The WorkPlace
Think it forward
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The WorkPlace helps people prepare for careers by overseeing job training and preparation funds distributed by state and federal agencies. We serve many of the neediest people in southwest Connecticut; the majority are dislocated workers, low-wage workers, long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, mature workers, veterans, and out-of-school youth. We operate American Job Centers (AJC) in Bridgeport, Ansonia, Derby and Stamford as well as providing targeted programs and employment services designed to overcome barriers to employment and to help job seekers identify or regain a career that will facilitate their success. We also ensure that employers are able to find the workforce talent they need to operate and compete in a global marketplace. Business customers can benefit from customized recruitment services, access to a pool of pre-screened job applicants and other resources.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Workforce Preparation and Occupational Skills Training
Workforce Preparation and Occupational Skills Training - The core of The WorkPlace activities occurs through one of our four American Job Centers located in Bridgeport, Stamford, Ansonia, and Derby as well as a mobile career coach which visits local public libraries and other locations. American Job Centers provide critical workforce services to unemployed and underemployed people in the region as well as provide information on additional support agencies. Services are provided at no-cost, including workforce preparation workshops, access to job training, supportive services, and much more. All programs and services are at no cost to the customer. In 2015, The WorkPlace served more than 34,000 unemployed and underemployed job seekers through the American Job Centers.
Platform to Employment (P2E)
Platform to Employment(P2E) addresses the need for the long term unemployed to return to work and the employer need to recruit skilled workers. The program is a public-private partnership which gives businesses a risk-free opportunity to evaluate and consider hiring the long term unemployed during an 8 week work experience program. Investments from private donors support participants through pre-employment preparatory programs and work experience opportunities. What makes P2E different from traditional remedies is the inclusion of counseling and behavioral health services to manage stress, depression and confidence building. During the preparatory program, participants are encouraged to take action to fully realize their personal and professional potential, as well as their value proposition to a potential employer. They develop new strategies for solving problems which creates a positive change in the job seeker. The vital paid work experience program becomes an eight-week demonstration of skill sets and ability to produce for a potential employer. To attract employer partners, P2E eliminates this risk in hiring by subsidizing wages during the eight-week work experience. The employer fills an open position with a P2E participant at no-cost for the first four weeks and at a partial cost for the second month. The expectation is that a participant, if successful, will be hired to the employer's payroll.
Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County
Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County, a project of The WorkPlace, helps economically disadvantaged women find and maintain employment, develop greater self-esteem, enhance work skills, and advance in careers. Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life, all at no cost to the participant. There is no other program like this in Fairfield County. Dress for Success is supported by individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (MCJTP)
5) Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (MCJTP) - This vital program was developed in response to the country's foreclosure crisis and is designed to help Connecticut residents avoid foreclosure by providing training scholarships and other supportive services to unemployed or underemployed people to help them gain the skills they need to earn more. MCJTP offers Customized Employment Services; Job Training Scholarships; Job Placement Assistance; Financial Literacy; Credit Counseling; and Referrals to other services. The program serves Connecticut residents who are 60 days or more past due on mortgage payments and have household income less than $120,000.
Health CareeRx Academy
The Health CareeRx Academy addresses two major needs of the region: Provide the TANF (Temporary Assistance Needy Families) and other low-income populations with core skills, occupational skills and much needed supports so that members of this population can obtain employment in this growth industry, earn advanced credentials and sustain themselves and their families. While providing this population with health career skills and credentials, the program will also ameliorate the workforce shortages that are projected to plague this industry. The aging of Connecticut's population will have profound implications for the future Health CareeRx workforce. Between the year 2000 and 2030, the population 65 years of age and over is expected to increase 69%. An aging population will place greater demands on the health care system at the same time that many health professionals will be retiring. Also, as the population ages, there will be a continuing shift in the type and setting of health care services provided.
Where we work
Awards
GOLD - Platform to Employment Program 2012
Connecticut Quality Improvement Innovation Award
Work and Learn Program (A project of the Trafigura Foundation) 2011
Connecticut Quality Improvement Innovation Award
Enterprise Partnership Award 2010
Family ReEntry, Inc.
