a report from Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui, Co-Chair and Councillor Alanna Malon, Co-Chair of the Human Services and Veterans Committee, for a public hearing held on October 30, 2018 to receive an update of existing/in progress workforce development programs

Attachment A Councillor Siddiqui's Opening Remarks - October 30, 2018 Thank you for everyone for being here. My co-chair Councillor Mallon and I are excited about this discussion. Cambridge is home to a host of programs that seek to help individuals looking for employment. We also often hear from residents that despite these programs, there are many residents still looking for employment, and we We will hear from these programs today. I wanted to take a could be doing more to help in connecting the dots. moment and talk about some of the goals of the envision economy working group (the group has been very active in group meeting on this topic for many months), which are as follows: • Providing opportunities for Cambridge residents of all educational backgrounds and skill levels to access jobs that pay a living wage in Cambridge and the surrounding region so that they can share in the city's prosperity. • Continue to support Cambridge as a leading center of the global knowledge economy that generates jobs for city and regional residents. • Connect Cambridge's young adults, vulnerable residents, and families with education, training, and necessary social support infrastructure to help them achieve economic security. • Support efforts to erase racial and gender disparities in economic opportunity. More specifically, as a City we have goals to 1) Assess the training and education needs of low and moderate- income residents to determine readiness to access existing industry-focused training programs and inform design of new programs, 2) Design new programs and implement strategies based on the recommendations of the of the needs assessment, and 3) Expand capacity and funding to provide additional "earn and learn" opportunities with local employers for Cambridge residents, training to help current employees advance to the next level of employment, and partnerships for employers to hire graduates of City-supported workforce development programs. We will hear from the City on some of this. The goal of the meeting will be hear about not only the numbers served, but also the challenges, the opportunities, and have a frank and open discussion about the gaps that exist.

Attachment B HUMAN SERVICES& VETERANS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ Sullivan Chamber 3:00 PM Tuesday, October 30, 2018 Call of the Meeting The Human Services and Veterans Committee will hold a public hearing to receive an update of existing/in progress workforce development programs in Cambridge. Updates from City Staff on City Programs • Cambridge Employment Program • Cambridge Works Program Next Up Update from other workforce development programs Discussion Public Comment Adjournment Page 1 City of Cambridge

October 2018 Pay Length Next Up Description Application 51 Inman St. through "field visits." (Pilot - Fall 2018) planning their next step. Attachment C internship and workshop time career exploration and nurturing Fill out a brief Next Up intake form at relationships. Next Up provides paid opportunities for hands-on exploration 12 weeks, with ongoing career coaching Participants are paid $12.00/hour for both 24 year olds, with an emphasis on self and Next Up supports Cambridge high school After finding that many younger participants developed Next Up to meet the needs of 18- college or a training program and need help were less successful in Cambridge Works, we internships, workshops, career coaching and graduates, age 18-24, who are not enrolled in Pay Length Works Application Description 51 Inman St. Cambridge Adult Programs (18+) not assigned to a worksite. for both work and class time Participants are paid $13.00/hour with barriers such as limited work receive intensive case management Cambridge Works is a transitional jobs Fill out a Cambridge Works intake form at Participants are selected by a competitive to learn job readiness skills and address Office of Workforce Development process. Most are assigned to a temporary classes and get case management but are experience, gap in work history, frustration barriers to employment. Participants also worksite and attend classes 4 hours a week 15 weeks (including a one-week orientation) with dead-end jobs, legal or personal issues. program for Cambridge residents age 18 - 35 support. Some "bench" participants attend Pay (CEP) Length Application Description 51 Inman St. Open-ended age 18 and over. Job-seekers are not paid Fill out a CEP pre-registration form at free career counseling and job search seekers one-on-one to help them write to a job developer for additional services. Career counselors meet regularly with job complete on-line applications, etc.; clients The Cambridge Employment Program is a search for job leads, practice interviewing, resumes and cover letters, explore careers, Cambridge Employment Program who have completed all the necessary steps with their career counselor may be referred assistance program for Cambridge residents

Atachment D Cambridge Employment Program (CEP) About 1/3 of residents who sign up for CEP don't end up enrolling in the program. Active Participants by Fiscal Year 238 FY18 218 FY17 229 FY16 Self-reported demographic information for CEP participants in FY18 9% • Report arrest or conviction 13% Report a disability Race • Asian/Pacific Islander 9% 13% • Black/African/Caribbean • Haitian - Middle Eastern • Mixed Race 33% • Other • White 8% • Not recorded 7% 3% 2% Highest Level of Education 2% • Associates degree 7% 8% • Bachelors degree 15% • GED or Adult Diploma 21% - Graduate Degree 1% • High School diploma • Some college 19% • Some H.S. - No GED 26% • Not recorded

