Dine Out and Support Job Creation

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

Dining out is my guilty pleasure. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, I enjoy the experience of a great meal with good people. Camaraderie and indulgence excite me. I never thought my love for dining would converge with my work -- investing in employment opportunities for local residents -- until I learned about Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-Michigan) and COLORS Detroit.
ROC-Michigan is committed to improving the rights and wages of restaurant workers throughout Southeastern Michigan. The restaurant and hospitality sector have seen the fastest growth, thanks in part to the casinos and reinvestment projects in our region.
The Detroit Regional Workforce Fund has invested in ROC-Michigan's newly formed restaurant, COLORS Detroit, patterned after the COLORS New York City establishment, which was created after restaurant workers in the World Trade Center lost their lives during the tragic events of 9/11.
The Detroit restaurant is located in Harmony Park and serves as a full-service restaurant and training ground for local residents who seek to learn or advance their fine dining restaurant service skills. Harmony Park is resurging as a cool place to hangout in Detroit, and COLORS is proving to be a place where young, eclectic groups dine for lunch. One phenomenal aspect about COLORS is that it is not only providing good, locally grown food, but it's also helping people like Alice Meeks regain her footing in the workforce.
After years as a homemaker, Alice came to the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan looking to create something for herself that she had never really had before -- a job with a career path. Alice had a naturally appealing smile and strong communication skills (the hospitality industry was a great fit). She enrolled in ROC's 10-week food service and hospitality training program, and graduated class valedictorian with the highest grades on her certification exams. Upon graduation, she was hired into a union job with benefits at Ford Field.
"At COLORS, I learned all the front of the house skills and techniques to facilitate me as being a leader, a leader that I always knew I was," Alice said.
ROC-Michigan is supported in part by the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund. So why not treat yourself to some good food, while supporting a business that strives to improve the lives of its residents.

Got Work?

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

Graduation season is here! Millions of young people will graduate from high school and college throughout the country during the months of May and June. Those leaving high school and entering college in the fall are hopeful for all of the social, educational and professional opportunities that will come.

My 17-year-old nephew is one of the many high-school graduates thrilled about entering into the prestigious collegiate life. I am hopeful that by the time he graduates college in 2017, the economy and job market will have fully recovered and he will land his dream job!

Unfortunately, college graduates entering the workforce this year may be in for a rude awakening. With a national record unemployment rate of 8.2% reported by www.gallup.com, this year's graduates are facing dismal circumstances. Despite these statistics, there is hope!
Our Time, an advocacy organization that raises awareness regarding young voter concerns, are asking presidential candidates to specifically address the issues of the 4.5 Million college graduates this year by supporting the creation of 1 million youth service jobs in demanding sectors that include green, technology, education and healthcare. You can get involved by signing the petition at http://www.ourtime.org/.
Being a college graduate myself, and being afforded the opportunities in co-operative work experiences, internships and a graduate fellowship, this issue is near and dear to my heart. I realize that my career has only soared because of my ability to take coursework and apply it to practical work-place practices.
It is imperative that students know what to expect from a particular industry. Careers have various time and educational commitments beyond college that students should be made aware of sooner rather than later to ensure success.

My days of high school and college are long gone, however, I am an advocate for students gaining professional experience prior to entering the actual workforce. I want every person to be connected to financially sustaining opportunities. Young people who participate in internships during high school and college is a step in the right direction.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan advocates for a number of issues affecting disadvantaged populations. The Detroit Regional Workforce Fund advocates for a workforce that is thriving, ensuring that those who want to be connected to financially sustaining opportunities are able to do so.

Looking for a Summer Policy Internship?

Attention college students and college grads! Are you looking for a summer policy internship? Our friends over at the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) are looking for a smart, creative, and curious individual to join their Business and Community Innovation team as a full-time Policy Intern for summer 2012 (May 15-August 30). It is a paid position! Check out the job posting here to see if you are qualified.

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!