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Adult and Community Learning Services

Workforce Development Update - June 2008

HOT NEWS!

ABE-ESOL Subcommittee of the MA Workforce Investment Board
On June 11, the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board will meet at Babson College. Jerry Rubin, Chair of the ABE/ESOL Subcommittee, will present an overview of the work of the Subcommittee, and the final report of the Subcommittee likely will be presented at the September meeting of the Board. The ABE/ESOL subcommittee will meet again on June 25th at Commonwealth Corporation and again on July 25th.

New Appointment:Board of Elementary and Secondary Schools' member Harneen Chernow was appointed to the 21st Century Skills Task Force. The Task Force, led by Board Member and Year-Up Founder Gerald Chertavian, will review literature on 21st Century skills and identify how these skills can be integrated into all facets of curriculum. In addition, the task force will prepare a white paper to assist the Board and the Department in considering these issues.

Working Together: Regional/Sector Strategies Summits
Three regional events will take place in June to bring together leaders in business, education, government, and workforce development to develop concrete plans and partnerships to fill in-demand jobs and to identify pathways for residents to develop the skills needed for to access such jobs. Please register for and attend the event in your region.

ACLS NEWS

The annual Directors' Meeting,"Blueprint for the Future: Access, Quality, and Next Steps for Students,"will be held at the SeaCrest in Falmouth on September 24th and 25th. The above theme is based on Massachusetts' new Strategic Plan for Adult Basic Education. Some of the conference sessions will focus on connecting with the state's workforce development system, and building paths for students to post-secondary education and training. Look for important sessions to help your students succeed within your program and in the world beyond.

Workforce Development News

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development has published the following information on the web:

• One-Stop Career Center regional allocations for FY2009
• One-Stop Career Center reports
• Criteria for Massachusetts High-Performing Workforce Boards

CAREER CENTER EVENTS

June 18,10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.:On-site Job Fair at the Quincy Career Center,152 Parkingway, Quincy, MA. Employers will include: Home Depot, Tradesman International, Pembroke Hospital, Edgerock Staffing. Go to www.quincycareercenter.org for more information.

June 19,11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.:MetroWest Professional Career Fairat the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1360 Worcester Street in Natick. Contact Employment and Training Resources in Marlborough at 508-786-0928 for more information.

CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS

Workforce Innovations 2008conference happens fromJuly 15th - 17, 2008in New Orleans, LA. For more information, go to http://workforceinnovations.org.

2008 ABE Directors' Meeting:Sponsored by the Adult and Community Learning Services unit at the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, this two-day event takes place on September 24 and 25 at the SeaCrest Hotel and Conference Center in Falmouth.

Network 2008:October: The annual two-day conference for ABE/ESOL teachers and counselors sponsored by MCAE happens on October 22 and 23 at the Best Western Hotel and Trade Center in Marlboro. Meet colleagues, build the network for our field, and learn new things to help your students succeed. For info, go to www.mcae.net.

National Conference on Effective Transitions in Adult Education:National College Transitions Network: National leaders will convene in Providence, R.I. on November 17 and 18 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Go to www.collegetransitions.org for more information.

Professional Development Opportunities

SABES

Contact yourSABES Workforce Coordinatorfor information on SABES WFD activities. Laurie Sheridan is the statewide SABES Workforce Coordinator; Contact her at 617-482-9485 or lsheridan@worlded.org. Go to www.sabes.org and scan the calendar for workforce related sessions. SABES Workforce Development Specialists include Dori McCormack at SABES West; Cathy Gannon at Central SABES, Kathleen Howell at SABES SE, Patricia Pelletier at SABES NE, and John Zhang at the ALRI.

Expanded Career Awareness Guide NOW AVAILABLE:Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE/ESOL Curriculum now includes sections on transition to post-secondary education. Expansion of this important guide was funded by the National College Transitions Network. Go to www.sabes.org to download the document.

Massachusetts Workforce Alliance

MWA has a newly unveiled website at www.massworkforcealliance.org. Check out the latest MWA news that includes information on GREEN JOBS. Also, check out their new publication, "Working to Succeed - Individuals, the Commonwealth and Community-based Organizations. "

last updated: June 24, 2008