Blog
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Pivoting from Hotel Housekeeping to Hospitals: 5 Questions with BEST Hospitality Training Center
Post Date: 07.24.2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, like many organizations that provide training for workers, Boston Education Skills and Training (BEST) Corp. found their target industry in upheaval. The recipient of a $215,833 Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success grant from the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, BEST was working with four hotel employer partners and five MassHire […]
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2020 “Safe Jobs for Youth” Poster Contest Winners Announced
Post Date: 05.19.2020
Winners of the 2020 statewide “Safe Jobs for Youth” Poster Contest are each taking home cash prizes funded by Commonwealth Corporation for their creative posters that highlight the importance of workplace safety and health for teens. Betsy O’Reilly, 16, of Mashpee, won first place and $500, and her poster will be printed and distributed to […]
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New Pharmacy Technicians Graduate Training in Remote Ceremony
Post Date: 05.12.2020
The first remote graduation in the history of JVS Boston began with applause sound effects and ended with a singalong to “Sweet Caroline,” celebrating the 15 new pharmacy technicians who started the training program in-person and finished it in online virtual classrooms due to COVID-19 pandemic, bolstering the healthcare workforce during the global coronavirus public […]
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$10M in Workforce Training Fund Program Grant Awards Announced
Post Date: 02.14.2020
Leadership is like being the first egg cracked in an omelette. That’s one of the messages about assertiveness that Cherrell McKoy picked up as a trainee in a workforce leadership program that’s now being offered to employees at Brockton-based Father Bill’s & MainSpring, the nonprofit that provides shelter to the homeless and supportive housing throughout […]
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CommCorp, MassHire Train Career Center Staff on Substance Use Disorder and Trauma-Informed Workforce Development Practice
Post Date: 01.29.2020
Guest post by Massachusetts Workforce Association Associate Director Raija Vaisanen This year, frontline MassHire Career Center staff received training on addiction recovery and trauma-informed approach to mental health to better understand the barriers that some customers are facing as they look for jobs in a tight labor market. With low unemployment and a shrinking workforce, those […]
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Learn to Earn Food Industry Program Graduates its First Class
Post Date: 01.21.2020
The first group of students to enter JVS Boston’s Food Industry Training program, funded by a $325,000 Learn to Earn grant awarded by Commonwealth Corporation, received their ServSafe certificates at a graduation ceremony at Spaulding Hospital in Cambridge on Jan. 8. Designed by the Executive Offices of Labor and Workforce Development, Education, Health and Human […]
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CommCorp 2019 Year-In-Review
Post Date: 01.07.2020
It’s been a busy year at Commonwealth Corporation! Here’s a look back at some of our accomplishments in 2019: DYS Art Showcase Raises $7,800 for Youth Artists More than 400 youth, community leaders and families gathered to celebrate and view art created by youth in Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) programs at the 7th […]
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WCTF Contributes to National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Post Date: 11.13.2019
The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund team conducted a program design process for two grantees who received funding through the second round of Learn To Earn awards. Both programs, JVS and HMEA, intend to serve people with disabilities who are receiving public assistance. Through these engagements, the WCTF team has developed a learning community that includes […]
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How Can Massachusetts Diversify and Build its STEM Workforce?
