by Web Admin | Jul 25, 2019 | News & Updates
New York, 10 July 2019 – The Ford Foundation today announced the appointment of Sarita Gupta as director of its Future of Work(ers) program based in New York. In this role, she will lead the team that oversees Ford’s efforts to actively shape a future of work that puts workers and their well-being at the center. Gupta will begin her new position in October 2019, succeeding current director John Irons who joined the foundation in 2016 to lead a broad body of work on inclusive economies.
Gupta joins the foundation from Jobs With Justice and Caring Across Generations, both of which she serves as co-Executive Director. A nationally recognized expert on the economic, labor, and political issues affecting working people, Gupta brings deep expertise in advocacy, with more than 20 years of experience building partnerships across the workers’ rights and care movements.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sarita to the foundation. She has been an extraordinary partner over the years, and will be a tremendous addition to our team,” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. “As we engage more deeply on the future of work, Sarita’s passion and expertise will be invaluable to our efforts to ensure that as the future of work evolves, workers and their rights remain at the center.”
Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Rochester, New York, Gupta began her social justice career as a student leader at Mount Holyoke College when she was elected President of the United States Student Association, representing millions of students from Capitol Hill to the White House. For example, working closely with President Bill Clinton’s Policy Council, she campaigned and won a significant change to the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare to Work bill), to include education as part of the work requirements. This change ensured that millions of students on public assistance could continue to pursue higher education as a pathway to economic opportunity and stability. After college, her passion as a grassroots activist and community organizer continued to grow as she held several leadership roles at Chicago Jobs With Justice, and then with the national Jobs With Justice organization, where she was named executive director in 2007.
Gupta led the organization’s work expanding the ability of workers to come together to improve their workplaces, communities, and lives by creating real solutions to the challenges they face. Under her leadership, the organization has been on the frontlines of successful organizing and policy campaigns to improve labor and civil rights protections for immigrants, and to boost wages, bargaining rights, and working conditions, including spearheading the first-ever ordinance that improved job schedules and hours for retail and restaurant workers in San Francisco.
“Reimagining a future where work is fair and dignified for all people is my life’s work. And I’m honored that the foundation has entrusted me to help carry forward its mission to reduce inequality in all its forms,” said Gupta. “I’m truly excited to join a talented and committed team and share the lessons I learned on the frontlines.”
As co-executive director at Caring Across Generations, Gupta steered a national movement of families, caregivers, people with disabilities, and aging Americans working to transform the way the nation approaches caregiving. From balancing care for young children to care for aging family members, she led the organization’s work to develop policy solutions that create a much-needed care infrastructure, and provide high-quality, affordable options for people who need care or reliable caregivers.
Gupta succeeds John Irons, whose expertise and experience in economics and philanthropy helped to steer and shape a multi-dimensional program on inclusive economies – including impact investing, social protections, consumer financial protections, and labor rights. His thoughtful and steady leadership was critical as programming strategies were sharpened to focus on the future of work and its workers more broadly, creating the rich foundation for Gupta and the Future of Work(ers) team going forward.
“Sarita is joining the foundation at a truly extraordinary time when we are seeing new debates and approaches on how to build a future in which workers – particularly low wage, people of color, and women workers – have increased economic security,” said Maria Torres-Springer, vice president of U.S. Programs. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an accomplished leader join the foundation and are immensely grateful to John Irons who has been instrumental in leading and shaping our efforts to bring dignity to the future of work.”
Gupta earned a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, with studies in Women, Health, and Society. She has served on the boards of several organizations, including Restaurant Opportunities Center United, the International Labor Rights Forum, and General Services Foundation. She currently sits on the boards of Care In Action, Labor Network for Sustainability. Institute for Policy Studies, United States Student Association Foundation, and WILL Empower (Women In Labor Leadership). A Hunt Alternatives Fund Prime Movers Fellow and a graduate of the Rockwood Leadership Training Program, Gupta has received a number of awards and accolades, including the National Women’s Law Center Annual Leadership Award, the Francis Perkins Open Door Award, Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Achievement Award, and Corporate Ethics International’s BENNY Award.
by Web Admin | Jul 24, 2019 | DC Updates
Career and Technical Education
The National Center for Education Statistics defined Career and Technical programs (CTE) as “a sequence of courses at the high school level that provides students with the academic and technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions.”
