Grantees Share Accomplishments and Celebrate New Employment Programs

Grantees Share Accomplishments and Celebrate New Employment Programs

Building Changes’ Economic Opportunities Initiative grantees from across the state came together on September 14, 2011 to reflect on and celebrate their efforts over the past 18 months. As a result of the unique combination of capacity-building grants, technical assistance, and training offered up by Building Changes and our partners at Clegg & Associates, these organizations are making a positive impact on their communities by addressing the employment needs of their clients.

Vocationalizing Services

One goal of the trainings has been to help organizations incorporate practical employment training programs or support into social services. This push to “vocationalize” has been a welcome culture shift for nonprofits struggling to serve communities affected by the poor economy.

“Our conversations with both homeless and low-income clients now start with the employment question,” says Annette Rodriguez of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services. “No matter what their other needs are, we ask them to set goals and plan for how they’re going to pay for food and rent and ultimately become stable.”

New and expanded programs have focused on training in food service and building maintenance for men and women; social enterprise programs, such as landscape maintenance and building rehab for veterans; microenterprises for farm workers; and “seed to market” work experience for homeless youth.

Sustaining Efforts

Commitments and programs require tools for sustainability, and grantees are taking the next steps to support the great work they have started, including developing business plans and new systems for tracking and reporting progress. As this Initiative comes to a close, there’s a lot to be proud of. Looking ahead to 2012 and 2013, Building Changes plans to continue its capacity-building efforts around employment with a new set of trainings and technical assistance offerings.