Post Date: 10.25.2019
Hands-on learning, employer partnerships and building skill pathways are among the most important actions the state can take to address the diversity gap in STEM occupations, panelists said at a Massachusetts STEM Week event on Oct. 24 hosted by The Boston Foundation. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta provided a brief overview of […]
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$4.2M Awarded in Sen. Donnelly Grants through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF)
Post Date: 09.26.2019
Local and state officials joined Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, CommCorp staff, MassHire partners and First Student Inc. workers at First Student Inc. in Marlborough on Thursday, Sept. 26 for the announcement of the first-ever round of Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants for FY19 through […]
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Youth Share Their Art, Stories at Annual DYS Showcase
Post Date: 05.20.2019
More than 400 youth, community leaders and families gathered to celebrate and view art created by youth in Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) programs at the highly anticipated 7th Annual DYS “Share Your Art, Share Your Voice!” event on Tuesday, May 14. Held at WGBH Studios in Brighton, this year’s statewide event featured 260 art pieces […]
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Lt. Gov. Polito, Sec. Acosta Discuss YouthWorks with Program Participants
Post Date: 03.22.2019
Young men who recently completed a YouthWorks program in Fall River, learning both technical skills and soft skills to prepare them for the workforce, had the opportunity to discuss their experiences in the program with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta on Thursday, March 21. The twelve program […]
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Teen Work Safety Poster Contest Winners Honored at State House
Post Date: 03.15.2019
Winners of the 2019 statewide “Safe Jobs for Youth” Poster Contest were recognized at a State House event on Thursday, March 14. Elizabeth Trull, 17, of Rockland, won first place, taking a home a cash prize of $500. Her poster will appear on MBTA vehicles this spring. Oliver Leventhal, 16, of Arlington, won second place […]
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Event Recap: Forum Offers Latest Information about Training and Demand for Substance Use and Addictions Workforce in Massachusetts
Post Date: 07.05.2018
Nearly 100 workforce development professionals, educators, and substance use and addictions recovery providers from across the state gathered on June 13, 2018 at Worcester State University to learn about the substance use disorder (SUD) workforce. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Rosalin Acosta, welcomed participants and encouraged them to strengthen relationships while increasing their collective […]
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Exploring New Models for Recruitment and Retention in a Tight Labor Market
Post Date: 05.29.2018
On Monday, May 21st Commonwealth Corporation and JobsFirstNYC co-hosted a webinar on Employer Solutions to Recruitment & Retention Challenges in a Tight Labor Market. Nearly 100 participants from Massachusetts, New York and other states joined us for a rich conversation. The webinar began with a presentation on research that JobsFirstNYC had conducted on the impact of […]
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HCC Culinary Training Program Preps Workers for Jobs with WCTF Funds
Post Date: 05.01.2018
The bustling atmosphere at Food 101 Bistro in South Hadley had all the signs of a busy Friday night: a full house, waiters covering several tables at once, delicious smells wafting from the kitchen. But this particular occasion was not a Friday night. In fact, it was a graduation ceremony, the culmination of a 9-week […]
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An Untapped Labor Pool: Employing People with Disabilities
Post Date: 04.18.2018
At Commonwealth Corporation, we are dedicated to workforce development within Massachusetts, a state that is heavily reliant on its aging labor pool. As increasing numbers of the working population retire we are facing an inevitable shortage of skilled talent. The need for workers is great—and yet Massachusetts sits in the bottom half of states by […]
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Event Recap: Facing the Future of Care
Post Date: 02.12.2018
On January 26, 2018, Commonwealth Corporation hosted the event: Facing the Future of Care: Innovations in Recruitment and Retention of Home Care Workers. Held at the Worcester Senior Center, our audience was filled with home care employers, workforce board and career center staff, directors of home care and long term care associations and community college […]
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Investing in Intervention Report Highlights Effective Strategies in Massachusetts
Post Date: 01.18.2018
A recently released report from Giffords Law Center, PICO National Network, and the Community Justice Reform: Investing in Intervention: The Critical role of State-Level Support in Breaking the Cycle of Urban Gun Violence highlights the impact of the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) and Shannon Community Safety Initiative, evidence-based violence prevention and intervention programs […]
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The Massachusetts Health Care Workforce is Changing
Post Date: 11.01.2017