In the Spring of 2017, the center conducted a survey on the execution of CTE programs. 1,800 school districts across the country were asked how the CTE programs were structured, as well as the challenges they face, level of employer involvement, and the criteria for which programming decisions are made.
To request a copy of the report, contact service@miipublications.com
Plano, Durham Lead Metro-Level Analysis of Senior Workforce
On July 8, Provision Living released an analysis of the senior workforce and growth within metropolitan areas across the country. Plano, Texas, occupies the top of the list with 25.4 percent of its senior population ages 65 or older remaining in the workforce. The metros with the next highest rates of labor force participation among seniors were Washington, D.C. and Anchorage, Alaska.
Analysts also documented senior workforce population growth from 2009 through 2017. Durham, N.C., leads the nation with a senior workforce growth of 109 percent. The next highest senior workforce growth rates were found in Plano and Austin, TX.
For more information, visit
www.provisionliving.com
2020 Election: Skills Training Support
According to the National Skills Coalition it is likely that there will be overwhelming support for skills training and government training in the 2020 elections. ALG Research conducted a research poll under the NSC in January.
These polling results found that ninety three percent of respondents said that they would support investments in skills training.
Read more about the poll here.
White House – Hill Leaders Agree on Two-Year Budget Deal
President Trump announced a two-year budget agreement is in place – the compromise would increase fiscal 2020 spending limits on non-defense programs by about 4% over current levels to $621.5 billion. In addition, it would provide an extra $2.5 billion to account for a census funding adjustment. Another $8 billion in non-defense spending would continue for the Overseas Contingency Operations account in both fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021.
For fiscal 2021, which begins Oct. 1, 2020, non-defense spending limits would be raised to $626.5 billion. The agreement also contains a two-year extension of the debt limit.
Assuming the agreement stays in place, a vote will take place before Members depart for the August recess.
For more information, click here.
Trump to Nominate Eugene Scalia as Secretary of Labor
President Trump took to Twitter to announce is intention to nominate Eugene Scalia as secretary of labor, following the resignation Alexander Acosta. Here is what you should know about Scalia.
Scalia is now a partner in the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with specialization in employment law and administrative and regulatory law. His past federal government service includes working as a former solicitor for the Department of Labor and as a speechwriter for Education Secretary Benentt.
by Web Admin | Jul 22, 2019 | Affiliate News
WASHINGTON, DC – In its latest effort to ensure that individuals returning to the labor force from the justice system have the opportunity to gain meaningful employment, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced approximately $85.9 million in Reentry Project grants awarded to 45 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. The Reentry Projects will serve either young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who have been involved in the juvenile or adult criminal justice system – including those who did not complete high school – or adults ages 25 and older who were previously involved in the adult criminal justice system.
Administered by the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Reentry Project grants protect community safety by ensuring that successful participants enter employment and/or education; become productive, responsible, and law-abiding members of society; maintain long-term employment; and sustain a stable residence. President Trump’s 2019 State of the Union Address called for an ongoing commitment to reform efforts that prevent crime, facilitate successful reentry, and reduce recidivism.
The Department awarded these grants to a combination of rural and urban projects located in high-crime, high-poverty communities. Awardees offer a range of services based on current evidence and proven research, as well as promising emerging practices.
See the full list of organizations that received the grant awards HERE
by Web Admin | Jul 18, 2019 | News & Updates
SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. is proud to announce that AT&T Aspire has awarded $125,000 to SER education programs. The purpose of their decision is to support SER Jobs for Progress National’s Propel Robotics program in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which serves 150 opportunity youth, with an emphasis on female students and underrepresented minorities, to explore and pursue STEM fields of interest. We want to thank AT&T Aspire for their generous contribution and look forward to further empower students to reach their highest potential.