Business in Bloom Award 2010
Bridgeport City Council and Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce
SILVER - Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program 2009
Connecticut Quality Improvement Innovation Award
SILVER - Insurance and Financial Services Center for Educational Excellence 2008
Connecticut Quality Improvement Innovation Award
Champion of Compassion 2007
U.S. Department of Labor Center for Faith-Based & Community Services
SILVER - CTWorks Career Coach 2005
Connecticut Quality Improvement Innovation Award
Agency of the Year 2004
Valley Council for Health & Human Services
METAL, Inc. - Theodore E. Small Workforce Partnership Award 2003
National Association of Workforce Boards
Workforce Development Award for Excellence 2002
National Association of Counties
Distinguished Performance Award - Workforce Investment Board of the Year 2001
National Alliance of Business
Associate of the Year, J'Ingrid Clemons, Welfare to Work Coordinator 2000
Welfare to Work Small Business Administration (SBA)
Excellence in Customer Service, Gail H. Casper, JobLink Counselor 1995
New England Training & Employment Council
#1 Training Center in the United States *PIC Technology Training Center 1994
IBM Corporation
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of interview clothing consultations provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of free clothing suitings for interviews and the first week of work for women who are unemployed, provided by Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County.
Number of mature workers over the age of 55 provided with job skills training.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Workforce Preparation and Occupational Skills Training
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Number of mature workers over the age of 55 provided with job skills training.
Number of Veterans and family members served.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Workforce Preparation and Occupational Skills Training
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of Veterans and family members served.
Number of people that are enrolled in the Platform to Employment Reentry Program that have past criminal justice involvement.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Platform to Employment (P2E)
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of people that are enrolled in the Platform to Employment Reentry Program that have past criminal justice involvement.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In order to fulfill our mission, the goals of The WorkPlace include:
• To assist unemployed and underemployed individuals work towards overcoming poverty and insecurity by supporting economic development, job creation, and skills enhancement
• To create employment and career opportunities for individuals throughout our region by developing their full talents
• To address systemic barriers to employment
• To advocate for education and lifelong learning for all
• To collaborate with partners, community leaders, and allies so we may leverage the impact of our initiatives
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
There is a complete review of our strategic plan every 4 years. The strategic plan helps us strategically align our workforce efforts with customer needs and marketplace demands. The plan is a collaborative effort which includes municipal agencies, educators, non-profit organizations and philanthropy. The WorkPlace plan pays particular attention to industry sectors targeted in Connecticut’s economic development strategy and includes an Environmental scan of the workforce, labor market and resources. The document incorporates our goals, strategies and support from our Board of Directors.
The plan directs services provided to the community including an array of occupational training and workforce preparation programs, as well as supportive services such as assistance with childcare and transportation. The AJCs provide programs and services, at no cost, to job seekers such as skills assessment, career counseling, job search assistance, and occupational training. Customers using the centers have access to computers, internet, telephones, copy machines as well as workshops to help them search for a job. Additionally, we operate the Southwest AJC Career Coach which is a mobile computer lab that brings a training classroom to each of the towns in the region. The Coach improves service effectiveness, capacity, and accessibility to underserved populations and locations where public transportation is not available. Stops include libraries, community centers, churches, job fairs, senior centers, veteran centers, and public housing.
Individualized career services are coordinated in a manner that allows for customers to seamlessly attach to them. Vocational Rehabilitation has an on-site presence in our comprehensive Bridgeport AJC. Our Bridgeport AJC houses our assisted services unit. This unit is designed to assist customers with disabilities in navigating the American workforce system. We coordinate all disability related services through our assistive services unit to address the needs in partnership with the Voc- Rehab system in our satellite offices.
We have an open entry Adult Basic Education (ABE) and a General Educational Development (GED) program at our comprehensive Bridgeport AJC. We refer customers to the existing ABE and GED programs available through the States Department of Education programming in our satellite offices.
We have fully integrated our Jobs First Employment Services (JFES) program in all of our AJC’s. This reduces duplication and allows for co-enrollment into Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act funded programs if the customer requires additional services. Our work with the TANF/JFES program has been an ongoing program administered by The WorkPlace for several years.
