Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 21, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 11 OCTOBER 8, 2020 | 7 P.M. UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD BARNEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CATALYSTS FOR INNOVATION F.I.R.M. Finance. Insurance. Risk. Manufacturing. 3 R D A N N UA L E X E C U T I V E L E A D E R S H I P O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D H O N O R I N G CHRISTOPHER J. SWIFT Chairman and CEO The Hartford Financial Services Group 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 10.8.20 F.I.R.M. GOES VIRTUAL Though we cannot gather in person for our 3rd Annual Executive Leadership of the Year Award, we have reimagined this exciting evening into a virtual experience you will not forget. Proceeds to benefi t Scholarships and Programming at the Barney School of Business, University of Hartford.Ž To register visit: hartford.edu/FIRM2020 (Existing sponsors do not need to register) For more information contact: Margaret Lawson at 860.558.5026 or Email: margaretlawson7@comcast.net Premier Sponsors upskilling and retraining under- served populations. But the task won't be easy because of academic achievement gaps in the state, and the fact that 65% of jobs in the next few years are going to require post-second- ary education, leaders say. Meantime many low-wage posi- tions that disappeared during the pandemic may never return. In Hartford, only 25% of students on average earn a post-secondary degree, and less than 40% of seniors in the city's public school district this year have a complete post-secondary plan, CWP data shows. CWP is aim- ing to address low literacy rates and skill shortages, in part, by leveraging $3.6 million in funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Eco- nomic Security (CARES) Act. The money, CWP Chief Strategy Officer James Boucher said, will be used to provide new training opportuni- ties in manufacturing, health care, IT, construction, finance and trans- portation for mostly individuals of color ages 18 to 24. That group, commonly referred to as "oppor- tunity youth," includes individuals who are typically out of school and out of work. CWP is also collaborating with the Governor's Workforce Council as it updates the state's strategic job creation plan, which could be aired sometime this fall. "We are hoping that there will be continued significant investments for reskilling, training and technol- ogy supports for workforce boards and industry partnerships that are considering the issue," Boucher said. Meanwhile, the Urban League of Greater Hartford is using new fed- eral funds to provide job-training opportunities for those re-entering the workforce from the criminal justice system. In partnership with Hartford's Capital Community College, CEO David J. Hopkins said the Greater Hartford Urban League will use $410,000 in funding over the next three-plus years to upskill indi- viduals for jobs in construction, nursing, medical services and warehousing, among others. "While college might not be for everyone, we think education is," he said. "We are trying to give people an employable skill with documen- tation to show they are qualified and get them into positions." Elizabeth Horton Sheff, direc- tor of community programs for Hartford nonprofit Community Renewal Team, says the problem with nonprofits overwhelmingly leading job readiness efforts is that they operate on grants for a specific, limited service. For example, CRT's federally funded YouthBuild program is one of a few initiatives the organization pro- vides to accelerate youth job training. The program, meant for teens and young adults ages 18 to 24 from the Hartford area, often leads partici- pants to careers in construction or health care. But the funding is not reliable over the long term, she said. And many nonprofits are seeing revenue streams dry up amid the pandemic. "The other obstacle is things they might need, like a tool belt, books or transportation," Horton Sheff said. "How do we pay for that? And how do we get those resources to them?" Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Director of Community Programs, Community Renewal Team Food bank drives, like the one shown here at Foodshare at the Hartford Regional Market, have been in demand since March. PHOTO | CLOE POISSON, CT MIRROR.ORG

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