Read the full letter from AT&T Aspire below:
Congratulations! We are very much looking forward to working with you and your team on our shared goal to empower students everywhere to reach their highest potential.
Through AT&T Aspire, we are investing in students today – at home, in the classroom, at work – to prepare them for success tomorrow. We see tremendous value in your education program and are pleased to award a contribution in the amount of $125,000.00 for SER Jobs for Progress National Inc
The purpose of the contribution is:
To support SER Jobs for Progress National’s Propel Robotics program in five locations (three existing and two new locations) in the Dallas-Fort Worth area serving 150 opportunity youth, with an emphasis on female students and underrepresented minorities, to explore and pursue STEM fields of interest as they discover exciting career opportunities
We are excited to share this good news about funding your program and we want to hear about the positive impact your program is having on students. You can share your results in the survey you will receive from us on or around July 2020. We will send an email reminder approximately six weeks before your feedback is due with instructions on submitting the survey.
Please accept our best wishes for much success.
Sincerely,
Nicole Anderson
AVP – Social Innovation
by Web Admin | Jul 12, 2019 | News & Updates
From Javier Giribet-Vargas
A team of 23 high school students with special needs earned a standing ovation for winning a sportsmanship award during a district robotics competition.
The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees led the applause for Sunset High School’s RoboFlash team, which earned the Gracious Professionalism Award during a robotics competition in March.
“I think teams are seeing that our team is one to be reckoned with,” said Pauline Tatum, special education teacher at Sunset High School and the RoboFlash coach.
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) is a national nonprofit that works to spark the youth’s interest in engineering through robotics competitions and other hands-on activities.
For the first time in history, a standalone team of students with special needs won the Gracious Professionalism Award, Tatum said. This prize rewards those who “compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process,” according to FIRST’s website.
The RoboFlash teammates are part of an after-school robotics club where all students have special needs. Gabriel Reyes, a 14-year-old incoming sophomore who falls along the autism spectrum, joined the club at the beginning of his freshman year.
His family wasn’t convinced about letting him join the club at first, said Cristal Gonzalez, his older sister. Gabriel was shy and struggled to socialize, and his mom and sister feared that he’d be pushed too far too fast.
“In middle school, he never participated in anything like that. But after joining, I actually saw him coming home and talking to us about the stuff that they did after school,” Gonzalez said. “It got him out of his shell, made him express himself more and boosted his morale. It’s something that we’d never seen in him.”
Tatum, Reyes and senior Josh Preciado talked about the team’s latest accomplishment during the June 27 Dallas ISD Board of Trustees meeting.
“When [the team]won the award, Gabriel really felt proud of himself,” Gonzalez said. “He called everybody, our aunt, our uncle and mom, because she was still at work, and told them ‘I won, I won.’ He wanted everybody to know.”
Tatum has been teaching at Sunset High School for almost 20 years. On 2017, RoboFlash debuted at the FIRST Robotics Competition, contesting against the general education population. The participants build their own robot, and earn points depending on how well it can perform specific tasks.
During the tournaments the teams compete against each other in alliances with others. Not only do the students get assistance and guidance from their peers in the general education population, but also get a sense of acceptance. Just this year, RoboFlash improved their score from last year, which lead them to rank as the 150th among all 183 teams across the state.
“We are opening the doors for the kids with special needs to compete alongside the general education cohort,” Tatum said. “They engineer with their minds and build stuff with their hands. It might take them double the time, and sometimes triple the time. It takes them longer, but once they get it, they get it.”
See the full article here: https://thehub.dallasisd.org/2019/07/09/standing-ovation-sportsmanship-award-for-robotics-team-comprised-of-students-with-special-needs/