In order to provide much needed additional “fill-the-gap” training, The Workplace pro-actively pursues state and federal competitive grants as well as funding from foundations and corporations.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As southwestern Connecticut’s Workforce Development Board, The WorkPlace is charged with guiding the region’s workforce development system, providing many key programs that impact the lives of a diverse and underserved population. Essential to our mission is the creation of a seamless, coordinated system of education, training and employment that is customer-centered and easily accessible; meets the needs of employers and individuals; has a high level of commitment and collaboration from business, education, government and community agencies including economic development, employment, training and human services and has defined goals and performance standards.
Members of the senior management team each have numerous years of experience with the organization and administration of complex outcome-based programs. They ensure The WorkPlace remains high-performing, that it invests in the development of people working in the organization and fosters an understanding of the various customer and stakeholder needs.
The Board of Directors is community-focused and members are nominated by chief elected officials in the 20 cities and towns in The WorkPlace's region. A majority of the board members are business leaders; other board members include representatives from labor, human resources, community-based organizations, education, and government.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The WorkPlace continually strives to establish innovative collaborations that inspire success and support an environment conducive to economic development, while providing opportunities for lifelong learning and personal growth, which contribute to building a vibrant economy through increased employment opportunities.
Highlights from The WorkPlace’s recent history include:
• October 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded The WorkPlace a grant to continue and grow our regional HealthCareer Academy. The Health Professions Opportunity Grant enables us to outreach and serve the regions low-income population and other individuals in need for healthcare careers not just jobs. We expect to serve 1500 individuals during this period.
• January 2016, Platform to Employment was awarded one of the first ever Renewal Awards from Atlantic Media and the Allstate Foundation as a creative and innovative solution to a pressing social and economic challenge.
• In October 2016, The WorkPlace was elevated to the status of national operator and awarded a contract to administer the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Pennsylvania. SCSEP will provide community service, job training and wages to 1,300 low income older Americans over four years.
• In 2013 the Platform to Employment program (P2E), was cited by President Obama for its achievements helping the long-term unemployed.
• Under the new Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA), workforce development boards across the country are required to competitively bid the Operator/Provider (O & P) role in their workforce system. As result, in 2018 The WorkPlace was awarded O&P contracts in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Ohio. We are changing the American Job Centers for the better by making them holistic and insuring that our national stature continues to rise.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The WorkPlace
Board of directorsas of 02/23/2024
Ms. Nicole Russo
Microboard
Term: 2022 - 2025
Arthur Bogen
Down to Earth, LLC
John Condlin
Stamford Chamber of Commerce
Clodomiro Falcon
La Guia Hispana
Garry Feldman
U.S. Computer Connection LLC
Victor Fuda
CT Dept. of Labor
Lindy-Lee Gold
Dept. of Economic & Community Development
Joseph Grabinski
Sikorsky Aircraft
Herbert Grant
DMG & Associates, LLC
Craig Hoekenga (EC)
Microboard Processing, Inc.
Michael LaBella
TD Bank, N.A.
David Levinson
Norwalk Community College
John Loeser
IBM
Jim Lohr
Carpenters Labor Management Program
Henry Lugo (EC)
People's United Bank
Reina Marasco
Valley Regional Adult Education
Kathleen Marchione
Bureau of Rehab Services/DSS
Matthew McSpedon
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Marc Napolitano (EC)
UBS Investment Bank
Win Oppel (EC)
Ad-Merica Corp
Margaret Sheahan
Mitchell & Sheahan, P.C.
Bruce Silverstone (EC)
Aquarion
Thomas Wilkinson
Local 371 United Food & Commercial Workers
Frank Ortega
Citibank
Teresa Giegengack (EC)
Westport Human Services Department
Lana Wong
New England Financial
Jack Myers
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Garrett Sheehan (EC)
United Illuminating
Jennifer Stites
Nestle Waters, N.A.
Paul Broadie
Housatonic Community College
George Byers
Park City Communities
Herbert Grant
DMG and Associates, LLC
Doug Holcomb
Greater Bridgeport Transit
Richard Iannucci
Port 5 Naval Veterans
Curtis Law
Norwalk Housing Authority
Sabrina Mancini
CT State Dept of Education
David Morgan
TEAM, Inc.
Jim Oddo
Frontier Communications
Frank Ortega
Citibank, NA CT
Catalina Samper-Horak
Neighbors Link Stamford
Poonam Sharma
CT Dept of Social Services
Larry Bentley
Patriot National Bank
Thomas Sportini
IBEW Local 488 JATC
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data