Sectoral Strategies for Low-Income Workers:
Lessons From the Field

A Briefing on Capitol Hill
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Welcome

Andy Van Kleunen, Executive Director, The Workforce Alliance
TWA advocates for public policies that invest in the skills of America’s workers, so they can better support their families and help American businesses better compete in today’s economy. TWA is a coalition of community-based training organizations, community colleges, unions, business leaders, local officials, and leading technical assistance and research organizations from the field of workforce development.



Remarks

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Elected to the United States Senate in 2000, Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is a leading champion in Congress on workforce development issues.  She has led efforts to increase funding for education and training programs such as the Workforce Investment Act, as well as efforts to ensure an adequate safety net for dislocated workers and increased access to education and training for workers negatively impacted by trade and globalization.

What Are Sector Partnerships?

Maureen Conway, Deputy Director Economic Opportunities Program (EOP), The Aspen Institute
Maureen directs the EOP Workforce Strategies Initiative and is a lead author of the recent publication Sectoral Strategies for Low-Income Workers: Lessons from the Field. EOP advances innovative and promising strategies that connect the poor and underemployed to the mainstream economy.

Leading Innovators: Examples of Outstanding Sector Partnerships


Susan Crane, Executive Director, Port Jobs, Seattle, Washington
Since 1997, Susan has served as Executive Director of Seattle's Office of Port JOBS, a not-for-profit action tank that develops practical programs and supports public policies that increase access to living wage jobs, fostering a more vibrant and equitable economy for residents of and businesses in Seattle and King County.

Pam Egan, CFO, Nevada Partners, Home of the Culinary Training Academy
As the Chief Operating Officer of Nevada Partners and the Culinary Training Academy, Pam oversees the operations of two of the largest employment and training organizations in Southern Nevada, one a non-profit community based organization and the other a labor-management training trust serving the Las Vegas hospitality sector.



Ray Prendergast, Executive Director, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
Ray serves as Executive Director of JARC, a not-for-profit community development organization serving the Chicagoland area through high-quality skills training and support services that help workers achieve self-sufficiency as well as economic and workforce development services to help businesses improve their competitiveness.

Lessons Learned: The Role of Federal Policy

Rachel Gragg, Federal Policy Director, The Workforce Alliance
Rachel oversees federal policy initiatives for The Workforce Alliance, a national coalition of community-based organizations, community colleges, unions, business leaders, and local officials advocating for public policies that invest in the skills of America's workers.

TWA Sector Partnership Grants Fact Sheet
Sector Partnerships: The Basics
A Model Sector Partnership Grant Program