In recognition of WPTI’s commitment to improving workplace mental health, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (formerly known as ThriveNYC) and its Thrive in Your Workplace initiative have named WPTI a Workplace Mental Health Champion for 2021. The award recognizes WPTI as part of “a cadre of industry leaders who actively fight the stigma of mental health, support employee mental health, and promote access to mental healthcare.

WPTI is pleased to announce the 2021-22 cohort for our Workforce Systems Leadership Program (WSLP), WPTI’s signature leadership development program for emerging senior leaders across New York City’s workforce development system. Operated in partnership with Coro New York, WSLP recruits a diverse group of leaders and change makers from across the field, representing government, community-based organizations, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, and the private sector.

In January and February 2020, Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) – in partnership with the Labor Market Information Service (LMIS) at CUNY – conducted a survey of 362 New York City frontline workforce development professionals – defined as those individuals providing jobseeker/client-facing services at programs and organizations focused on providing job training and placement, along with supportive wraparound services.

On Tuesday, March 16, Workforce Professionals Training Institute hosted the fifth and final session in our series of Employer Symposiums, presented in partnership with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). This session focused on both the construction and manufacturing sectors, and was attended by 70 workforce professionals, representing 44 organizations and agencies.

On Tuesday, February 16, WPTI hosted the fourth session in our Employer Symposium Series in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), this time focused on the tech industry, a growing force in New York City’s economy.

Summer 2021 is rapidly approaching, and with it comes the launch of New York City’s annual Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), a staple of the city since 1963, funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on SYEP, leading to funding cuts, a shift to virtual programming, and a dramatically-altered calendar with minimal time for providers to prepare for the program’s implementation.

Few sectors have been hit harder than retail. Even before the pandemic, many of NYC’s 32,000 brick-and-mortar businesses were struggling against strong competition from e-commerce and national chains, shifting consumption patterns, and fast rising costs of operation.

On November 17th, more than 100 workforce practitioners and stakeholders joined Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to learn about the state of one of New York City’s most important sectors: Hospitality.

On Monday, August 3, AM New York published an op-ed written by Sharon Sewell-Fairman, Executive Director of WPTI, focused on closing the digital divide to get New Yorkers back to work.

Read the op-ed here