JOTF Newsletter - July 2005

JOTF & OSI to Host Funder/Provider Relations Forum, Sept. 27

JOTF and Open Society Institute-Baltimore present a public forum:

Thumel Business Center, Room BC-135
Merrick School of Business
University of Baltimore
Corner of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue
1420 North Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland

Invited Funders' Panel
Patrice Cromwell , Senior Fellow, Family Economic Success, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Betsy Nelson , Executive Director, Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers
Melanie Styles , Program Officer for Workforce Development, Abell Foundation

Invited Providers’ Panel
Joseph Jones , President and CEO, Center for Fathers, Families, and Workforce Development
Kevin Jordan , Treasurer, Bon Secours of Maryland Foundation
Pat McLaughlin , SSND, Executive Director, Caroline Center

Moderator: Jason Perkins-Cohen, Executive Director, JOTF

Grantmakers and service providers enjoy a symbiotic relationship: providers depend on grantmakers’ generosity to accomplish vital work in the community, and funders rely on grantees to help effect change at a societal level. However, at the program implementation level there are often disconnects between the expectations of grantmakers and those of providers.

Join JOTF and its invited guest speakers for a candid dialogue about ways that service providers and funders can work together effectively to realize their shared goals. This forum is intended to be a conversation, rather than a presentation or an opportunity to solicit funding. Bring your questions, comments, and insights about how providers and grantmakers alike can move beyond the money to make sure the real work gets done.

There is no charge for this event. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited. RSVP to Jessica Traskey at (410) 234-8040 or jessica@jotf.org.

This event is part of Forging Open Society: Generating Ideas, Partnerships, and Solutions, forums convened by OSI-Baltimore to encourage community leaders with diverse perspectives to craft solutions to challenges facing the Baltimore region.

JOTF acknowledges the Jacob France Institute and the University of Baltimore for their generous upport of this forum.

2006 Advocacy Agenda Takes Shape
As the summer draws to a close and the 2006 legislative session approaches, JOTF is putting the finishing touches on its advocacy agenda for the coming year. Our top priorities include: expanding state investment in adult education; preparing inmates and ex-offenders for mainstream employment; protecting income supports for working families; and supporting initiatives that promote employment and skills development for low-skill, low-wage Marylanders.

We expect to release our finalized public policy agenda in November. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments regarding our advocacy work, contact Jason Perkins-Cohen (410-234-8045/jason@jotf.org) or Kevin Griffin Moreno (410-234-8046/kevin@jotf.org).

Urban study finds affordable housing out of reach of many low-income Baltimoreans
A new study published by the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute finds that even low-rent housing is out of the financial reach of Baltimore's low-income renters, according to a Sept. 12 Baltimore Sun article. Funded by the Abell Foundation, "Low-End Rental Housing: The Forgotten Story in Baltimore's Housing Boom" finds that Baltimore has "an estimated 40,000 low-income renters who cannot afford even the modest rents on their dwellings, live in substandard housing, or both, and nearly 20,000 substandard units renting for less than the median rent."

Urban Institute: How States Can Help Low-Income Workers
Another new report from the Urban Institute, titled "How States Can Help Low-Income Workers," outlines steps that states can take to move disadvantaged populations from poverty to self-sufficiency. Among the recommended strategies are:
- Make higher education more accessible to low-income workers;
- Help low-wage workers move beyond entry-level jobs into career pathways;
- Boost income supports for working parents;
- Support the employment of non-custodial parents with child support arrearages;
- Establish workforce development initiatives that specifically target returning ex-offenders.

Daily Record: "Job training for biotech gets a boost at CCBC"
The Maryland Daily Record reported on September 14 that the Community College of Baltimore County intends to use a nearly three million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a biomanufacturing training center.

"...the funds will go toward advancing the school’s ability to train the next generation of technicians, while at the same time improving other community colleges and training centers in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.

