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Newsletter September 2003 The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is pleased to bring you the latest edition of its electronic newsletter. The JOTF E-Newsletter includes news, announcements, and information about upcoming events in the Baltimore area that we hope will be of interest to you. If your organization would like to publicize an event, job announcement, or other information, please send e-mail to info@jotf.org. In this issue:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
OPPORTUNITIES: NEW PUBLICATIONS:
OTHER NEWS:
JOTF News JOTF/OSI TO HOST FORUM ON DLLR AND DHR'S PLANS TO AID LOW-INCOME WORKERS What: Getting a Job,
Growing a Career: A Conversation With Two State Agencies, a public
forum sponsored by JOTF and Open Society Institute - Baltimore Who: Guest speakers will be James D. Fielder, Jr., Ph.D., Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation (DLLR), and Christopher J. McCabe, Secretary of the Department Human Resources (DHR). Secretary Fielder and Secretary McCabe will discuss how the new Administration plans to move more low-income workers and job seekers to economic self-sufficiency. DLLR and DHR play a vital role in helping low-income workers and their families move up and out of poverty. DLLR assists job seekers in finding employment, provides unemployment insurance compensation, and offers training for workers to advance in their careers. DLLR also assists employers by funding incumbent worker training initiatives like the STEP Program, and by providing access to federal and state tax credits. DHR implements programs to promote family self-sufficiency through job placement and work supports. In addition, businesses can work with DHR’s Office of Work Opportunities to recruit from targeted populations and obtain financial incentives for hiring. [Space is full for this forum, but you can call or e-mail Jessica Traskey
at (410) 234-8040 or jessica@jotf.org to
be placed on the waiting list.] BALTIMORE EMPLOYMENT ROUNTABLE: NEXT MEETING SEPTEMBER 25 What: The Mayor's Office of Employment Development:
Partnering With Providers This month's Baltimore Employment Roundtable meeting, will give workforce development providers the opportunity to learn about the Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) programs for low-income job seekers. MOED senior staff will highlight Employ Baltimore and the Career One-Stop system. Providers can also find out how to partner with MOED to improve employment outcomes for their clients. If you would like to become a member of the Baltimore Employment Roundtable, visit
its web page or contact Kevin Griffin
Moreno at (410) 234-8046. JOTF UNDERTAKES MARYLAND STATE WORKFORCE INDICATORS PROJECT The Job Opportunities Task Force has undertaken the Maryland State Workforce Indicators Project, which will produce a report, to be released in January 2004, that examines the conditions and policies that encourage economic self-sufficiency for working low-wage families in Maryland. The report will promote discussion about the state’s commitment and effectiveness in moving working poor families towards self sufficiency. The initiative for this project was based on the fact that:
The report will present Maryland data in four areas: 1) the conditions of working families in economic distress;2) education and skills training for working adults; 3) employment opportunities for entry level and low-wage workers; and 4) the conditions of employment (e.g., availability of health insurance, workers compensation) at existing jobs. For further information, call 410-234-8303 or e-mail Chauna Brocht at research@jotf.org. JOTF BIDS FAREWELL TO SABRINA RHODES It is with regret that JOTF bids farewell to program assistant Sabrina Rhodes, who is moving to Tennessee this month. Sabrina has been with JOTF since January 2001, when she was hired as an intern to gather information on area service providers that reach out to ex-offenders. In summer 2002, she received a prestigious fellowship to work with the Baltimore Mayor's Office. Following her completion of the fellowship period, Sabrina returned to JOTF as a program assistant. In this capacity she worked with staff to update the content and layout of the JOTF website, and she co-edited the JOTF monthly e-newsletter. She also remained closely connected to JOTF's work on behalf of inmates and ex-offenders. Sabrina brought intelligence, patience, attention to detail, and unfailing good humor to her work with us. Last June she received a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University for Policy Studies. Sabrina contributed greatly to JOTF. We wish her all the best in this new chapter of her life. Upcoming Events CREATIVE ALLIANCE AND THE SOUND FOUNDATION
PRESENT BENEFIT CONCERT FOR HOMELESS PERSONS REPRESENTATION PROJECT To purchase tickets, call 410-276-3206, or visit www.missiontix.com. BALTIMORE HOSTS IMMIGRANT WORKERS FREEDOM RIDE KICK-OFF RALLY What: Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride Kick-Off Rally Why: Baltimore is one of over 100 U.S. cities participating
in the Immigrant
Workers Freedom Ride, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of
the problems confronting immigrants in the workplace. Inspired by the
freedom riders of the civil rights movement, in September 2003 immigrant
workers and their allies will depart on buses from nine major U.S. cities – Seattle,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Houston, Boston, Chicago,
and Minneapolis – and cross the country to call attention to issues
facing foreign-born workers. JOTF partners are urged to support this important effort
by endorsing the campaign and welcoming the Freedom Riders to Baltimore
in October. For more information, contact Kevin
Griffin Moreno at (410) 234-8046, or visit www.iwfr.org. MARYLAND LATINO COALITION FOR JUSTICE ANNUAL MEETING The Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice will host its 3rd annual meeting on Saturday, September 20, 2003 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Langley Park Community Center, 1500 Merrimac Dr., Hyattsville, MD 20783. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided, along with free child care. For more information, call (301) 431-4185, (410) 625-9409, or e-mail nfani@casamd.org. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCE TO PRESENT FORUM ON RECOVERY AND EMPLOYMENT The Maryland
Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence presents
a forum titled "Recovery, Journey of a Lifetime: Taking the Steps
Toward Employment," featuring presentations by Genesis
Jobs, the Mayor’s
Office on Employment Development, and St.
