Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Latino Pathways: Sector Development for Immigrant Workers

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Most of the people who will be in our workforce are already in it. Tough Choices or Tough Times

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved 23 million workers one in seven workers in the U.S. are foreign born. Congressional Budget Office, 2006

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Projected Effect of Immigration on U.S. Population Growth, Source: Congressional Budget Office

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Latino Population: ,667

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Latino Population: ,087

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Theory of Change If we build a community partnership and provide them with data, coaching, and seed funding then they will design and implement a program to: Create new economic opportunities for Latino immigrant jobseekers; Support industry growth sectors.

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Sector Initiatives? Target a specific industry. Build in-depth knowledge and partnerships between industry and community organizations. Improve the economic conditions of low- wage workers and low-income job seekers. Promote industry change that cultivates a win-win environment, benefiting employers and low-wage workers or low-income jobseekers.

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Phase 1: Research Qualitative Data: Demographics, Industry Sectors, Occupational Projections Quantitative Data: Focus Group Interviews Identify Key Partners Team Formation

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Jobs in Greensboro MSA Source: 2000 U.S. Census

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Phase 2: Project Design Select Industry Sector Review Best Practices, Models Develop Staffing Plan Partner Roles and Accountability

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Phase 3: Implementation Involve Additional Employers Identify Project Host, Hire Staff Begin Program Operations Ongoing Evaluation

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Major Obstacles for Many Immigrant Workers Language Low Level of Education Cultural Expectations Lack of Connection to Labor Market Services and Networks

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Institutional Change

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved One Stop Centers Commit to Greater Access Hire Staff Bilingual Staff Targeted Programs

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Community Colleges Career Pathways Model Contextualized Language Training Flexible Hours

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Grassroots Organizations Latin American Coalition Bilingual/bicultural atmosphere Cultural sensitivity/competency Direct outreach to target population Support other partners with LAC expertise Welfare Reform Liaison Project Influence in the community Strong management and financial capacity Connections to funding sources Community Action Agency Financial security Experienced organizers

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Individual Results 400+ Individuals Enrolled 200+ Completing Basic Skills, ESL 5 Classes of CNA Training 50+ Placed in Health-Related Jobs

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Mistakes Partnership Groups Too Broad Health Care Careers Were Unfamiliar Could Not Operate/Manage Entire Pathway Needed Industry to Help Address Policy

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Lessons from Sector Employment Initiative Difficulty Recruiting Qualified Participants Alignment with Systems Change Goals Need Credibility in the Industry

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Remaining Questions Community Colleges as Hubs? Incumbent Worker Pathways? Streamlined Sector Methods? Role of CBOs? Analyzing Cultural Appropriateness

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Charlotte Funding Partners Bank of America Wachovia Corp. Duke Energy Foundation for the Carolinas

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved Greensboro Funding Partners Weaver Foundation Cemala Foundation Community Foundation for Greater Greensboro Duke Energy Greensboro-High Point Workforce Development Board

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved National/Regional Funding Partners Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Annie E. Casey Foundation Charles S. Mott Foundation

Expanding Opportunity, Advancing Equity © MDC, Inc. All Rights Reserved for more information: Colin Austin (919)