"...CCBC’s Biotechnology Program was established five years ago with the help of another National Science Foundation grant, Burkett said. The new grant will go toward improving the school’s selection of training courses, such as teaching good practices in clean rooms. He said CCBC will also be able to give students backgrounds in the sciences of the fields in which they will work, which will make them better able to perform their tasks, he said.

"The end result is a worker with the skills needed in the biomanufacturing world, Burkett said."

Daily Record: "Poverty up in Md.'s richest counties"
Two of Maryland's most affluent counties, Howard and Anne Arundel, are seeing increases in the percentage of residents who live in poverty, according to a September 15 article in the Daily Record. Statistics from an analysis of the most recent U.S. Census data, show that Maryland's poverty rate has also climbed over the past two years.

"'We used to have one of the lowest rates,' said Wesley Mason with the Progressive Maryland Education Fund. '[Now] a lot of people are struggling to try to pay the bills.'

"Mason said job losses, a stagnant minimum wage, a recovering economy and medical bills influenced Maryland's poverty rate.

"Another chief factor was the organization of families, according to Mark Goldstein with the Department of Planning.

"He said about 55 percent of Anne Arundel County's impoverished were in single-parent households. Howard County followed closely at around 45 percent.

'Family structure plays a role in poverty,' Goldstein said. 'With one parent you obviously have only one worker. That's a contributing factor.'”

MOED Presents Employment Law Seminar (9/28/05)
The Mayor's Office of Employment Development will host a Human Resources "Hot Topic" Seminar on employment law on Wednesday, September 28, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Southwest Career Center, 201 South Arlington Street, Baltimore.

"HR Litigation Risk Audit - Fine Tune Your HR Practices From Recruitment to Termination" will feature Todd J. Horn, Esq., a partner at Venable LLP and the co-author of Maryland Employment Law.

The event is free, but reservations are required. RSVP to Patricia Aderson at 410-396-WORK or panderson@oedworks.com.

Goodwill Industries Career Fair (9/30/05)
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. and State Senator Verna Jones present a career fair:
Goodwill Industries
222 E. Redwood Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.goodwillches.org

Other Area Job Fairs in October

October 6, 2005
UMBC Career Fair
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Retriever Activities Center
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD
www.careers.umbc.edu

October 11, 2005
Employment Guide Job Fair
10:00am - 3:00pm
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street, Baltimore MD, 21201
Call The Employment Guide for more information: 877-247-6290 ext. 235

October 27, 2005
Anne Arundel County Fall Job Fair
Noon to 4:00 p.m.
The Glen Burnie Mall
6711 Gov. Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD
Call: 410-799-9099, ext. 108; 410-269-4427; or 410-647-5240

"Raise the Voice!" - MD Nonprofit Annual Conference (11/1/05)
Maryland Nonprofits will hold it's 13th Annual Conference, "Raise the Voice!", on November 1, 2005 from 8 am - 4 pm at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road North Bethesda, MD 20852. For moreinformation visit http://www.marylandnonprofits.org/.

Women's Re-Entry Conference (11/12/05)
Women Empowering Women presents the "1st Annual National Re-Entry Conference," 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on November 12 at Coppin State University's New Dining Hall, 2500 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. Registration $15; scholarships and group rates available, donations gratefully accepted.

The conference will cover such topics as legal information, health issues, recovery reinforcement, housing assistance, self-esteem enhancement, re-entry resources, and spiritual renewal. For more information contact: Alfreda Robinson at 410-235-3584 (Baltimore); Dr. Patricia N. Marks at 703-569-7237 (Virginia/Washington D.C); Kelly Salzmann at 202-824-2802; or Diane Sims-Moore at 202-547-1090.

BWIB to Hold Informational Conference on New Workforce Grants (9/26)

LEGAL NOTICE: The Baltimore City Workforce Investment Board (BWIB) acting by and through the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) is issuing a r Request , for Application to solicit grassroot s faith -based and community -based organizations (FBCOs) to provide Workforce Development services to ex- inmate offenders at from The Re-entry Center @ The Northwest Career Center.

