Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Colin Mincy, Chief People Officer at Human Rights Watch, as our new Board Chair. Colin is a global HR, talent and work culture thought leader who became Human Rights Watch’s inaugural Chief People Officer in 2019, when the organization elevated the role to demonstrate its commitment to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and to ensure a resilient and thriving staff that reflect the organization’s global role, identity, and mandate.

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

The COVID downturn set off alarm bells among job developers.  WPTI responded with a BELL of its own.

With the support of the Pinkerton Foundation, WPTI launched the first cohort of the Business Engagement Learning Lab (BELL) in April 2021.  Successor to WPTI’s longstanding Job Developer Learning Group, the four-month BELL initiative sharpened the focus on employer engagement at a time of significantly heightened competition for jobs.

We are pleased to share the first article in a series of reflections from members of the WPTI team on workforce development policy and practice, their specific areas of expertise, and lessons learned throughout their careers.

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.