Recently, we released a series of reports that we produced with the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University (CLMP) under contract with the Office of the State Auditor. Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012—“An Act Improving the Quality of Health Care and Reducing Costs Through Increased Transparency, Efficiency and Innovation” directed […]
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Made in Massachusetts: CommCorp Celebrates Manufacturing Month
Post Date: 10.12.2017
Did you know that October is Manufacturing Month? Massachusetts is home to a diverse group of nearly 7,000 manufacturers who produce everything from electronic ink to gluten-free goodies to robotics. To celebrate Manufacturing Month, we are highlighting a few of these “Made in MA” products and would like to introduce you to a few of […]
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Promoting Success: Tips for Employers
Post Date: 06.22.2017
Over the past few years, Commonwealth Corporation has been studying the underlying causes of the decline in youth employment. In 2013, we published two studies with the Center for Labor Markets & Policy at Drexel University: Signaling Success: Boosting Teen Employment Prospects and Building Blocks of Labor Market Success. These studies looked at the skills, […]
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Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Key Characteristics of Successful Sector Partnerships
Post Date: 06.15.2017
As Nancy introduced, this is the fourth and final post in our Spring WCTF Blog Series, Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Observations from WCTF. In today’s post, CommCorp Senior VP Rebekah Lashman will explore the characteristics of successful sector partnerships. Over the past 10 years we’ve invested Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund and other state and federal resources in more than […]
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Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Program Design with the End Goal in Mind
Post Date: 05.09.2017
As Nancy introduced, this is the third of four posts in our Spring WCTF Blog Series, Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Observations from WCTF. In today’s post, WCTF Program Manager Anthony Britt will explore a few often underestimated elements of successful program design. I came to CommCorp from the public education sphere, where the most effective lessons […]
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Achieving Impactful Outcomes: What does it mean to be data-driven?
Post Date: 04.27.2017
As Nancy introduced, this is the second of four posts in our Spring WCTF Blog Series, Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Observations from WCTF. In today’s post Theresa Rowland, Program Director, will discuss what it means to be data-driven. What does data driven-mean? And how do programs ensure they are doing it? To us, data-driven is […]
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Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Observations from WCTF
Post Date: 04.06.2017
Welcome to our WCTF Blog series: Achieving Impactful Outcomes: Observations from WCTF. I’m excited to introduce you to our upcoming blog series created specifically for you: our colleagues and partners in workforce development working to support businesses and workers in Massachusetts to create a stronger economy. This is blog number 1 of 4 that will […]
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Demand-Driven Problem Solving Needed in Tight Labor Market
Post Date: 01.18.2017
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development recently announced that the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to 2.8%, the lowest rate of unemployment since January 2001. An unemployment rate of 2.8% is great news for the Commonwealth and for job seekers looking for a new job or better job. However, it presents challenges to businesses […]
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Grant Helps LHMC Expand Role of Medical, Clinical Assistants
Post Date: 08.11.2016
This blog features a story on Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (LHMC), one of the 59 grant projects being funded by the Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund (HCWTF). Grant funds are helping to increase the clinical and direct patient care skills of Medical and Clinic Assistants working in primary care practices. LHMC has implemented the […]
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Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund Connects Workers to Employers
Post Date: 05.23.2016
There has been a lot of buzz in the CommCorp halls about the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund: for the first time ever, it has a chance of being funded for a consecutive year. We are excited that this crucial program was included in Governor Baker’s budget because it supports a population in tremendous need and […]
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Employer Partnerships Are Key in YouthWorks
Post Date: 03.18.2016
Since its inception in 1999, YouthWorks, Commonwealth Corporation’s summer job program for teens and young adults, has relied on employer partnerships. YouthWorks requires understanding employers who are willing to help coach young adults through what is often their first job. Without them, this program would be impossible. Employers, in turn, have the opportunity to do […]
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Skill Building through YouthWorks
Post Date: 01.20.2016
In today’s economy, it is difficult for young adults to find jobs. Unless you have legitimate work experience on your résumé, few employers are willing to give you a chance. That’s why we have YouthWorks; a state-funded youth employment program for teens and young adults aged 14-21 living in low-income communities across Massachusetts. Participants learn […]