The expected term s for the contract(s) to be awarded under this solicitation will be one (1) year, commencing on or about January 1, 2006.

An award , approximately not to exceed $125,000 , of Federal funds will be used to support the each proposal accepted by the BWIB.

The MOED is an EEO/ADA/OSHA/MOSHA/EPA-compliant organization and all responsive bidders applicants must also comply with the aforementioned requirements.

An informational conference will be held:
Monday, September 26, 2005
1:00 p.m.
The Re-entry Center @ The Northwest Career Center
2401 Liberty Heights Avenue
Mondawmin Mall, Suite 302

To obtain Further details are to be provided at the informational conference . a nd The an application package will be available at upon request. the informational conference. contact: Betty Yelity, 410-396-1910 or email intensiveRFP@oedworks.com

The conference will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Late arrivals will not be admitted.

DLLR Announces Available Program Manager Positions
The State of Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation announces an opening for a Program Manager III/Director, Office of Information and Performance, within the Division of Workforce Development.

The main duties of this position are as follows: Responsible for the management of the Office of Workforce Information and Performance within the Division of Workforce Development; responsible for directing and coordinating performance management and labor market information reporting for all major programs within the Division which include the programs operated by the State in all local jurisdictions and also the programs operated by local Workforce Investment Boards; work with the various operational and support units within the Division and Department, the United States Department of Labor, various Maryland State Departments, and the local workforce development agencies; responsible for the oversight of the production of labor market information reports and analysis to business and government customers; ensure that information systems are in place to measure performance; develop and provide training and technical assistance.

The candidates must possess excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills.

This is a Management Service position, which serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Possession of a Master’s Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Statistics or a related field.

Experience: Two years of experience in administrative or professional work, preferably in the areas of social science, public policy or workforce development. One year of this experience must have involved the supervision of other employees or exercising responsibility for program development.

Notes: Additional experience in administrative or professional work may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required general experience at the rate of 30 semester credit hours for one year of the required general experience.

SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS: Two years of the required experience must have involved qualitative and quantitative analysis and social policy development.

How to Apply: Please send a Maryland State Application and/or a detailed resume to:

DLLR Office of Personnel Services
Recruitment & Examination Unit
500 North Calvert Street, Room 310
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attention: DWD/Director of Workforce Information & Performance/RSridharan

CLOSING DATE: September 23, 2005
(Postmarks Accepted)
Applications can be obtained by visiting the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of Personnel Services or by calling 410-230-6300 Monday-Friday during the business hours or by visiting our web site at http://www.dllr.state.md.us/personnel/index/html.

DLLR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. TTY Users, call via Maryland Relay Service

The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation/Division of Workforce Development is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Labor Exchange Administrator (Program Manager I) in the Baltimore County office. [Current Salary $46,773-$72,369 (Grade 19)]

This position will provide guidance and supervision to the operation of federally funded Wagner-Peyser and related programs in Baltimore County One-Stop Centers. This position will organize, assign and manage the work of Labor Exchange programs and related staff in a One-Stop facility or coordinate services with a One-Stop facility to meet the goals and standards established by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) and the Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB). This position is responsible for developing and negotiating contracts/agreements and coordinating activities with local Departments of Social Services, Local Workforce Investment Boards and other government agencies that share similar service delivery objectives. This position will ensure that programs and services are provided to various target populations, such as unemployment insurance claimants, veterans, youth, older and dislocated workers, migrant/seasonal farm workers, etc.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Experience: Five (5) years of experience in the Maryland State classification of Job Service Specialist Supervisor I/II/III, OR five years of experience in supervisory, managerial, program development or program administration work in the DLLR Division of Workforce Development or the DLLR Division of Unemployment Insurance OR five years of experience in supervisory, managerial, program development or program administration work in workforce development. Any combination of these qualifications equaling five years of the required experience will be considered qualifying experience.

HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a Maryland State Application (MS-100) or a résumé, postmarked by the closing date to:
Renuka Sridharan, Manager
Recruitment and Examination Unit
Attention: Program Manager I/Baltimore County
DLLR - Office of Personnel Services
500 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

CLOSING DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
Applications that are postmarked after the closing date will not be accepted.
(Do not e-mail applications or resumes to the Office of Personnel Services. Verification of college degree MUST be included with the Maryland State Application or resume.) Applications may be obtained by visiting the DLLR web site at www.dllr.state.md.us/personnel/index.html or by calling(410) 230-6300 during the business hours Monday through Friday.

Workforce Alliance Seeks Federal Policy Director
The Workforce Alliance (TWA) is seeking a senior-level advocate to become its new Federal Policy Director. The Federal Policy Director will oversee TWA's direct and grassroots advocacy on federal legislation, agency regulation and national funding initiatives related to workforce education and training.

East Harbor CDC Seeks Financial Services Manager
East Harbor Community Development Corporation is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of families in East Baltimore. Founded in 2000, East Harbor focuses their work on three core competencies: asset development, residential/commercial development, and business development.

The Financial Services Manager would be part of our asset development team that also includes the Director of Programs, Asset Building Manager, and Latino Services Manager. The job responsibilities include: Provide customized financial education workshops, classes, and courses for a variety of audiences and ages including young parents, survivors of domestic violence, recent immigrants and refugees, public housing residents, and others as needed. Provide individual financial counseling to existing and new clients that includes budgeting, credit repair, and creation of short and long-term financial plans. Provide motivational coaching and case management to clients while implementing their financial plans. Provide train-the-trainer sessions for local non-profits and business to increase their capacity to provide basic financial information to their constituents. Initiate and negotiate partnerships with local non-profits around financial services. Connect to and coordinate activities with other asset building providers in Baltimore and state-wide Serve as a representative of the organization on appropriate coalitions and committees. Track and monitor all activities and outcomes through Effort-to-Outcomes software. Generate monthly reports to supervisor and funder reports as needed Research funding opportunities and create appropriate proposals. Research best practices and connect to broader asset building field through listservs, discussion groups, and conferences. Create marketing materials and outreach plan for programming. Maintain organized, accurate files and resources. Other activities as assigned.

Qualifications: Master's Degree in Business, Social Work, Education, or related degree Minimum 3-5 years related work experience. Working knowledge of current financial education curricula including FDIC Money Smart, NEFE, Wells Fargo Hands on Banking, and NCRC Demonstrated skills in educating adults, facilitating groups, organizing presentations. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal skills. Enthusiasm and passion for improving the lives of low-income families. Entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility to evolve. Salary range between $35,000 and $45,000, including benefits, dependent on qualifications.

For more information please contact: Robin McKinney, Director of Programs, East Harbor CDC, 250 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231 410-534-6522 x17, robin@ehcdc.org

MOED Seeks Ex-Offender Employment Program Coordinator
The Mayor's Office of Employment Development has a vacancy for a Project Coordinator with the Ex-Offender Program/Northwest Career Career Center (CCPEx). This position is full-time temporary with benefits. Salary range $37,234 - $52,500.

This is administrative work at the full performance level. Work is complex in nature and requires attention to detail. Work involves building and coordinating relationships; with sub-grantees building sub grantees capacity to administer federally funded programs; analyzing, negotiating and writing contracts; monitoring performance; and coordinating activities for sub-grantees to ensure improved employment outcomes for ex-offenders, through an full menu of related services delivered by faith and community based organization for or at the Northwest Career Center.

Assignments are carried out in accordance with general work instructions for employment service practices, procedures and policies and the established community collaboration program for Ex-offenders. This position requires an individual with experience in project planning, activity oversight, contract management and program implementation. Familiarity with Faith Based and Community Based programs is essential and knowledge of workforce development is valuable.

If interested, pick up an application from the human resources dept., 417 E. Fayette St., Suite 401 (21202) and return (along with an updated resume) to Amy Butwin, HR Analyst. Applicants needing disability-related accommodations for interviews should request them in advance by contacting Christine Marshall at (410) 396-1790.