In attendance: Carmela Albano, Way Finders, Irving Concepción Way Finders, Bud Delphin, MassHire Holyoke, Lisa Lapierre, Community Action, Eneida Molina, SpringfieldWorks, Maegan Pedemonti, Way Finders, Konrad Rogowski, MassHire Springfield, Pamela Schwartz, Network, Keisha Torres, Springfield Works
Big thanks and best of luck to Maegan! Maegan Pedemonti of Way Finders is leaving her position at Way Finders to start a new position at DTA as the DTA Works Coordinator. We expressed our huge thanks to Maegan for all of our tremendous work and we look forward to crossing paths.
Both Way Finders and Youth Build at Community Action have job openings related to workforce development. See their respective websites for more information.
Governor’s FY21 budget released: Secure Jobs is level funded at $2 millionHousing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) were level-funded; statewide coalition is requesting increase of $250,000. The Governor proposed level funding of MassHires at $3.9 million, a $6 million gap in what is needed (the MassHire ask for FY21 is $10 million to fund core services). Stay tuned for more information via the blog.
Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program update (Franklin County): Lisa reported that priority setting planning is underway; youth engagement is continually expanding; upcoming meeting on process for applying for funds through the program. FYI: Treehouse received a grant to expand their afterschool program in Franklin County (working with DCF youth) – exciting development!
Career Services Resource Fair 3/25 – see and distribute flyer here! Brainstorm on recruitment for provider info-sharing included: STCC, Greenfield Comm College, Berkshire Comm College, ABE/ESOL – Literacy Project/Center for New Americans, CEIS providers – New England Farm Workers, The Care Center, Training Resources of America, Western MA Employment Collaborative, Gandara Center, DTA offices, Springfield Works, Job Corps, ROCA, AISS, Mass Rehab Commission
Attendee recruitment: Community Action, Food Bank, Hospitals, WIC – VOC, Tapestry, DV providers
Network Training updates:
- SSI/SSDI – how to maximize benefits for housing security – 4/16 -register here
- Housing People with Sex Offense Histories – 4/30 (reg to come)
- Sealing CORI/Appealing Housing Authority Denials – 5/7 (reg to come)
- Working with LGBTQ and trans people experiencing homelessness – 3 offerings in Pittsfield, Turners Falls, Holyoke – sometime in May (reg to come)
Next meeting date: April 3, 9-10:30 am, KC 303 next meeting