Housing Status • Public Housing or Section 8 7% 7% = Other Subsidy 41% • Private Housing • Shelter/Homeless 40% • Doubled-Up/Temporary 5% Housing

Attachnient E Cambridge Works Cambridge Works Enrollments by Fiscal Year 26 FY18 23 FY17 6 FY16 Self-reported demographic information for Cambridge Works participants over the last three fiscal years: FY16-FY18 Cambridge Works FY18 (only) Race 16% • Black/African/Caribbean • Mixed Race 16% • White 52% • Other (Hispanic) 16% Cambridge Works Highest Level of Education FY16 - FY18 2% 6% 4% • No GED 17% • GED or Adult Diploma • High School Diploma - Some college, but no degree 42% • Associates Degree 29% • Bachelors Degree

Cambridge Works Housing Status FY16 - FY18 13% 31% • Shelter • Public Housing or Section 8 • Other Subsidy • Private Housing 6% 50% Cambridge Works Criminal History FY16 - FY18 • No Arrests) or Conviction(s) 40% • History of Arrest(s) or 60% Conviction(s)

Next Up Pilot Launched September 2018 32 Applied 22 Interviewed 15" (*original proposal was to serve 8-12 young people) Accepted Currently Participating 13 Self-reported demographic information for 13 Nexi Up Participants Age of Nexi Up Participants 3 3 20 23 21 24 19 18 22 Race of Nexi Up Participants 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 1 0 Latino Mixed Race White Black

High School Attended By Next Up Participants 3 1 1 1 CRLS AHS CCSC HSEP Home Schooled Gender of Next Up Participants 10 2 1 Men Gender Nonconforming Women

Attachment F 1035 Cambridge Street, #12 | Cambridge, MA 02141 | T: [phone removed] | www.justastart.org Just-A-Start Corporation JUST-A-START CAREER CONNECT ADULT WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS The Just-A-Start (JAS) Career Connect includes the Biomedical Careers Program and a new IT Training Program, Both programs are tuition-free and target unemployed/underemployed low- to moderate- income adults looking to enter careers with opportunities for upward economic mobility. Students are recruited through local career centers, referrals from other vocational training providers, and outreach to residents of JAS-owned affordable housing and local housing authorities. This strategy attracts a racially and ethnically diverse group of women and men, helping local employers to increase workforce diversity. Now in its 27 year, the Biomedical Careers Program offers low-income adults opportunities to begin successful careers in biotech, life sciences, or healthcare. Now running from January-September, this 9- month program provides instruction in biology, chemistry, and medical terminology, as well as applied laboratory instruction at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). Students also receive career development training (resumes, job search, and interviewing), and networking opportunities with biomedical professionals. Program staff counsel students to support job search and retention, both pre- and post- graduation, with follow up for at least a year after program completion. Based on the Biomedical Careers Program's success, JAS did careful research on the local job market and the existing workforce training landscape to see how aspects of the program could be replicated to provide more low-income adults with career opportunities in another industry. This exploration led JAS to develop a program for IT user support roles, where the 1s cohort began in January 2018, and the program ran for 9 months months including instruction in technology, soft skills, and career readiness. Like the Biomedical Careers Program, students receive follow up support for at least a year after graduation. Each of these programs accepts 20 students. Plans are to accept two cohorts of students for the IT training program in 2019. JAS is constrained to expand the Bio program because of limited laboratory access. Recruitment The process from recruitment to acceptance of students involves multiple steps. Those interested can complete an on-line initial application. Info sessions are held to inform students about the program, expectations, outcomes, etc. Sessions are held at JAS, the Cambridge Learning center and at JAS's housing located at 402 Rindge Avenue. Interested candidates make application and go through a series of interviews and testing. Each year up to 300 individuals inquire about the program and approximately half of them may apply. In recent years, it has been noticed that many of those applying do not qualify because they need a "bridge program" to enhance their math and English skills. In 2018, JAS began working with the Cambridge Learning Center to assist with assessment and tutoring needed to help applicants qualify. Program Design 1