Jude’s Employment Center. It will be held from 5:30 p.m.
to 8:00p.m. on Wednesday, September 17 at Osler Hall, Med-Chi,
the Medical Society of Maryland, 1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore,
Maryland. Free parking is available. The Maryland Institute
for Employment and Training Professionals will host a workshop
titled "Profiles for Success: Serving Customers with Criminal
Records." The workshop will be held at the MIETP Training Center
in Columbia, MD. The trainer is Mary Davis and registration is required. CITIZENS PLANNING & HOUSING ASSOCIATION TO HOLD RESOURCE FAIR AND CITIZEN ACTION WORKSHOP Citizens Planning and Housing Association's Resource Fair and Citizen Action Workshop takes place Saturday, October 4th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church, 2640 St. Paul Street in Baltimore. This event is held twice per year to give community activists from around the region access to dozens of resource organizations and to offer workshops about skills and issues that community leaders need. Admission is free to the public. Resource tables can be set up for $15. For more information, contact Matthew Weinstein at 410-539-1369, x225. MARYLAND WORKS TO HOST WORKSHOP ON MARYLAND TAX CREDITS Maryland Works Workforce
Network and the Provider Network will present an educational program
titled "Maryland Tax Credits: A Tool for Employment Professionals" on
Wednesday, October 15. The workshop will be held at the Maryland Works
Training Center in Columbia, MD. Speakers include Bob Hofmann, CEO of
Maryland Works, and Ronald Winter, Division
of Rehabilitation Services. Registration is required. Opportunities If your organization would like
to publicize a service, job announcement, grant, or other opportunity,
send e-mail to info@jotf.org. Citizens Planning and Housing Association seeks to hire a new community organizer. The organizer will work with neighborhood organizations to build capacity and develop leadership in targeted older-suburban communities in the Baltimore region. Position Description:
Qualifications: Please submit cover letter and resume to Michael Sarbanes, Executive
Director, CPHA, 218 W. Saratoga St., 5th floor, Baltimore, MD 21201.
No telephone inquiries. MARYLAND JUVENILE JUSTICE COALITION SEEKS PROGRAM ASSOCIATE The Maryland Juvenile Justice Coalition seeks to hire a program associate. This full-time position offers administrative support to the Juvenile Justice advocacy program. Requires proficiency in MS Office with database management skills, excellent oral and written communication, and ability to work independently and be a self-starter. Bachelor's degree or 3 years office experience preferred. Knowledge of juvenile justice system helpful. Salary mid 20s. Send resume and three writing samples to Advocates for Children and Youth, 8 Market Pl, Ste 500, Baltimore, MD 21202 or fax to 410.547.8690 by 9/11/03. EOE New Publications THE WORKFORCE ALLIANCE: AUGUST 2003 WASHINGTON UPDATE The Workforce Alliance released an August 2003 Washington Update, which contains information about recent Congressional action on workforce investment, higher education, and welfare reform. Click
here to read this update. VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE: LEGISLATORS' VIEWS ON PRISONS AND THE BUDGET CRISIS The Vera Institute of Justice recently released a report, "Dollars and Sentences: Legislators' Views on Prisons, Punishment, and the Budget Crisis", that discusses state legislator's views on the impact of the budget on criminal justice policies. This report summarizes their thoughts and reveals that partisan politics in some states is taking a back seat to saving money and producing better outcomes. MD BUDGET AND TAX POLICY INSITUTE: MARYLAND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAXES From the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute: "Maryland employers will be faced with an across-the-board, one percent increase in their unemployment insurance tax rate beginning in January. This automatic increase has been triggered to bolster our depleted unemployment insurance trust fund. Our trust fund reserves are being depleted despite a UI system that provides benefits to fewer unemployed workers than in most states and average benefits that are below the national average. "One could argue that this tax increase is poorly timed--businesses will pay more when the economy is still sluggish. However poorly timed it is, it is not accidental--our UI financing system is designed so that tax rates go up when businesses are struggling. How is that?" Other News NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: GIVING CONVICTS A SECOND CHANCE IN BALTIMORE From National Pubic Radio: The nation's prison population hit a record 2.1 million last year. Law enforcement officials, charity workers and others are just starting to focus on what happens when all those inmates get out. On August 27, Morning Edition's, Steve Inskeep
reported on efforts in Baltimore, Md., to find jobs for those who are
determined to stay out of prison. NEW YORK TIMES: DESPAIR OF THE JOBLESS From the New York Times , August 7: "The folks who put the voodoo back in economics
keep telling us that prosperity is just around the corner. For the
unemployed, that would mean more jobs. Are there more jobs just around
the corner? NEWSDAY: THREE PART SERIES ON EX-OFFENDER RE-ENTRY Newsday has
released a three-part article series on ex-offenders re-entering society
and struggling with
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