Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference Coming to Detroit

From the manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines, to updating commercial buildings and the weatherization of homes, to the production of cleaner, safer chemicals, the green economy is emerging in cities and towns across the country. This year, the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Regional Conferences will be heading to Detroit to bring the discussion of good jobs and a clean economy to our area.

The Detroit Regional Workforce Fund is a proud supporter of the Midwest Conference. This is a chance for all of us to meet with community leaders, union members, environmentalists, business leaders and elected officials together to discuss how our region of the U.S. is, city by city and block by block, building the foundation for a green economy.

The Conference will feature high-level keynote speakers, dynamic plenaries, and workshops at each of the four Regional Conferences, emphasizing local initiatives creating good jobs and a clean environment in a number of emerging clean tech sectors. Some of these areas include: clean energy manufacturing; green infrastructure and transportation; state and local initiatives; emerging green sectors like recycling, chemicals, water and agriculture; renewable energy and energy efficiency; and business, investments and new markets.

Additionally, you'll want to check out our session titled Detroit Emerging Industries, Partnerships and Policies for Good Jobs Green Jobs. This is Workshop Session II: Friday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join us for the nation’s leading forum for building a green economy and creating good, green jobs. Visit www.greenjobsconference.org/detroit to register today!

Your Taxes are Due today!

Kylee Mitchell Program Officer, Detroit Regional Workforce Fund United Way for Southeastern Michigan

My dad always reminded me that two things in life are surely guaranteed, “death and taxes.” I remember sitting with him at our family dining table on a Sunday afternoon when I was 12. The table was littered with tax forms, files, papers and calculator.

My mom asked, "Dan, why won’t you prepare the taxes in the family room?" Despite her urgings, my dad ignored my mom and remained at the table for what seemed to be the entire afternoon sifting through papers, adding numbers and entering digits on multiple forms.

I have always admired my dad for taking the time to prepare his own tax returns, and appreciate that he passed that tradition down to me. A person's financial stability begins with understanding personal finances. I have prepared my own tax returns since I was a teenager ever since I started my first job at the Detroit Zoological Park. Since then, I have assisted hundreds of people throughout the years gain a better understaning of their financial position during my work as a certified tax preparer.

Today marks the infamous tax day. This is one of the most important days of the year for working class individuals. Many tax filers know that refundable tax credits are a lifesaver and can be helpful in reducing the amount of taxes owed to Uncle Sam.

The Earned Income Tax Credit works to provide additional funds for low- to moderate-income families. The EITC is essential to these individuals and families. Our Centers for Working Families help residents with understanding their financial positions throughout the year, not just during the tax season. If you visit one of our centers, you will be introduced to a financial coach who will guide you toward improving your saving habits, reducing your monthly budget and meeting your financial goals.

Understanding your financial position is a continuous process. Life events determine where we land financially at a given point in time. I encourage you to take control of your finances and visit one of our Centers for Working Families. Also, if you haven’t done so, complete your 2011 tax return today.

Program Officer, Detroit Regional Workforce Fund

Kylee Mitchell
Program Officer, Detroit Regional Workforce Fund

Our region is struggling with a myriad of issues -- employment is just one of them. As a native Detroiter, I wanted to be a part of the solution to this problem. But I didn’t start out in this direction.

I actually began my career in corporate finance balancing budgets for Fortune 500 firms.  But my heart wasn’t in it. I wanted to do something that impacted others and made a real difference in the community. In 2009, I was pursuing a graduate degree in New York City as a National Urban Fellow (www.nuf.org). My graduate experience coupled with an opportunity to lead and implement a financial services program in Washington, D.C. for the district’s mayor, solidified my passion. Basically, I connected residents with mainstream financial service products and helped combat the usage of payday lending and other predatory financial options that impair individuals’ personal financial positions.

 Eventually, my journey to two world-class cities, New York and Washington, D.C. fostered my desire to return home and become an integral part to Detroit’s revitalization. At the time, colleagues, friends and even some family members thought that it unwise to leave a job for Detroit. Given the economic landscape of the time, I understood their concerns. Despite the naysayers, I was determined to come home – jobless.

I dealt with all of the emotional stress that comes with the job-seeking process. And I didn’t just want to find a job; I wanted a profession that I was passionate about. Shortly after my move, I came to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, serving as the program officer for the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund (DRWF) (www.detroitregionalworkforcefund.org. The DRWF supports and cultivates workforce partnerships that will help metro-Detroit residents secure employment and provide financially sustaining wages while meeting the employers’ workforce needs. 

With the assistance of the Department of Labor, the DRWF has been able to support Detroiter’s Working for Environmental Justice’s (www.dwej.org), Green Jobs Training program, a brownfield remediation training program for local residents. Additionally, the DRWF has invested in the long-term healthcare and hospitality sectors both of which offer professional development and career pathways and ladders for program participants. The DRWF is on a mission to systematically change the workforce woes in our region by clearly understanding the needs of employers in emerging sectors.

The DRWF is a part of the “Earn It” strategy of United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Financial Stability Team (www.liveunitedsem.org/issues/income-building-successful-pathways). “Earn It” focuses on getting individuals into jobs with upward earning potential, and careers in growing industries

My days of understanding the bottom line in corporate finance are long gone. Now I am thrilled to support a team that helps individuals understand their financial bottom line and knowing that it all begins with securing a career.

Training = Profits

Check out this recent article published in the Philadelphia Enquirer, that discusses a report released by the Job Opportunity Investment Network (JOIN) about how training equates to increased company profits.

"....Computer Components spent $25,924 to train employees to read blueprints, to do specialized welding and conduct quality audits. The company also spent $16,075 on salaries for the 25 employees while they were in class and $7,047 in staff time attending meetings with the Southeast Pennsylvania Workforce Development Partnership, which sponsored the training. The company’s total expense: $49,045."

Read the entire article here and tell us what you think!

Tweet Your Way to a New Job

When I first started using social media, I used it as a way to stay connected to my graduate school buddies and as a way to stay engaged with my colleagues in Europe. Now, I use it to promote the work of the DetroitRegional Workforce Fund and to assist with connecting people to career pathways. When used properly, social media can actually assist in raising your visibility and actually help you get a job! Check out the link below! 

Tweeting your way to a new career is just a click away. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57367033/tweet-your-way-to-a-new-job-8-twitter-templates/

Green Jobs Training Graduates Part 2

Recently we shared an interview of another DWEJ Green Jobs Training graduate and their unique story. Today, we're happy to share yet another graduate's story. Meet Donitra Scott!

Long-Term Health Care

Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) has been contracted by the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund to hear from the voice of employers in long-term care and community health. Their work to date has revealed some key barriers to employment in the metro-Detroit area for our target population. We are continuing to work with PHI to hone in on which barriers to address that will have the greatest impact of furthering the career advancement of incumbent workers while improving the opportunities for new workers seeking to enter in to this healthcare sector.