunity for low-income people.


UNITED: We link a broad range of workforce development providers that find common ground in order to better serve our low-income clients. As a collaborative effort of coalitions, organizations and individuals we see strength in the variety of perspectives our members bring to policy discussions at all levels.

SENSIBLE: We create policy solutions by listening carefully to the intelligence of people on the frontline --practitioners and program participants. This means there is a direct link between the policies we advance and evidence that those solutions will work.

MWA Launches Down to Earth Today

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 21:37 — Deborah Mutschler

MWA Kicked off its new Down to Earth campaign today. Representative Smizik started the proceedings by talking about the current legislative work being done. Senator Downing stopped by to show his interest and support as well. 

Down to Earth is a three-year policy and public education campaign that strives to find new ways for low-income communiites to more fully participate in the economy, as the economy shifts to adapt to the reality of climate change.

 

 

More Workforce Development Grants Announced from the CEC

Mon, 09/14/2009 - 09:17 — Deborah Mutschler

Governor Patrick announces efforts to boost commonwealth’s clean energy workforce

Type : Announcements

Newest round of grants is part of nearly $4 million invested since April to expand training for jobs in Massachusetts’s growing “green” energy sector
 
BOSTON – Tuesday, September 01, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced nearly $1 million in grants for community- and school-based programs that will enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to train the cutting edge workforce needed for the state’s burgeoning clean energy industry, while expanding “green job” opportunities for Massachusetts residents.

Announcement of Pathways Out of Poverty grants from the CEC

Mon, 05/18/2009 - 15:02 — Deborah Mutschler

One of the provisions of the Green Jobs Act that passed last summer was that there be money set aside for workforce training projects focused on low and moderate income residents of the Commonwealth that want to enter the emerging green economy. Last month, the Clean Energy Center announced the 5 grants from that program. We have attached the press release. In summary, the five grant went to:

Utility plan will dramatically grow energy efficiency in Massachusetts

Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:04 — alexmwa

The Green Communities Act, passed in MA last summer, requires the utility companies to meet new demand for power through demand reducation and energy efficiency measures. To meet this legislative requirement, the utiltiy companies have developed a plan that will dramatically reduce energy use, save customers money as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equivalent to taking 40% of the cars of the road. It will also create jobs. (See the Reuters news service announcement http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS159842+05-May-2009+BW20090505

And here's where community based workforce development organizations come in...but how??

- teach about energy efficiency and how to take advantage of this utility sponsored efficiency program; have a representative from your community action agency or the utility come to talk to staff and students

do your good work - don't get lost in the green jobs hype

Mon, 05/04/2009 - 15:52 — alexmwa

What community based workforce development organizations are good at is working with local employers to create a pool of ready employees. It is the strength of these collaborations between employers, the wd system and community members that makes the work of wd cbos successful.

How do green jobs fit with this? There is hype and hope out there about green jobs. And there are even green jobs out there (and we believe more coming). What's a wd cbo to do? The answer is keep on doing the good work you've been doing: your industry research, your local networking with employers and your wib board, assessment, education, training and support to students and trainees.

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