Over the past eight years, the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition has delivered services in the following areas:

Training

• CWC offers half-day, one-day and multi-day training for workforce development staff in the five regions of Massachusetts. Topics include Introduction to Workforce Development, Advanced Employer Relations, Soft Skills, CORI: Focus on Jobs, and Working Toward Economic Self-Sufficiency.
• Working with Employers Institute: is a 28 hour training for job developers including an employer-lead pitch clinic, a group research project, case studies and other interactive learning methods. In 2004 and 2005, The Institute was co-sponsored with the City of Boston, Mayor's Office of Jobs and Community Services. The WWE Institute has been delivered every year throughout MA.
• Working with Participants Institute: is a 35 hour training for direct service staff of adult and youth education, training and employment programs. The Institute focuses on assessment, soft skills, case management and world of work in a highly interactive learning format. WWP was delivered in Boston in 2007.
• Supervisor Institute: is a 14 hour training for supervisors of workforce development programs. Topics include hiring for retention, supervision strategies, performance management and workforce teams.
• CWC partners with organizations such as Public Private Ventures, The Aspen Institute and Mass Law Reform Institute to provide content-specific training in areas such as outcomes measurement, Return On Investment and CORI.
• CWC trains staff of workforce development organizations in Program Design, Strategic Planning, Managing Change, Data Outcomes and Continuous Quality Improvement.
• CWC provides customized training for organizations on topics related to workforce development.

Networking

• Bi-monthly, two hour sessions are offered in Boston with time built in for information sharing, peer networking and small group discussion. Boston Networking is in its eighth year.
• Network meetings are held 3 times a year in Western Central, Southeast and Northeast Massachusetts.

Conference

• Since 2004, CWC has convened Sharing Skills ~ Building Connections, a successful statewide conference of workforce development professionals, providing over 25 workshops and receiving over 350 registrations each year. The conference was held on March 11, 2009. 385 workforce development professionals engaged in a lively day of learning and networking. Thanks to all who made the 6th annual conference such a huge success.

Web site

• CWC's web site is used to announce key events and training in workforce development and share information and resources.

Special Initiatives and Programs

• SkillWorks - CWC has been chosen by SkillWorks to provide capacity building services to SkillWorks' grantees. Capacity building focuses on helping the Workforce Partnerships achieve their two goals: providing career advancement resources to low-income job seekers and workers; and building career ladders for low-skilled workers with employers in specific industries. Activities include cross-site networking, technical assistance consulting, and training workshops on topics that help the parterships and their service providers reach scale and sustain themselves for the long term.
• Graduate Certificate in Workforce Development - In September 2008, CWC in partnership with Northeastern University, launched a graduate certificate in Workforce Development. The program includes the following courses: Employer Relations – Improving Employer Outcomes, Strategic Planning, Program Design and Implementation, Working with Participants – Improving Participant Outcomes, Understanding Labor Markets, Research and Evaluation and Workforce Development Policy. For those who want to continue their education, they may apply these credits for a Master's Degree in Education, Non-Profit Management or Leadership at Northeastern University's School of Professional and Continuing Studies.
• The United Way of Mass Bay - In Spring, 2006, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay contracted with CWC to deliver training and launch peer learning models for 12 UWMB affiliates involved in the Sustainable Employment Initiative. Under the initiative, CWC assessed the staff of these organizations for their interest in building their workforce development skills. Training topics included: employer relations, post placement and retention, job readiness, and leadership. Peer Learning Projects were designed to enhance and further develop the skills introduced in training by providing opportunities for group learning and product development. The product produced by the Peer Learning Projects is a toolkit for workforce development staff. Click here for toolkit.