Workforce development
Securing Futures Through Career Pathways and Employer Partnerships
Our Workforce Development programs empower Black women in Wards 7 & 8 by providing essential skills, robust support, and transformative networks. We dismantle barriers by amplifying employer best practices and advocating for career supports, creating equitable environments where Black women can thrive and achieve lasting career success.
Roadmaps to Change
Strengthen Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local government and community organizations to amplify our impact and streamline workforce development efforts.
Expand Training and Job Opportunities: Provide comprehensive access to high-quality training, job placements, and career advancement for Black women.
Cultivate Inclusive Work Environments: Strengthen workplace cultures by prioritizing trainee support, clear pathways, and environments where participants feel valued, prepared, and able to grow.
Data-Driven Progress: Implement concentrated research and data monitoring to evaluate and enhance workforce development initiatives, improving career outcomes for Black women.
By the Numbers
We all know how important workforce development is for any community. What is less known is just how great the disparity is for women and families in our community. These statistics stand as a testament to the importance of the work that we do.
White households in D.C. have 81 times the wealth of Black households.
%
City-wide household income grew by 15.5%, but Black residents' wages remain stagnant.
%
Black women earn only 66% of what white men earn nationwide.
Driving Change and Creating Opportunities
Active Workforce Interventions
Landscape Analysis
We identified the best workforce development practices for Black women by mapping available services, ensuring they can navigate and access essential job training and support programs effectively. Read about it here.
Healthcare Pathways & Possibilities Fellowship
Our interactive employment resources provide comprehensive information on various health-related careers, detailing necessary training, certification requirements, and advancement opportunities. By mapping out clear career pathways and breaking down the process, we support Black women in finding opportunities in the health sector that align with their goals and connecting with a supportive network to help them reach those goals.
Additionally, BWTEotR accepts applications for new Healthcare Pathways & Possibilities Fellows one to two times per year. This experience includes career coaching, tuition assistance and financial assistance for certifications and degrees for any health-related career. We also connect women in health-related careers to build community, sharpen skills, expand networks and share resources with one another during and beyond the cohort experience.
The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented women entering and advancing in health-related careers and businesses. Learn more here.
Employer Best Practices
Employer Best Practices interventions include research and collaboration with employers, community based organizations and other key partners to help more Black women enter, sustain and advance in health-related career pathways.
This work is grounded in our own research on employer best practices as well as standards for delivering high quality healthcare. Download your copy today.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Through collaborative planning with Black women and community stakeholders, our apprenticeships in health-related careers empower Black women by facilitating hands-on learning and advancement opportunities in these roles.
Health-Related Career Programs for Youth
Starting from middle and high school, our programs guide youth toward successful careers in health, strengthening summer employment opportunities and creating clear pathways to professional success.
Additional Interventions
Research on Racial Equity and Family-Sustaining Wages
By gathering data on the experiences of Black women, we are able to produce data that highlights the disparities in training, placement, and retention in the workforce. These findings provide evidence of the importance of family-sustaining wages and are used to inform policy recommendations and advocacy efforts, reshaping the design of workforce development programs to meet the specific needs of Black women in Washington D.C.
Employer Training Series
This series provides training for employers on key topics such as anti-Black racism, misogynoir, trauma-informed care, cultural humility, bias, and stigma. By equipping employers with the knowledge and tools to recognize and address these issues, we foster a more equitable and respectful work environment.
Apprenticeship Opportunities
By engaging Black women in all aspects of planning and program development, apprenticeships for health-related careers that engage government, business, and nonprofit resources will facilitate the advancement of Black women in these roles.
Health-Related Career Programs for Youth
Workforce development must begin with providing youth and young professionals clear paths to successful careers. These programs will bolster opportunities for youth at middle and high schools in the District as well as with summer employment programs to put more youth on track to succeed in health-related fields.
“It [Pathways] has truly helped me pursue my career in speech-language pathology and work toward accomplishing my master’s degree. This is something that can be especially challenging for women of color. We represent such a small percentage in this field, so being supported in this way means everything to me. This … is not just financial aid, it is important to my future success and my ability to aid others.”
– Pathways Participant