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. The program centers Equitable Economic Recovery as a theme and core value, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income New Yorkers. Furthermore, the program emphasizes recruitment of leaders of color, who make up 70 percent of this cohort’s participants.
The upcoming cohort will have the opportunity to explore key topics central to successful leadership and systems change, engage with key stakeholders from across New York City’s workforce system and around the country to develop more effective workforce development strategies, and complete systems change projects focused on critical issues impacting workforce development in New York City.
Our full list of participants includes:
| Daniel Agosto | Director of Workforce Programs | Phipps Neighborhoods |
| Ayosike Akingbade | Director of Programs | Hunts Point Alliance for Children |
| Constance Barnes Watson | Director of Programs and Partnerships/Founder & President | The Knowledge House/UnmaskEDU |
| Maricela Brea | Director, Workforce & Inter-Government Relations | NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities |
| Kimsue Bryan | Workforce Development Coordinator | NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| Natalie Bryan | Assistant VP Workforce Development | Goodwill of NY & NJ |
| Sara Chapman | Director of Education & Career Services | Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation |
| Aaron Covarrubias | Program Manager | NYC Department of Small Business Services |
| Josue De Paz | CEO & Co-founder | First Tech Fund, Inc |
| Jennifer Dillon | Vice President of Workforce Development | The Doe Fund |
| Amy Furman | Director | Break Through Tech New York (at Cornell Tech, partnered with CUNY) |
| Stephany Garcia | Manager of Partnership and Community Engagement | JobsFirstNYC |
| Micah Gertzog | Associate Director | CUNY |
| Bethany Goldszer | The Bronx Charter School for Children | |
| Danielle Hayman | Site Director | Braven |
| Shawn Hegele | Director of Fundraising and Evaluation | Brooklyn Workforce Innovations |
| Lowell Herschberger | Director of Career and Education Programs | Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation |
| Bryan Lozano | Director of Strategic Partnerships | Per Scholas |
| Brynn McCormick | Assistant Vice President, Workforce | Commonpoint Queens |
| Allison Messina | Vice President, Workforce Development | Project Renewal |
| Herlande Moise | Deputy Director | Grant Associates Inc |
| Katherine Peabody | Director of Partnerships | Hot Bread Kitchen |
| Sabeen Pirani | Senior Director, Learning & Consulting | Workforce Professionals Training Institute |
| Michael Salazar | Senior Director of Workforce Innovation | Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow |
| Kimberly Scelta | Strategic Operations Manager | STRIVE |
| Brandon Slaughter | Director of 9-16 Educational Partnership | HERE to HERE |
| Joel Thomas | Senior Director, Economic Empowerment | Urban Resource Institute |
| Jeanie Tung | Director of Business Development and Workforce Partnerships | Henry Street Settlement |
| Nakita Vanstory | Manager, Job & Business Academy | Queensborough Public Library |
| Lenese Vergara | Assistant Director - Job Generation | New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) |
To learn more about the Workforce Systems Leadership Program, contact Justin Collins, Assistant Director of the Workforce Field Building Hub, at jcollins@workforceprofessionals.org.