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Youth Accomplishments Celebrated at 3rd Annual ‘Share Your Art, Share Your Voice’ Showcase
Post Date: 08.21.2015
Art is often created for entertainment – to be consumed or invested in. But for the young people in the DYS Arts Initiative, art is a vehicle for healing, growth and learning. In May 2015, youth in the Department of Youth Services performed and displayed their talent in the 3rd annual showcase Share Your Art, Share Your Voice, a […]
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Incumbent Worker Training – Investing in People to Invest in Your Business
Post Date: 05.21.2015
The value of incumbent worker training is being recognized by high profile policymakers and business and labor leaders. President Obama referenced the importance of incumbent worker training in his April 25, 2015 address on the proposed US trade deal. Furthermore, a published report by the New England Council and Deloitte highlights the value of incumbent […]
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A Proven Model to Address Regional Workforce Challenges
Post Date: 04.13.2015
Sector partnerships bring together business, education and workforce organizations to design and deliver training and work experiences that are relevant to an industry and specific occupations. Sector partnerships prepare and place people who are unemployed or underemployed in jobs that are in demand and/or upgrade the skills of incumbent workers. In Massachusetts, we have been […]
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Safe & Successful Youth Initiative Yields Positive Results
Post Date: 12.30.2014
An evaluation conducted by the independent American Institute of Research (AIR) of Massachusetts Safe & Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) found that over the last two years SSYI engaged cities experiences 139 fewer violent crimes on average per month compared to non-SSYI municipalities. The Safe & Successful Youth Initiative is a multi-faceted strategy for reducing youth violence […]
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Responding to Health Care Industry Changes
Post Date: 12.18.2014
Health care employers have been critical workforce development partners over the past fifteen years. Through the ups and downs of economic cycles, the health care industry has been steadily hiring, with many good jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree. The industry is now undergoing a transformation and workforce professionals need to understand how […]
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Malden High School Accepts 25 Students into New YouthWorks Plus Program
Post Date: 10.31.2014
We had the pleasure of joining Malden High School staff, faculty, and students, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and the Metro North Regional Employment Board to celebrate the acceptance of 25 Malden High School students into the new YouthWorks Plus program. YouthWorks Plus at Malden High School is generously supported by the Cummings Foundation. The faculty leading the program asked the students to […]
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Preparing Tomorrow’s Talent Today
Post Date: 10.28.2014
We are in the midst of a youth employment crisis. Employment among teens in Massachusetts has dropped by nearly half since the late 1990s, from 54 percent in 1999 to just 27 percent in 2013. About half of today’s high school students have not had any job experience, leaving these young people at a significant […]
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$8.2 Million Awarded for Employee Training
Post Date: 10.17.2014
The latest round of Workforce Training Fund Program grants was announced during a visit to United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), a grant recipient. UPS will use their $200,000 grant to train 600 Massachusetts-based employees and create 50 new jobs. The grant will help UPS implement software designed to help drivers optimize delivery routes and the placement of […]
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Healthcare Payment & Delivery Reform Presentation Recap
Post Date: 07.10.2014
Payment Reform in Massachusetts: Impact & Opportunities for the Healthcare Workforce was held on July 9, 2014 at Salem State University. Jessica Larochelle from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation presented an overview of the forces driving payment and delivery system reform, payment and delivery system reform efforts in the state, and the implications […]
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$2 Million Awarded to 51 Healthcare Providers
Post Date: 04.30.2014
On April 3, 2014 Governor Deval Patrick and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian announced the 51 Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund Planning Grants at Lynn Community Health Center. The Planning Grants will help healthcare providers develop a training strategy to address workforce challenges caused by the rapidly evolving healthcare industry. Service Employees […]
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The Boston Foundation & Cummings Foundation Award $200,000 for YouthWorks Plus
Post Date: 06.25.2013
Commonwealth Corporation was awarded two $100,000 grants from The Boston Foundation and Cummings Foundation to support the design, development, and testing of YouthWorks Plus – an effort to transform Massachusetts’ summer jobs program for low-income youth into a multi-year sequence of work experiences that will increase long-term employment outcomes for participating youth. YouthWorks Plus builds on the public-funded summer […]