Workforce Development Subcommittee
April 23, 2008
Meeting Minutes
Members Present
Amy Christianson
Arron Jiron
Sandra McBrayer, Subcommittee Chair
Lori Ward
Others Present
Kathie Scott, California Department of Education (CDE) liaison to the Subcommittee
Members Absent
Alvaro Cortes
Darci Smith
Commencement
Sandra McBrayer, Subcommittee Chair (The Chair), opened the meeting at 1:05 p.m.
Introduction of Members
All members introduced themselves.
Approval of Minutes from the February 27, 2008 Meeting – Action
Amy Christianson motioned to approve the February 27, 2008, minutes, Lori Ward seconded the motion, and the members approved the Workforce Development Subcommittee (WDS) minutes without changes.
Chair Report
The Chair announced there were several changes to the agenda. Due to the unavailability of two presenters, there would only be one presentation from Michael Funk on the Encore After School (EAS) Initiative.
The Chair announced the WDS should rebuild the membership to obtain appropriate representation from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and to include someone with Workforce Investment Board expertise who could attend meetings on a regular basis.
The Chair invited Linda Collins, Director of the Career Ladders Project, CCCCO, to give an update about the Request for Applications (RFA) with the CCCCO and the partnership with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Ms. Collins announced the CCCCO is getting ready to release an RFA that will solicit applications from Community Colleges to develop after school pipelines. The RFA is for $1.5 million or $300,000 per pilot site for a two-year period. These five pilot sites are to build a bridge program to address foundational skills of young adults, 18 to 30 years of age, who are interested in working in after school programs. In addition, these five pilot sites will develop local collaboratives with local after school providers.
Arron Jiron asked if there is much collaboration in place now between the CCCCO and the California State University (CSU) system chancellor on other projects.
Ms. Collins responded that the CCCCO and the CSU systems continuously collaborate on some projects and strategies. To date, there has not been a conversation around after school, but this could be arranged because the local college presidents have regional collaboratives in place. Ms. Collins recommended that the WDS stay in contact with the CCCCO to make sure that after school programs are included in future discussions and projects.
Encore After School Presentation
Michael Funk, founder and Executive Director of the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, provided the WDS with an overview of the Experience Corps (EC) and the EAS programs which focus on recruiting and retaining older adults to work in the after school workforce.
Mr. Funk founded the California EC program in 1998. The national EC program is operating in 20 cities throughout the country. The EC was initiated by the late John Gardner, former Secretary for Health and Human Services under President Johnson and founder of the Common Cause Organization.
The California EC program has grown to 20 schools in the Bay Area. The EC engages people over 55 in meeting their communities' greatest challenges. There is a natural progression to after school programs using older adults to serve as aides and tutors with a small group of classroom assistants. Older adults want the opportunity to work with young people in a relaxed setting. Some share their hobbies such as fishing, sewing, and knitting with young people. The EC is primarily operating in an urban setting, but it may be useful in rural settings also.
Michael Funk further explained that EC is funded by private and public sources. Some funding is from the AmeriCorps Program. More information can be found at the EC (Outside Source) Web site. Mr. Funk spoke about the Mott Foundation study. The Mott study focused on four cities to determine how older adults could help in after school programs. After school leaders interviewed via focus groups indicated that older adults were overlooked in after school programs. The study indicated that a stereotype exists that you have to be young and hip to work with youth. In addition, after school leaders felt that adults would not be able to work in the chaotic environment of after school programs.
The members discussed what it would take to overcome these stereotypes.
Mr. Funk explained that the EAS program is based on the book by Marc Freedman, Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life. The program focuses on service. The EAS is in the family of AmeriCorps under the direction of the National Service Corps. The EAS focuses on older adults over 55. The main goal of the EAS is to increase the quality of after school programs and enhance the workforce at two pilot sites by infusing a supply of skilled workers over age 55.
Amy Christianson asked what the average stipend is for someone working in the EAS program.
Mr. Funk responded that the EAS Initiative is about work and is not focused on earning money, but that after 15 hours per week workers get a stipend which varies from $150 to $200 a month. Mr. Funk added that this amount can make a big difference to seniors and that this stipend is at no cost since there are no taxes taken out of the stipend.
Mr. Funk stressed that the EAS focuses on improving the quality of after school programs by recruiting based on talent and not on age. He then discussed that younger workers tend to be transient in that they finish their college or training and move on, whereas older workers tend to stay in a program for several years.
Lori Ward commented what she would like to see is someone to provide support for coordinators working with volunteers. One of the challenges in her region is having someone who is in charge of recruiting volunteers. It is important to have a model to help train and support volunteer program coordinators.
Amy Christianson offered to put together a focus group of experienced workers to help with this process.
Next Meeting
The Chair asked members for topics to be included on the agenda for the next WDS meeting. Michael Funk was invited to present at a future meeting of the Advisory Committee. Topics for the future WDS meeting are:
- Workforce Investment Board
- CalWorks Community College Partnerships
- Potential Practices – the WIN Coalition
- Central Valley Foundation
The next WDS meeting will be on June 25, 2008, in Sacramento at 1:00 p.m.
Public Comment
None.
Adjournment
There being no further business the Chair adjourned the meeting at 2:05 p.m.