These programs differ from community college experience in a few ways. It is a free, highly coordinated, comprehensive model used to maximize the success of the students in finding employment. The curricula is designed to meet the needs of employers. Soft skills Curriculum aligned Hand on to industry and PSE nartners experience Job search and Career Technical Readiness Skills Support Employer Services Services Financial Capability Custom Training Support Recruitment Referrals (e.g. Screening and Housing, mental/ Placement behavioral health, Outcomes While outcomes may vary some from year to year, in 2017, 94% of Biomedical Career Training Program graduates were employed within the industry within the first year after completion of the programs. In an evaluation of the JAS Biomedical Career Training Program conducted by the McCormack School at UMass Boston, we confirmed that graduates of the program earned, on average, nearly $15,000 per year more in the first year after graduation. Challenges Funding. These programs are now heavily supported by philanthropy with no increases in public funding in several years (more than 5). The development of a new IT Training Program was 100% supported by grants from Corporations and Foundations. This is not a sustainable business model and will need to be diversified and new sources found to sustain these programs long term. Laboratory space: The constraints on the Bio Program have been the limited availability of the lab facility at BHCC. This has meant the changing of the programs calendar and prohibits the increase in number of students or expansion of 2

classes. Recruitment: These adult programs require a level of English and math proficiency that many applicants lack. The partnership with the Cambridge Learning Center has just begun and will be extremely important to sustain a pipeline of residents into these programs. Planning: JAS will be working with a consultant to help develop the strategic direction, funding, facilities etc. 3

Attachmento -JAS AIST REPORT ON JUST-A-START'S 2018 EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS (All reported outcomes as of 9/27/18) Biomedical Careers Program Class of 2018: Student Demographics Gender 70% (14) female; 30% (6) male 21% Black; 47% Asian; 21% White; 10% Hispanic; 1% Other Race/Ethnicity 5% (1) United States-born; 95% (19) born outside of the US (Sri Lanka, Country of Origin Ethiopia, Brazil, Nepal, India, China, El Salvador, Morocco, Bangladesh, Barbados, Algeria, Syria) Town of Residence Cambridge (13), Malden (5), Watertown (1), Revere (1) Age Range from 22-55 years; average age of 37 Income 100% are low 10) or low-moderate (10) income 40% (8) High School only; 60% post-secondary education (Associates (7), Education Level Bachelors (4), Masters (1)) 75% (15) employed; 25% (5) unemployed Pre- program employment Goal 2018 Outcome to Date 2018 Target Provide education, training, and 18 students support services to low-income adults 18 students to facilitate placement in biotech, research, or medical industry Students will graduate from nine- 90% 16 students month training program Graduates will be placed in 75% employment relevant to the training A students (graduation occurred in September 2018) provided within 6 months after graduation 1vg Pre-Pron Wage =$12,63 Information Technology Careers Program 2017 Grass 18(675) ema5 Bio Field. Class of 2018: Student Demographics Gender 60% (9) female, 40% (6) male Race/Ethnicity 46% Black, 33% Asian, 13% White, 6% Other Country of Origin 33% (5) US-born, 67% (10) born outside of the US (Nepal, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Bangladesh, Barbados, Turkey) Town of Residence Cambridge (5), Somerville (2), Boston area (3; Roslindale, Dorchester), Auburndale (1), Lawrence (1), Natick (1), Quincy (1), Revere (1) Age Range from 26-58 years; average age of 37 Income 93% (14) are low/low-moderate income Page |1

Education Level 60% (9) High School only, 40% post-secondary education (Associates (2), Bachelors (3), Masters (1)) Pre-program 58% (8) employed; 42% (7) unemployed employment Goal | 2018 Target | 2018 Outcome to Date Provide education, training, and 15 students support services to low-income adults 20 students to facilitate placement in information technology industry Students will graduate from nine- 90% 13 students month training program Graduates will be placed in 75% employment relevant to the training i graduation occurred in provided within 6 months after September 2018) graduation PilE-proy Avg Wage #12.62 PostProg = #17,77 TeenWork 2018 TeenWork Participants 58 Total youth served Age 16 and under 23 17-18 28 19+ 7 Race/ethnicity 4 Asian 20 Black or African American Native American/Pacific Islander 1 Other/Multi-Racial 14 19 White 17 Hispanic Gender Female 19 Male 39 First Language 49 English Haitian Creole Spanish Other Goal 2018 Outcome 2018 Target 58 Provide career readiness 100 youth activities including developing Page 12